"Well, is there a child?"
"I have told you that it does not concern you."
"Do you deny it?"
"I neither deny it, nor affirm it. You have read the evidence, and may believe it or not as you please."
"Oh! I hate you! I hate you!" She was again enraged. "I wonder why I am such a fool as to marry you?"
"Ah! This time you show curiosity upon a subject which does concern you. Therefore I will enlighten you. You intend to marry me, first, because, in spite of the assertion just made, you love me. That is to say, you love me as much as you can love any one other than yourself. Second, you are ambitious to be the wife of a celebrated man. You have been keen enough to recognize that I have genius, and that I will be a great man. Do you follow me?"
"You are the most supreme egotist that I have ever met." The words, meant as a sort of reproach, yet were spoken in tones which betokened admiration.
"Thank you. I see you appreciate me for what I am. All egotists are but men who have more than the average ego, more than ordinary individuality. The supreme egotist, therefore, has most of all. Now, to continue the reasons for our marriage, perhaps you would like to know why I intend to marry you?"
"If your august majesty would condescend so far." The Doctor took no notice of the sneer, but said simply:
"I too have my ambitions, but I need money with which to achieve success. You have money!"