human
You're a devil, he said,
gpt
So clever, responded Mrs. Markham in dulcet tones,
human
That means blackmail, I suppose,
gpt
Now, Mr. Norcross, I beg of you, protested Mrs. Markham,
human
I have _never_ used harsh names for unpleasant truths with you! Do me the same courtesy. You will agree, I think, that the Norcross interests would suffer if people knew that Robert H. Norcross was running to spirit mediums--my business is little appreciated. The newspapers, Mr. Norcross--
gpt
Would any newspaper believe you?
human
An admirable method, responded Mrs. Markham,
gpt
--her gesture indicated Dr. Blake and Rosalie--
human
Doctor! she cried,
gpt
Listen, Mr. Norcross. I'll tell you what this was done for! Do you know a youngish lookin' man, smooth-shaven, neat dresser, gray eyes, about forty-five, got something to do with Wall Street, wears one of them little twisted-up red and white society buttons in his buttonhole, has a trick of holding his chin between his fingers--so--when he's thinkin'? Because _he_ started it. He's the nigger in your woodpile. He came here a week before you ever saw Mrs. Markham, bringin' the notes about Helen Whitton--the dope that she's been feedin' you. If you'll put that together with what the spirit--she--Miss Markham, told you tonight about declarin' dividends--
human
Mrs. Granger, interrupted Mrs. Markham,
gpt
Deductions, your grandmother! retorted Rosalie Le Grange,
human
To think how close you come to foolin' even _me_ that's played this game, girl and woman, for twenty-five years! If I hadn't caught you so anxious to stop that little girl from seein' that you kept Practical Methods of Hypnotism' hid behind the bookcase, I'd have gone away from here believin' that she was deep in the mud as you was in the mire. You certainly sprung a new one on me!
gpt
I do not believe that this is a plant. Mrs. Markham, shall we bargain?
human
I like the life in London, said Mrs. Markham.
gpt
I have been waiting to retire.
human
Twenty-five thousand dollars?
gpt
Oh dear, no! Fifty.
human
Yes, you will--you'll take it in a check or not at all, he said.
gpt
I want this transaction recorded. I'll tell you why. It is worth just that to keep this story out of the papers. I was caught, and I pay. It is worth no more. I will give you this check to-night. You will cash it in the morning. I shall have the cancelled check as a voucher. If ever you ask me for a dollar more, you go to State's Prison for extortion--on the testimony of these three witnesses. My legal department is the best in the country. In short, it is worth fifty thousand dollars to me. It is not worth fifty thousand and one. Also, you sail to London within a week. Does that go?
human
It does,
gpt
Do you hear that? he asked.
human
Do you know what it means? It is called blackmail!
gpt
Oh, Aunt Paula, Aunt Paula!