human
Once again allow me to thank you for your hospitality,
gpt
Show this person out,
human
H'm, said Anthony, coming out from behind the piano.
gpt
That was a pity.
human
Do you think he realised you were hidden there?
gpt
Vases don't tumble over by themselves, mother dear, and our friend is not a fool. He tapped his teeth with a thumb nail reflectively.
human
Yes--yes--yes. We must curtail his activities. Can't have the old viper sending messages. Settle down at the telephone, best of mothers.
gpt
I do wish you would not address me as though I were a sitting hen,
human
The telephone, mother, and ask for the police station.
gpt
But the policeman is sure to be out.
human
Then talk to his missus.
gpt
That would be impossible, dear, Mrs. Brassbound----
human
Tell old Brassbound, said he,
gpt
There is no law to prevent people sending telegrams, dear.
human
Then we must make a few to fit the occasion.
gpt
Is that you, Mr. Brassbound? said the old lady in answer to a voice on the wire.
human
It's Mrs. Barraclough speaking. I wonder if you would very kindly arrest a clergyman for me.
gpt
Put a bit more sting in it, mother--ginger.
human
Ginger, repeated Mrs. Barraclough into the mouthpiece.
gpt
No, no, I didn't mean that. He's grey and elderly.
human
Say he pinched something,
gpt
I rather fear he has appropriated a cream jug. Yes. I thought perhaps he might send it off from the post office. Thank you. And how is your wife progressing? Yes, of course she is. Yes, I am coming down to see her this evening if I can get away. Goodbye.
human
What's wrong with the policeman's missus?
gpt
As you're not a married man, Tony, I shall refuse to tell you,
human
Going to see her?
gpt
I was going to take her this basket of roses and some vegetables, but as----
human
No, no, you take 'em and I'll go down to the village with you in the car and take it on. You won't mind walking home across the fields.
gpt
Anthony, said Mrs. Barraclough seriously.
human
Is it very real danger you're in?
gpt
Pretty solid but don't you fret, I'm equal to it.
human
We've seen him down the road,
gpt
Good. Now, look here, everyone, I've wasted a deuce of a lot of time when I ought to have been on the way. Here's the position of affairs. Flora, you're going to drive me to London.
human
Right,
gpt
Jane! Still got that old service revolver I gave you?
human
Um.
gpt
Keep it handy. Likely enough there'll be a couple of visitors here before long and you've got to detain 'em somehow.
human
I'll keep 'em till they grow roots,
gpt
It's a damn shame, dragging you into all this, but that bullet did me in as a driver. It's no joke shoving a motor bike along with a bullet through your hand.
human
But how did you get the wound, dear?
gpt
Who are these men?
human
Couple of spies belonging to a crowd that tried to prevent me leaving London three weeks ago.
gpt
But what do they want?
human
Just this. I've given 'em a pretty good lead all day--played hare and hounds all over Dartmoor best part of the morning but somehow I don't believe I've shaken 'em off.
gpt
Where did you leave the bike?
human
Couple of miles back on the main road. Shoved her in a thicket. Front tyre burst and that settled it. There's a bare hope they may have been kidded into believing I'd gone straight on but it's slender enough. Comberstone knows I have a home hereabouts and they're pretty certain to have watched my tracks on the road. Mother's old bus is going well you say?
gpt
I can whack her up to about a thirty average,
human
Thirty, and we've a hundred and fifty to go. Yes, yes--ought to be in Town by eleven.
gpt
Easy.
human
Then I'll just swallow a snack of grub and push off straight away. Get your engine started.
gpt
There's a lovely pie in the larder, dear, said Mrs. Barraclough.
human
Just the sort you like best. Jane! My motor cloak and bonnet.
gpt
Oh, isn't this gorgeous,
human
Simply topping,
gpt
You lucky beast to be going up with him.
human
I like that, when you've got a shooting programme.
gpt
Oh, well, I suppose the honours are divided. Good luck.
human
Same to you.