human
If only Gideon North and Seth Upham were here now!
gpt
Poor Seth! said Arnold.
human
What a price he has paid for one passionate blow.
gpt
What do you know?
human
I _know_ little, he said.
gpt
But I have guessed much.
human
What have you guessed?
gpt
They say in Topham that Neil Gleazen left town in the night and Eli Norton was found dead in the morning.
human
That, my friends, is why Gleazen for twenty years did not come back. But I once heard Gleazen say, when the mood was on him to torment Seth Upham, let people think what they would, that at least he--Gleazen--_knew_ who killed Eli Norton.
gpt
And you think that Seth Upham--
human
De mortuis nil nisi bonum.
gpt
You four, said Arnold thoughtfully,
human
But of course you are coming too,
gpt
No, I fear that I should not be content to live always in Topham.
human
You are not coming back with us?
gpt
No.
human
This, said he,
gpt
I cannot take gold from you,
human
Do not be foolish, Joe. We are old friends, you and I, and this by rights is as much yours as mine.
gpt
It is all for you, but there is enough for our good friend Abe, in case he parts from you before reaching Topham.
human
But you--
gpt
I have more. I am not, Joe, only that which I have pretended to be in your uncle's store in Topham, where you and I have had happy days together.