human
I've done it, he said.
gpt
It's all right--terrific.
human
You don't mean?
gpt
Yes, I do.
human
The real Mackay?
gpt
Alike as two postage stamps.
human
Where've you got him?
gpt
Here, in your bathroom--changing.
human
Changing?
gpt
Of course. Couldn't bring him as he was. They'd have spotted him for certain. So I draped him in a nurse's cloak and cap over his ordinary gear. Looked fine under a veil with his face painted pretty and pink. He's washing it off now.
human
Is he like me?
gpt
Like you!
human
How's he talk?
gpt
As you do. I'd have been here earlier only he was hungry--devilish hungry. He'd not eaten for best part of three days.
human
But you saw him at the Berkeley.
gpt
I know, that made it a bit difficult.
human
Come on, said Barraclough,
gpt
Take too long. Had almost given up hope this morning, then I had a stroke of luck--hit a red hot trail--spent the day chasing through the West End staring at every man I saw. Got a glimpse of him at last in Clarges Street 'bout nine o'clock. Taxi with a heap of luggage drove up to a house and this chap came racing after it.
human
Good heavens, he exclaimed,
gpt
Not he--down and out, that's all. I might easily have missed him for he'd grown a bit of a scrub on his chin during the last few days but when I saw the way he had of standing and that same trick of the head you've got I was sure enough. He's a sportsman, that chap, for he was wanting food and yet some decent restraint stopped him coming forward to help with the boxes. He'd meant to but at the last moment he shirked it. I could see him wrestling with himself--a step forward, then hesitating. At last the driver asked him to lend a hand with the biggest trunk and he shouldered it and carried it into the house. When he came out the fare was fumbling in his pocket for six-pences. It must have been the sight of this cut into his pride. He hadn't a cent of his own but something inside him rebelled. 'No, I'll be damned if I can,' he said and made off down the street. I picked him up on the bench by the cabbies' shelter ten minutes later. Made myself affable and asked if he'd care to turn an honest fifty. In fact I gave fifty as a bona fide. Told him to get himself shaved and roll round to Clarkson's to be fixed up in the nurse's gear--and get some food too.
human
That was risky, remarked Lord Almont,
gpt
I told you he was a gentleman, didn't I?
human
Does he know what we want of him?
gpt
Roughly. I said it was to occupy a flat for three weeks.
human
Ah! Barraclough, I am disposed to think you would do wisely to retire into the next room while we interview this young gentleman. The less he knows the better.
gpt
Quite.
human
There isn't a cupboard, I suppose, where you could fix yourself up with an easy chair until--well until the kidnapping is over.
gpt
There's a wine cupboard.
human
Excellent. We'll have a word together before you go.
gpt
The gentleman wishes to have a word with you, sir.
human
Half a second, said Barraclough.
gpt
I'll slip out through the bedroom. There's a second door into the hall. Righto, Doran.
human
The gentleman, sir,