human
Next morning, there was the picture, still reversed.
gpt
Did he stay long?
human
Half an hour, by the clock.
gpt
Did he talk?
human
Well, he rambled.
gpt
What about?
human
About things that an old man ought to want to forget. His conversation is highly objectionable. Of course he knows me like a book; everything I've ever done or thought. But when he recalls them, he throws a bad light on them, somehow. Things that weren't much off color, look rotten. He doesn't leave one a shred of self-respect, he really doesn't. That's the amount of it.
gpt
You mean he really talks about things that none of your friends know?
human
Oh, dear, yes! Recalls things that happened in school. Anything disagreeable. Funny thing, he always turns Brian's picture to the wall.
gpt
Does he come often?
human
Yes, oftener, now. Of course I don't know how he gets in down-stairs. The hall boys never see him. But he has a key to my door. I don't know how he got it, but I can hear him turn it in the lock.
gpt
Why don't you keep your driver with you, or telephone for me to come down?
human
He'd only grin and go down the fire escape as he did before. He's often done it when Harry's come in suddenly. Everybody has to be alone sometimes, you know. Besides, I don't want anybody to see him. He has me there.
gpt
But why not? Why do you feel responsible for him?
human
That's rather the point, isn't it? Why do I? But I absolutely do. That identifies him, more than his knowing all about my life and my affairs.
gpt
Well, I should advise you to go in for something altogether different and new, and go in for it hard; business, engineering, metallurgy, something this old fellow wouldn't be interested in. See if you can make him remember logarithms.
human
No, he has me there, too. People never really change; they go on being themselves. But I would never make much trouble. Why can't they let me alone, damn it! I'd never hurt anybody, except, perhaps----
gpt
Except your old gentleman, eh? Eastman laughed.
human
Seriously, Cavenaugh, if you want to shake him, I think a year on a ranch would do it. He would never be coaxed far from his favorite haunts. He would dread Montana.
gpt
So do I!
human
Oh, you think you do. Try it, and you'll find out. A gun and a horse beats all this sort of thing. Besides losing your haunt, you'd be putting ten years in the bank for yourself. I know a good ranch where they take people, if you want to try it.
gpt
Thank you. I'll consider. Do you think I'm batty?
human
No, but I think you've been doing one sort of thing too long. You need big horizons. Get out of this.
gpt
It's late, and I've taken your whole evening. He strolled over to the window and looked out.
human
Queer place, New York; rough on the little fellows. Don't you feel sorry for them, the girls especially? I do. What a fight they put up for a little fun! Why, even that old goat is sorry for them, the only decent thing he kept.
gpt
Good night.