human
What became of Mr. Peters?
gpt
They gave him six months--confound the idiots?
human
Why confound them?
gpt
A lawyer likes his client to be acquitted.
human
But Dr. Banyard says that he's a scoundrel.
gpt
Dr. Banyard! You can tell Dr. Banyard, with my compliments, that he's a Pharisee.
human
I think nothing of the man; I think he's an interfering prig. I don't like him, and he doesn't like me.
gpt
Which shows that he must be all kinds of a fool.
human
I don't know about that; but I do know that I don't like him. By the way, I suppose you understand what you're coming for. Everything here is at sixes and sevens. Nora knows absolutely nothing about her father's business affairs; he never told her anything; he kept his own counsel with a vengeance.
gpt
So I gathered from your note.
human
She doesn't even know who his man of business was. She wants you to find out; she thinks that if you look through his papers you will.
gpt
There should be no difficulty about that. If I have access to his papers I ought to find that out inside ten minutes.
human
I suppose so. But even if you do find out I don't see why you shouldn't keep the conduct of her affairs as much as possible in your hands; I think it might be done; you'll have my influence upon your side. You needn't say anything about there being an understanding between us; we can't keep people from guessing; but don't let them know--till it suits us.
gpt
By George, you're a clever one; you're the sort of girl I like!
human
I'm glad of that; because you happen to be the sort of man I like.
gpt
I'd like to kiss you!
human
Quite impossible, here. You see, it might be rather a good thing for you to have the management of Nora's estate.
gpt
True, oh queen!
human
Then why shouldn't you have it?
gpt
I know of no reason.
human
There is no reason, if you take proper advantage of the fact that you're first on the field. They had entered the house and were standing outside the study door. She produced a key.
gpt
Nora's not appearing; poor dear, she's more distressed than I ever thought she would have been! so, on this occasion only, I am doing the honours. We've kept this room locked up since the day on which Mr. Lindsay was taken ill; no one has crossed the threshold; you'll find everything in the same condition in which he left it. They entered the room. So soon as they were in he kissed her, and she kissed him, though she protested.
human
Hush! Nora's waiting for me! Remember what I told you; there's no reason why you shouldn't have the management of everything--if you like.
gpt
I wonder what she means, exactly; she's careful not to dot her i's. She's the dearest girl in the world, even dearer than I thought. This is something like a windfall. He took out the packet, fingering it, smilingly, with the fingers of both hands. Then, replacing it in his pocket, glancing round the room, he was struck by the state of disorder it was in.
human
It's as well they kept the door locked; everything seems to have been left about for the first comer to admire. Lindsay must have been having a regular turn-out when he was taken ill; I wonder why. On the writing-table the first thing which caught his eye were some slips of blue paper secured by a rubber band. He snatched them up. They were four promissory notes, payable at various dates; they all bore the same signature, Herbert Nash. He chuckled.
gpt
We'll consider those as paid, until they prove the contrary; which they'll find it hard to do. He slipped them into his breast pocket. Settling himself on the chair on which Mr. Lindsay had been seated when death first touched him on the shoulder, he began to go methodically through the papers which were about him, practically, on all sides. He came on one, the contents of which seemed to occasion him profound surprise.
human
What on earth is this? what the dickens does it mean? There was not a great deal on the paper; what there was he read again and again, as if he found its meaning curiously obscure.
gpt
This is queerish; I'd give a trifle to know what it does mean; it might be worth one's while to inquire.