human
I'm sure, sir, I'm sorry the master ain't here to see you, she said, polishing a chair with her apron.
gpt
But as you says--or as I take it you means--'e's gone where we must all go. Take a seat, sir, and I'll tell Joe, who's in the library.
human
Joe--my old friend Joe! said Cicero, sitting down like a mountain.
gpt
Ah! the faithful fellow!
human
Faithful! growled the coachman,
gpt
Poor Dick _was_ an iceberg! sighed Cicero pensively.
human
A cold, secretive man.
gpt
Ah! said Mrs. Crammer, wiping her eye,
human
We all have our skeletons, ma'am. But would you mind giving me something to eat and to drink? for I have walked a long way. I am too poor, said Cicero, with a sweet smile,
gpt
Talking about skeletons, sir, said the footman when Mr. Gramp's jaws were fully occupied,
human
Ah! said Gramp profoundly.
gpt
What indeed!
human
But whatever it is, it has to do with the West Indies,
gpt
Lor'! exclaimed the housemaid,
human
From observation, Jane, my dear, Thomas smiled loftily.
gpt
A week or two afore master had the fit as took him, I brought in a letter with the West Indy stamp. He turned white as chalk when he saw it, and tore it open afore I could get out of the room. I 'ad to fetch a glass of whisky. He was struck all of a 'eap--gaspin', faintin', and cussin' orful.
human
Did he show it to Miss Sophy?
gpt
Not as I knows of. He kept his business to hisself,
human
Ha! he said,
gpt
And the postmark was Kingston, Jamaica,
human
It recalls my youth, said Cicero.
gpt
Ah! they were happy, happy days!
human
What was Mr. Marlow, sir?
gpt
A planter of--of--rice, hazarded Gramp. He knew that there were planters in the West Indies, but he was not quite sure what it was they planted.
human
Rice--acres of it!
gpt
Well, he didn't make his money out of that, sir,
human
No, he did not, admitted the professor of elocution.
gpt
He acquired his millions in Mashonaland--the Ophir of the Jews.
human
He was precious careful not to part with none of it,
gpt
Except to Dr. Warrender, said the cook.
human
The doctor was always screwing money out of him. Not that it was so much 'im as 'is wife. I can't abear that doctor's wife--a stuck-up peacock, I call her. She fairly ruined her husband in clothes. Miss Sophy didn't like her, neither.
gpt
Dick's child! cried Gramp, who had by this time procured a cigar from the footman.
human
Ah! is little Sophy still alive?
gpt
Still alive! echoed Mrs. Crammer,
human
No, said Cicero, grasping the idea.
gpt
Dick was fair when we were boys. I heard rumors that little Sophy was engaged--let me see--to a Mr. Thorold.
human
Alan Thorold, Esquire, corrected the coachman gruffly;
gpt
To the seaside? Not to Brighton?
human
Nothin' of the sort--to Bournemouth, if you know where that is.
gpt
I know some things, my friend, said Cicero mildly.
human
It was Bournemouth I meant--not unlike Brighton, I think, since both names begin with a B. I know that Miss Marlow--dear little Sophy!--is staying at the Imperial Hotel, Bournemouth.
gpt
You're just wrong! cried Thomas, falling into the trap;
human
Can I take them? asked Gramp, rising.
gpt
I am going to Bournemouth to see little Sophy and Mr. Thorold. I shall tell them of your hospitality.
human
Oh, here's a go! he exclaimed.
gpt
Dr. Warrender's run away, an' the Quiet Gentleman's followed!
human
Wot d'ye mean, Billy?
gpt
Wot I say. The doctor ain't bin 'ome all night, nor all mornin', an' Mrs. Warrender's in hysterics over him. Their 'ousemaid I met shoppin' tole me.
human
And the Quiet Gentleman?
gpt
He's gone, too. Went out larst night, an' never come back. Mrs. Marry thinks he's bin murdered.
human
My boy, he said pompously,
gpt
Don't you know, sir? put in the eager cook.
human
He's a mystery, 'aving bin staying at Mrs. Marry's cottage, she a lone widder taking in boarders.
gpt
I'll give a week's notice! sobbed the scullery-maid.
human
These crimes is too much for me.
gpt
As like as not he's cold and stiff in some lonely grave!
human
The Quiet Gentleman, said Cicero, bent upon acquiring further information--
gpt
Well, I never, sir! cried Jane, the housemaid.
human
If you ain't describing Dr. Warrender! Did you know him, sir?
gpt
I knew him professionally. He attended me for a relaxed throat. I was _vox et præterea nihil_ until he cured me. But what was this mysterious gentleman like? Short, eh?
human
No; tall and thin, with a stoop. Long white hair, longer beard and black eyes like gimblets, gabbled the cook.
gpt
I met 'im arter dark one evenin', and I declare as 'is eyes were glow-worms. Ugh! They looked me through and through. I've never bin the same woman since.
human
What the devil's all this?
gpt
Oh, Joe! shrieked the cook,
human
News!
gpt
Mrs. Warrender's lost her husband, and the Quiet Gentleman's disappeared mysterious!
human
Rubbish! Get to your work, all of you!