human
You must be mad,
gpt
If that is all you can find to say, I am sorry I told you,
human
It's a jolly good thing you did! Why, you are no more fit to take care of yourself than a new-born baby.
gpt
Perhaps I've been a bit of an ass, but really I don't see what else I could have done.
human
No, don't suppose you do,
gpt
Oh, don't rub it in! The question now is not what I ought to have done, but what am I to do now?
human
What do you intend to do?
gpt
I haven't the slightest idea. I want your advice.
human
Oh, no, you don't! Why, you wouldn't even listen to a sensible suggestion.
gpt
What do you call a sensible suggestion?
human
To get the girl out of the nursing home and lose her. And it ought to be done P. D. Q., as the Americans say.
gpt
I shall certainly do nothing of the sort.
human
Exactly, cried Campbell triumphantly.
gpt
I know you, Lord Quixote; you have some crazy plan in your head. Out with it.
human
I haven't a plan, I tell you. Now as I am being followed----
gpt
I can't believe you are,
human
I feel sure that that beggar I told you about was a detective.
gpt
Why?
human
He was evidently waiting for me and I couldn't shake him off till he had had a good look at the jewels.
gpt
It is much more likely that he was waiting for a penny than for you, and beggars are usually persistent. I see no possible reason why the police should be shadowing you. It is your guilty conscience that makes you so suspicious.
human
You may be right; I certainly hope you are, but till I am sure of it, I don't dare to run the risk of being seen with Miss Prentice. As she is in no condition to go about alone, I have been worrying a good deal as to how to get her out of the Home; so I thought--it occurred to me--that--you are the person to do it.
gpt
Thanks, awfully! So you leave me the pleasant task of running off with a servant-girl who is 'wanted' by the police! You are really too unselfish!
human
Miss Prentice is a lady,
gpt
H'm, Campbell ejaculated skeptically.
human
That she is a beauty I do not doubt, and she has certainly played her cards very skilfully.
gpt
Don't you dare to speak of her like that,
human
By Jove, old man! You're smitten with her,
gpt
Certainly not, but I have the greatest respect for this unfortunate young woman, and don't you forget it again.
human
Oh, very well! Believe what you like, but I didn't think you were the sort of man who never credits a fellow with disinterested motives, if he behaves half-way decently to a woman.
gpt
Steady now, Cyril. Don't let's quarrel. You mustn't take offence so easily. I have never seen the young lady, remember. And you know I will help you even against my better judgment.
human
You're a good chap, Guy.
gpt
Thanks! Now let us first of all consider Miss Prentice's case dispassionately. I want to be sure of my facts; then I may be able to form some conjecture as to why Wilmersley was murdered and how the jewels came into Miss Prentice's possession. You tell me that it has been proved that she really left Geralton on the afternoon before the murder?
human
Yes; the carrier swears he drove her into Newhaven and put her down near the station. Further than that they have luckily not been able to trace her.
gpt
Now your idea is that Miss Prentice, having in some way managed to secure a car, returned to Geralton that evening and got into the castle through the library window?
human
No, I doubt if she entered the castle. I can think of no reason why she should have done so,
gpt
In that case, how do you account for her injuries? Who could have flogged her except your charming cousin?
human
I hadn't thought of that!
gpt
Granting that she is Priscilla Prentice, the only hypothesis I can think of which explains her predicament is this: Having planned to rescue her mistress, she was only waiting for a favourable opportunity to present itself. The doctor's visit determined her to act at once. I agree with you that to re-enter Geralton was not her original intention, but while waiting under the library window for Lady Wilmersley to join her, she hears Wilmersley ill-treating his wife, so she climbs in and rushes to the latter's assistance.
human
Yes, yes,
gpt
But she is overpowered by Wilmersley, continued Campbell, warming to his theme,
human
I am convinced that that is just what happened,
gpt
Don't be too sure of it; still, it seems to me that that theory hangs together pretty well, Campbell complacently agreed.
human
Of course, neither woman contemplated murder. Wilmersley's death completely unnerved them. If the gardener's wife heard a cry coming from the car, it is possible that one or the other had an attack of hysterics. Now about the jewels--I believe Miss Prentice took charge of them, either because Lady Wilmersley was unfit to assume such a responsibility or because they agreed that she could the more easily dispose of them. I think that Miss Prentice's hurried trip to town was undertaken not in order to avoid arrest, but primarily to raise money, of which they must have had great need, and possibly also to rejoin her mistress, who, now that we know that she made her escape in a car, is probably hiding somewhere either in London itself or in its vicinity.
gpt
Guy, you are a wonder. You have thought of everything,
human
Of course, I may be quite wrong. These are only suppositions, remember, Campbell modestly reminded him.
gpt
By the way, what have you done with the jewels? I can't believe that you are in any danger of arrest, but if there is the remotest chance of such a thing, it wouldn't look very well if they were found in your possession.
human
I had thought of that. I was even afraid that my rooms might be searched in my absence, so I took them with me.
gpt
They are here?
human
Yes, in my pocket. I have hidden the bag and to-night I mean to burn it.
gpt
Your pocket is not a very safe repository.
human
Exactly. That is why I want you to take charge of them,
gpt
Oh, very well, sighed Campbell, with mock resignation.
human
In for a penny, in for a pound. I shall probably end by being arrested as a receiver of stolen property! But now we must consider what we had better do with Miss Prentice.
gpt
I think I shall hire a cottage in the country for her.
human
If you did that, the police would find her immediately. The only safe hiding-place is a crowd.
gpt
You think so?
human
I am sure of it. Now let me see: Where is she least likely to attract attention? It must be a place where you could manage to see her without being compromised, and, if possible, without being observed. I have it! A hotel. The Hotel George is the very place. In a huge caravansary like that all sorts and conditions of people jostle each other without exciting comment. Besides, the police are less likely to look among the guests of such an expensive hotel for a poor maid servant or in such a public resort for a fugitive from justice.
gpt
You are right!
human
But in her present condition, continued Campbell,
gpt
I don't see how she could remain there alone.
human
Certainly not. She must have some woman with her.
gpt
Exactly. But what trustworthy woman could you get to undertake such a task? Perhaps one of the nurses----
human
No, Cyril hastily interrupted him.
gpt
When she leaves the nursing home, all trace of her must be lost. At any moment the police may discover that a woman whom I have represented to be my wife has been a patient there. That will naturally arouse their suspicions and they will do their utmost to discover who it is that I am protecting with my name. No, a nurse would never do. For one thing, she would feel called upon to report to the doctor.
human
You might bribe her not to do so,
gpt
I shouldn't dare to trust to an absolutely unknown quantity. Oh, if I only knew a respectable woman on whom I could rely! I would pay her a small fortune for her services.
human
I know somebody who might do, said Campbell.
gpt
Her name is Miss Trevor and she used to be my sister's governess. She is too old to teach now and I fancy has a hard time to make both ends meet. The only trouble is that she is so conscientious that she would rather starve than be mixed up in anything she did not consider perfectly honourable and above board. If I told her that she was to chaperon a young lady whom the police were looking for, she would be so indignant that I doubt if she would ever speak to me again.
human
Why tell her?
gpt
It doesn't seem decent to inveigle her by false representations into taking a position which she would never dream of accepting if she knew the truth.
human
I will pay her £200 a year as long as she lives, if she will look after Miss Prentice till this trouble is over. Even if the worst happens and the girl is discovered, she can truthfully plead ignorance of the latter's identity,
gpt
True, and two hundred a year is good pay even for unpleasant notoriety. Yes, on the whole I think I am justified in accepting the offer for her. But now we must consider what fairy tale we are going to concoct for her benefit.
human
Oh, I don't know,
gpt
Imagination giving out, or conscience awakening--which is it?
human
Don't chaff!
gpt
Sorry, old man; but joking aside, we must really decide what we are to tell Miss Trevor. You can no longer pose as Miss Prentice's husband----
human
Why not?
gpt
What possible excuse have you for doing so, now that she is to leave the doctor's care?
human
I am sure it would have a very bad effect on Miss Prentice's health, if I were to tell her that she is not my wife.
gpt
H'm, h'm!
human
Remember, she is completely cut off from the past, urged Cyril;
gpt
Well, that settles that question. Now what explanation will you give Miss Trevor for not living with your wife?
human
I shall say that her state of health renders it inadvisable for the present.
gpt
What shall she be called?
human
I think we had better stick to Thompkins. She is accustomed to that. Only we will spell it Tomkyns and change the Christian name to John.
gpt
But won't she confide what she believes to be her real name to Miss Trevor?
human
I think not--not if I tell her I don't wish her to do so. She has a great idea of wifely obedience, I assure you.
gpt
Well, laughed Guy,
human
Unless something unexpected occurs to change our plans, I think she had better be moved the day after to-morrow. I advise your starting as early as possible before the world is well awake. But I leave all details to you. You are quite capable of managing the situation. Only be sure you are not followed, that is all I ask.
gpt
I don't expect we shall be, but if we are, I think I can promise to outwit them,
human
I shall never forget what you are doing for me, Guy.
gpt
You had better not. I expect you to erect a monument commemorating my virtues and my folly. Now I must be off. Where are those stolen goods of which I am to become the custodian?
human
Here they are. I have done them up in several parcels, so that they are not too bulky to carry. As I don't want the police to know how intimate we are, it is better that we should not be seen together in public for the present.
gpt
I think you are over-cautious. But perhaps, agreed Campbell,