human
Will you tell me, she said,
gpt
I want to cure him, he said.
human
I want to make a whole man of him.
gpt
Could you?
human
I could. Abruptly Capper stopped. His yellow face was curiously aglow.
gpt
I say I could, he asserted almost fiercely,
human
It would mean an operation then? A very serious one?
gpt
My dear lady, it would mean not one, but two. I won't trouble you with technical details which you wouldn't understand. Put briefly, it would mean in the first place a pulling down and in the second a building up. Both operations would be a serious tax upon his strength, but I am satisfied that he has the strength for both. Six months would elapse between the two, and during that time he would be flat on his back. If he could hold on for those six months he would come through all right. Of that I am convinced. But those six months are my stumbling-block. Freedom from all anxiety is essential. He wants a stanch friend continually beside him to keep him cheery and at peace. That fellow Nap is the principle obstacle. He stirs up hell and tommy wherever he goes, and he's never absent for long. Lucas himself admits that his brothers are a care to him. Oh, it's all an infernal tangle. I sometimes think family ties are the very deuce.
human
If you consider Nap an obstacle--why don't you speak to him?
gpt
He hates me--and small wonder! I've told him the brutal truth too often.
human
And Lucas does not wish to undergo the operation?
gpt
That's just the infernal part of it! burst forth Capper.
human
He would undergo it to-morrow if he didn't consider himself indispensable to these young whelps. But that isn't all. Lady Carfax, he wants help. He wants someone strong to stand by. I believe you could do it--if you would. You are the sort of woman that men turn to in trouble. I've been watching you. I know.
gpt
Dr. Capper, has Lucas been telling you about me?
human
Yes.
gpt
You know how I am situated?
human
I do.
gpt
And you think I could be of use to him?
human
I don't think, said Capper.
gpt
I know. He released her hand as abruptly as he had taken it. His long fingers began to curve and crack mechanically.
human
I'll tell you something, he said.
gpt
Don't know why I should, but I will. I love Lucas Errol as if he were my son.
human
Ah! Anne said gently.
gpt
I think we all love him in our different ways.
human
That so? said the American keenly.
gpt
Then I shall leave the matter in your charge, Lady Carfax. I can see you're a capable woman. I'm coming back in September to perform that operation. You will have a willing patient ready for me--by willing I mean something gayer than resigned--and my bugbear, Nap--that most lurid specimen of civilised devilry--hunting scalps on the other side of the Atlantic.
human
Oh, I don't know! Anne said quickly.
gpt
I don't know!