‘Won’t you take that sum of money which Glumboso hid?’ says Giglio; ‘two hundred and eighteen thousand millions, or thereabouts. It’s a handsome sum.’
‘I will have that and you too!’ says Gruffanuff.
‘Let us throw the crown jewels into the bargain,’ gasps out Giglio.
‘I will wear them by my Giglio’s side!’ says Gruffanuff.
‘Will half, three-quarters, five-sixths, nineteen-twentieths, of my kingdom do, Countess?’ asks the trembling monarch.
‘What were all Europe to me without YOU, my Giglio?’ cries Gruff, kissing his hand.
‘I won’t, I can’t, I shan’t,—I’ll resign the crown first,’ shouts Giglio, tearing away his hand; but Gruff clung to it.
‘I have a competency, my love,’ she says, ‘and with thee and a cottage thy Barbara will be happy.’
Giglio was half mad with rage by this time. ‘I will not marry her,’ says he. ‘Oh, Fairy, Fairy, give me counsel?’ And as he spoke he looked wildly round at the severe face of the Fairy Blackstick.
“‘Why is Fairy Blackstick always advising me, and warning me to keep my word? Does she suppose that I am not a man of honour?”’ said the Fairy, quoting Giglio’s own haughty words. He quailed under the brightness of her eyes; he felt that there was no escape for him from that awful inquisition.