human
You may sugar my eggs when I'm dead, Mercer, he said,
gpt
I hope not, sir, I hope not, replied Mercer quickly.
human
Indeed, I hope you are going to live, sir.
gpt
Thanks! said Kent dryly.
human
Where is Cardigan?
gpt
The Inspector sent a messenger for him, sir. I think he has gone to see him. Are your eggs properly done, sir?
human
Mercer, if you ever worked in a butler's pantry, for the love of heaven forget it now! exploded Kent,
gpt
I want you to tell me something straight out. How long have I got?
human
I can't say, sir. Doctor Cardigan hasn't told me. But I think not very long, sir. Doctor Cardigan is cut up all in rags this morning. And Father Layonne is coming to see you at any moment.
gpt
Much obliged, nodded Kent, calmly beginning his second egg.
human
And, by the way, what did you think of the young lady?
gpt
Ripping, positively ripping!
human
That's the word, agreed Kent.
gpt
Ripping. It sounds like the calico counter in a dry-goods store, but means a lot. Don't happen to know where she is staying or why she is at the Landing, do you?
human
I heard Doctor Cardigan ask her if we might expect her to honor us with another visit, and she told him it would be impossible, because she was leaving on a down-river scow tonight. Fort Simpson, I think she said she was going to, sir.
gpt
The deuce you say! cried Kent, spilling a bit of his coffee in the thrill of the moment.
human
Why, that's where Staff-Sergeant O'Connor is bound for!
gpt
So I heard Doctor Cardigan tell her. But she didn't reply to that. She just--went. If you don't mind a little joke in your present condition, sir, I might say that Doctor Cardigan was considerably flayed up over her. A deuced pretty girl, sir, deuced pretty! And I think he was shot through!
human
Now you're human, Mercer. She was pretty, wasn't she?
gpt
Er--yes--stunningly so, Mr. Kent, agreed Mercer, reddening suddenly to the roots of his pasty, blond hair.
human
I don't mind confessing that in this unusual place her appearance was quite upsetting.
gpt
I agree with you, friend Mercer, nodded Kent.
human
She upset me. And--see here, old man!--will you do a dying man the biggest favor he ever asked in his life?
gpt
I should be most happy, sir, most happy.
human
It's this, said Kent.
gpt
I want to know if that girl actually leaves on the down-river scow tonight. If I'm alive tomorrow morning, will you tell me?
human
I shall do my best, sir.
gpt
Good. It's simply the silly whim of a dying man, Mercer. But I want to be humored in it. And I'm sensitive--like yourself. I don't want Cardigan to know. There's an old Indian named Mooie, who lives in a shack just beyond the sawmill. Give him ten dollars and tell him there is another ten in it if he sees the business through, and reports properly to you, and keeps his mouth shut afterward. Here--the money is under my pillow.
human
Buy cigars with the rest of it, old man. It's of no more use to me. And this little trick you are going to pull off is worth it. It's my last fling on earth, you might say.
gpt
Thank you, sir. It is very kind of you.