human
ONE OF US
gpt
Cheero! he said brightly as he seated himself in my easy-chair and tapped the end of one of my cigarettes upon the tablecloth.
human
I haven't been up so early for months, but I had to find you before you went out-- about these Bundercombes.
gpt
What about them?
human
I want their address, of course, Reggie continued.
gpt
The mater wants to call this afternoon and I'm all for seeing Miss Bundercombe again. Ripping girl, isn't she?
human
Then prepare yourself for a disappointment, my friend, I advised, glancing at the clock.
gpt
They left for Paris by the nine o'clock train this morning.
human
Gone already?
gpt
Theirs was only a flying visit, I explained.
human
I was lucky to get hold of them for my dinner.
gpt
I'm hanged if I understand this! Reggie remarked, looking at me suspiciously.
human
Why, I spent the best part of three weeks with them in that Godforsaken hole out West, and they were as keen as mustard on my taking them round London. How long have they been here?
gpt
Not long, I answered.
human
Sure you won't have some coffee?
gpt
They've got my address and there are the directories, he continued.
human
The funny part of it is, too, that I heard from Mrs. Bundercombe a week or so ago, and she never said a word about any of them coming over.
gpt
They seem to have made their minds up all of a sudden, I explained.
human
They spoke of it as quite a flying trip.
gpt
Can't understand it at all! he repeated.
human
Devilish queer thing, anyway! I say, Paul, you're sure it's all right, I suppose?
gpt
All right? What do you mean?
human
Between you and me, he went on--
gpt
You're not associating these people, whoever they may be, with Mr. and Miss Bundercombe?
human
The thing is, he remarked,
gpt
Don't talk rot!
human
It may be rot, Reggie admitted slowly,
gpt
If you don't mind, I answered,
human
At least, Reggie insisted,
gpt
I shall tell you nothing, I decided.
human
As a matter of fact I am finding you rather a nuisance.
gpt
There is something more in this, he said didactically,
human
Machiavellian! I scoffed.
gpt
Be off, Reggie!
human
You remember Lord Reggie Sidley?
gpt
Lord Reggie what!
human
Sidley, I repeated firmly.
gpt
He spent three weeks with you out at your home in Okata. His threatened arrival last night was the cause of your father's precipitate retreat, and yours.
human
Oh, that young man! Eve remarked airily.
gpt
Well, what about him?
human
He has been round to see me this morning, I told her--
gpt
London will be getting too hot for us soon! she murmured.
human
Am I engaged to him or anything?
gpt
Eve, I said,
human
Our what?
gpt
Engagement, I repeated.
human
I have proposed to you two or three times. I will do it again if you like.
gpt
Pray don't! she begged.
human
You are not going to tell me, are you, she added, looking at me with wide-open eyes,
gpt
You haven't refused me,
human
If I haven't, she assured me,
gpt
You must marry sometime. Eve, I said.
human
There isn't any one in America, is there?
gpt
There are a great many, she assured me.
human
It was to get away from them, as much as anything, that I came over with father on this business trip.
gpt
Business trip!
human
Oh! I dare say it all seems very disgraceful to any one like you--you who were born with plenty of money and have never been obliged to earn any, and have mixed with respectable people all your life! she exclaimed.
gpt
All the same, let me tell you there are plenty of charming and delightful people going about the world earning their living by their wits--simply because they are forced to. There is more than one code of morals, you know.
human
My dear Eve, I reminded her,
gpt
I corrected myself hastily,
human
I hate being out of things,
gpt
No need for you to be, altogether!
human
Now if I could institute a real big affair in the shape of a bucketshop swindle, in which your father and I could play the principal parts and you become merely a subordinate, such as a typist or something--what about that, eh?
gpt
It doesn't sound very amusing for me, she objected.
human
How much should we make?
gpt
Thousands, I assured her,
human
I think, she said reflectively,