human
They are sticking to their story, all through?
gpt
Oh, yes! sir; they stick to their story. There is no doubt about them now. They can't go back.
human
And that boy can talk now?
gpt
Yes, sir; he can talk a little.
human
And what he says agrees with the three men? There will be no more murders in that county, Hunter, or in County Galway either. When they have once learned to think it possible that one man may tell of another, there will be an end to that little game. But they must hang them of course.
gpt
Oh, yes! sir, said Hunter.
human
I'd hang them myself; the whole ten of them, rather than keep them waiting.
gpt
The trial is to be in Dublin. Before that day comes we shall find what they do about Lax. I don't suppose they will want me; or if they did, for the matter of that, I could go myself as well as ever.
human
You could do nothing of the kind, Captain Clayton, said Edith, who was sitting there.
gpt
It is absurd to hear you talk in such a way.
human
I don't suppose he could just go up to Dublin, miss,
gpt
Not for life and death?
human
I suppose you could for life and death,
gpt
For his own death he could, said Edith.
human
But it's the death of other people that he is thinking of now.
gpt
And you, what are you thinking of?
human
To tell the truth, just at this moment I was thinking of yours. You are here under our keeping, and as long as you remain so, we are bound to do what we can to keep you from killing yourself; you ought to be in your bed.
gpt
Tucked up all round,--and you ought to be giving me gruel.
human
You could give one something which would cure me instantly.
gpt
No, I could not! There are no such instant cures known in the medical world for a man who has had a hole right through him.
human
That bullet will certainly be immortal.
gpt
But you will not if you talk of going up to Dublin.
human
Edith, a kiss would cure me.
gpt
Captain Clayton, you are in circumstances which should prevent you from alluding to any such thing. I am here to nurse you, and I should not be insulted.
human
That is true, he said.
gpt
And if it be an insult to tell you what a kiss would do for me, I withdraw the word. But the feeling it would convey, that you had in truth given yourself to me, that you were really, really my own, would I think cure me, though a dozen bullets had gone through me.