human
Before committing ourselves to any promise, Mr. Elmendorf, said he, most blandly,
gpt
I said she was seen there. I did not keep watch.
human
On Mr. Forrest's _lodgings_, no. But how often was she seen there?
gpt
I am not prepared to state. Once is considered enough, I venture to say.
human
How often did the witness tell _you_ she was there, Mr. Allison?
gpt
Well, I paid so little attention. It was all so frivolous,
human
Yet he was the witness named by Mr. Elmendorf, I believe,--the only one; and you had him come to your office and you questioned him there, did you not?
gpt
I did, yes, but the impression passed away almost immediately. The man wasn't worthy of confidence.
human
When you hear his story you may think otherwise,
gpt
I have heard, said the judge-advocate;
human
he said to the messenger; and presently in came a hangdog, corner-loafer specimen of the shabby-genteel young man, supremely impudent on his native heath, but wofully ill at ease now.
gpt
This is your reputable witness, Mr. Elmendorf.
human
I protest against indignity to my witnesses or browbeating of any kind. This is not a court, and he's not on oath.
gpt
Certainly not. He's saved us all the trouble by telling the truth beforehand.--Now you can tell us how you came to chase the young lady into that door-way,
human
Well, sir, I'd been drinking, and I thought she was--a girl I knew.
gpt
Yes? and when you caught her in the vestibule what happened?
human
Nothin' much. She fought, and the door flew open, and---- here the shifting eyes wandered around until they rested on Forrest--
gpt
Didn't you declare to me you'd seen the lady going in there with him? Didn't you see them together late at night up near her own home?
human
Well, you took me up and showed 'em to me.
gpt
Didn't you tell me you knew she often went to his rooms?
human
Well, you asked me if I hadn't seen her, and I said no, and then you asked if I didn't think it was more'n likely, and----
gpt
That will do, said the judge-advocate.
human
You both knew very well then, and you know now, that it is an apartment-house, in which several families dwell, some of them friends of the young lady in question. You can go, young man,--I merely introduced that party as a specimen of the evidence for the prosecution. Now, Mr. Elmendorf, let me give you a specimen of the evidence for the defence.--Colonel, said he to the chief of staff,
gpt
Not a whisper.
human
Were Mr. Forrest's sudden orders in any way the result of any such rumor?
gpt
Not in the least. He was selected by the general to make certain confidential investigations regarding the encroachments of settlers, boomers, etc., on the Oklahoma tract. It was necessary that the object should not be heralded beforehand by the press, and so we had to keep it quiet.
human
There, Mr. Elmendorf; admitting these as specimen bricks of the probable testimony, we decline to reinstate the clerk, or to attach the slightest importance to your allegations at the expense of Mr. Forrest, and I am constrained to say that your propensity for meddling has got you into a nasty mess. So far as head-quarters are concerned, we've done with you. Now I'll leave you to settle with the friends of the young lady.
gpt
I'm not to be assaulted, and----
human
You lied to me and mine, he cried.
gpt
You declared on your honor that gentlemen high in authority in this office told you the reasons you gave for Mr. Forrest's summary orders to quit Chicago. I demand now to know whether it was not that poor devil whom you've ruined here,--Starkey. Answer me.
human
What good would it do? whined Elmendorf, shrugging his shoulders.
gpt
Would not my statement be promptly denied? _Noblesse oblige_, sir; the first business of these Knights of the Sword is to stand together, and woe betide the knave who dare accuse one of them. But if you'll be guided by my advice, Mr. Allison, you'll look well to your own vine and fig-tree, lest the despoiler----
human
You whelp!