human
I think your dinner will come off next Wednesday, he said.
gpt
And I have been getting together your party for you.
human
That is so, Mr. Dunquerque? asked Gilead Beck, with a solemnity which hardly disguised his pride and joy.
gpt
That is so? And those great men, your friends, are actually coming?
human
I have seen them all, personally. And I put the case before each of them. I said, 'Here is an American gentleman most anxious to make your acquaintance; he has no letters of introduction to you, but he is a sincere admirer of your genius; he appreciates you better than any other living man.'
gpt
Heap it up, Mr. Dunquerque, said the Man of Oil.
human
Heap it up. Tell them I am Death on appreciation.
gpt
That is in substance what I did tell them. Then I explained that you deputed me, or gave me permission to ask them to dinner. 'The honour,' I said, 'is mutual. On the one hand, my friend, Mr. Gilead P. Beck'--I ventured to say, 'my friend, Mr. Gilead P. Beck'----
human
If you hadn't said that you should have been scalped and gouged. Go on, Mr. Dunquerque; go on, sir.
gpt
That is so--that is so.
human
Mr. Dunquerque, not a day passes but you load me with obligations. Tell me, if you please, who they are.
gpt
Well, you will say I have done pretty well, I think. Jack pulled out a paper.
human
And you will know most of the names. First of all, you would like to see the old Philosopher of Cheyne Walk, Thomas Carlyle, as your guest?
gpt
Carlyle, sir, is a name to conjure with in the States. When I was Editor of the _Clearville Roarer_ I had an odd volume of Carlyle, and I used to quote him as long as the book lasted. It perished in a fight. And to think that I shall meet the man who wrote that work! An account of the dinner must be written for the _Rockoleaville Gazette_. We'll have a special reporter, Mr. Dunquerque. We'll get a man who'll do it up to the handle.
human
What do you say of Professor Huxley and Mr. Darwin?
gpt
I should say they were prominent citizens, likely, if I knew what they'd written. Is Professor Huxley a professing Christian? There was a Professor Habukkuk Huckster once down Empire City way in the Moody and Sankey business, with an interest in the organs and a percentage on the hymn-books; but they're not relations, I suppose? Not probable. And the other genius--what is his name--Darwin? Grinds novels perhaps?
human
Historical works of fiction. Great in genealogy is Darwin.
gpt
Never mind my ignorance, Mr. Dunquerque. And go on, sir. I'm powerful interested.
human
Ruskin is coming; and I had thought of Robert Browning, the poet, but I am afraid he may not be able to be present. You see, Browning is so much sought after by the younger men of the day. They used to play polo and billiards and other frivolous things till he came into fashion with his light and graceful verse, so simple that all may understand it. His last poem, I believe, is now sung about the streets. However, there are Tennyson and Swinburne--they are both coming. Buchanan I would ask, if I knew him, but I don't. George Eliot, of course, I could not invite to a stag party. Trollope we might get, perhaps----
gpt
Give me Charles Reade, sir, said Gilead Beck.
human
He is the novelist they like on our side.
gpt
I am afraid I could not persuade him to come; though he might be pleased to see you if you would call at his house, perhaps. However, Beck, the great thing is --he folded up his list and placed it in his pocket-book--
human
That gives only four days. It's terrible sudden,