human
I beg your pardon!--Mr. Queed. It--it slipped out, really--
gpt
Indeed? Be kind enough to explain the occasion of it.
human
Why, said Fifi, too truthful to prevaricate and completely cowed,
gpt
Suppose you try. Since your merriment interrupts my work, I claim the privilege of sharing it.
human
Well! I--I--happened to see that word at the head of the page you are writing--
gpt
Proceed.
human
I--I looked it up in the dictionary. It _says_, she read out with a gulp and a cough,
gpt
Proceed.
human
Oh! I see. You're--you're writing _against_ altruism, aren't you?
gpt
What leads you to that conclusion, if I may ask?
human
Why--I--I suppose it's the--way you--you do. Of course I oughtn't to have said it--
gpt
Go on. What way that I do?
human
Well--one thing--you sent me out of the room that night--when I coughed, you know. I--I don't understand about altruism like you do, but I--should think it was--my interests to stay here--
gpt
I am engaged upon a work of great importance to the public, I may say to posterity. Perhaps you can appreciate that such a work is entitled to the most favorable conditions in which to pursue it.
human
Of course. Indeed I understand perfectly, Mr. Queed, said Fifi, immediately touched by what seemed like kindness from him. And she added innocently:
gpt
All men--writing men, I mean--feel that way about their work--I suppose. I remember Mr. Sutro who used to have the very same room you're in now. He was writing a five-act play, all in poetry, to show the horrors of war, and he used to say--
human
I have nothing to do with other men. I am thinking, he said with rather an unfortunate choice of words,
gpt
Oh--I see! Now I understand exactly!
human
What is it that you see and understand so exactly?
gpt
Why, the way you feel about altruism. You believe in it for other people, but not for yourself! Isn't that right?