:56:01
- Gertrude, are you quite well?
- Me? Yes, of course.
:56:07
No, I'm not at all.
:56:11
Could we talk?
:56:13
All I have learned leads me to reject
and revile him for what he has done!
:56:18
- And yet...
- And yet?
:56:20
I have never known such joy...
:56:23
.. as when I'm with him.
:56:26
I've never felt so... free...
:56:29
.. as when I'm lying in his arms.
:56:35
I'll look out for you at the Commons
where at least I'll see your friend submit.
:56:39
I wouldn't be too sure.
:56:42
Come now. We both know
how dearly he values his career.
:56:45
I look forward to him proving you wrong.
I anticipate it keenly.
:56:48
- In fact, I'd stake my shirt on it.
- Your shirt?
:56:51
Indeed, I'd probably wager
my entire wardrobe on his integrity.
:56:55
What confidence.
:56:57
Would you stake your liberty?
:57:00
My liberty?
:57:01
Mmm, a rather charming little idea
has sprung into my head...
:57:05
.. and, now I consider it, I discover it
to be a rather charming big idea.
:57:11
Go on.
:57:13
If, as you suggest,
he stands by his principles...
:57:16
.. and condemns the scheme,...
:57:18
.. then shall I give you his letter
to dispose of as you choose.
:57:22
But if, as I project,...
:57:25
.. he surrenders to my demands
and publicly supports the scheme, then...
:57:30
- Then I give you my hand in marriage.
- Precisely.
:57:33
- To dispose of as you please.
- You must concede...
:57:37
.. there is a certain thrill to it.
:57:39
Concede, too, how elegantly I have eased
from proposal to proposition.
:57:43
And with barely any loss of face.
I'm most impressed.
:57:47
We are creatures of compromise,
you and I.
:57:50
I await your response.
:57:52
Are you less certain of your friend's
nature when your own future rests on it?
:57:58
Not at all. I accept your wager
in all confidence.