human
If we can keep it quiet--just for a little while--just until----
gpt
Until what? snapped Kroner.
human
If we only had an idea when this mysterious sickness would leave these people! We could stall the news perhaps for a day, or even two days--_if_ we could have some assurance that at the end of twenty-four or forty-eight hours they'd be all right again. But we haven't. They may be like that for months before they die--may even die in a few hours. Grays can't tell. This is all beyond his medical experience. So it seems to me we might as well make public announcements now, face ruin on the resort development, and get it over with.
gpt
This Doctor Satan, whoever he is, gives us assurance in his note. He says that if we pay what he demands, the ten will recover, and everything will be all right.
human
And if we pay what he demands, we'll be ruined just the same as though we'd been killed by publicity,
gpt
I'm surprized you'd even suggest that, Chichester. But you've not only suggested it--you've pled for it all night long! Do you get a cut from Doctor Satan or something?
human
Gentlemen, soothed Gest, as Chichester half rose from his chair.
gpt
We're in too serious a jam to indulge in petty quarrels. We've got to decide what to do----
human
I move we call in the police, growled Kroner.
gpt
I still can't believe that any human being could induce such a state of catalepsy, or living death, or whatever you want to call it, in other human beings. Not unless he's a wizard or something. Nevertheless, in view of this threat note from Doctor Satan, there may be a definite criminal element here that the cops should know about.
human
Let's wait on the police, objected Gest.
gpt
We have already done better than that in summoning this Ascott Keane to help us.
human
I still say that that was a stupid move! he snapped.
gpt
Ascott Keane? Who is he, anyhow? He has no reputation for detective work or any other kind of work. A rich man's son--loafer--dilettante. What we should have done was contact Doctor Satan after his first note, after Weems was stricken. Then we would have saved the nine in the roulette room, and at the same time saved our project here.
human
You'd pay this crook our entire surplus? snarled Kroner.
gpt
You'd give him a million eight hundred thousand in cold cash, when you don't even know that he has had a hand in what ails the ten?
human
It's worth a million eight hundred thousand to save our stake in Blue Bay, said Chichester obstinately.
gpt
As for Doctor Satan's having a hand in the horrible fate of Weems and the rest--he told you beforehand that it would happen, didn't he?
human
Please, sighed Gest as for a second time the florid vice-president and the wizened treasurer snarled at each other.
gpt
We----