human
Listen, Anthony! said he.
gpt
Eh? You've no notion of what I mean to do,
human
No, but I can guess enough to dope it out pretty well, and--don't do it! Johnson Boller said earnestly.
gpt
This theory stuff is all right, Anthony; I like to sit and chatter about it as much as you do. On the level, I do! I like to talk with you about these things, and wonder what would happen if this was thus and the other thing was otherwise. But when you come to pulling it on a perfect stranger at a prize fight, Anthony, try to remember that everybody may not understand you as well as I do.
human
My dear chap!
gpt
Don't laugh; I know what I'm talking about, Mr. Boller went on, feverishly almost.
human
You wait till we get home, Anthony, and we'll talk over all this about opportunity and get it settled. For the matter of that, I can see now that you're dead right! Johnson Boller said, and there was something almost pathetic in his voice.
gpt
You're dead right, Anthony! All you have to do is to stick opportunity before a man long enough and he's bound to chuck a hammerlock into her and slam her down to the mat for keeps! So that's settled, and we don't have to do any experimenting with human subjects. Or if you do have to have a live one to work on, wait till we get home and we'll take Wilkins, Anthony! That'd be better, anyway.
human
Johnson, said he,
gpt
It doesn't want to reach into the abstract!
human
Well, it should, because it will grow more and more stodgy if it doesn't, Mr. Fry said complacently.
gpt
Good gracious, Johnson! Coming to life! Just consider what may be coming to this seat!
human
I don't dare!
gpt
An old man, perhaps--one who fancies his opportunities all past and done for. What more vitally interesting than thrusting opportunity upon such a man, Johnson?
human
So far as I'm concerned, anything under the sun and----
gpt
Or perhaps a middle-aged failure, Anthony rambled on.
human
A man just past the age when hope is richest--a man who has seen his chances come and go. I don't know, Johnson, but I rather believe that I'm hoping for a middle-aged man.
gpt
Yes, one that's weak enough to gag before he can yell for the police, Johnson Boller grunted.
human
Now, Anthony, before you----
gpt
Or best of all, perhaps, an average young man, smiled the experimenter.
human
That would really be the most interesting sort of subject, Johnson--just a plain chap, not fully matured, not soured by disappointment nor rendered too sophisticated by contact with the world. On the whole, I really hope that a young man is coming!