human
Why do you not seek an explanation of such an extraordinary request?
gpt
Simply because it is really unnecessary. I know why you make the request. I fully comprehend your motive.
human
You understand?
gpt
I do.
human
No, no, it is impossible that you understand.
gpt
I will prove to you that I do understand. You fear that Alphonse Donetti will be one of the burglars. You do not desire him to be captured. See what a mind-reader I am.
human
Why do you assume that Alphonse will be one of the robbers?
gpt
Merely because you do, that's all.
human
How do you know that I do?
gpt
You would not make the extraordinary request unless that was your fear.
human
You are a strange man.
gpt
And you are a very strangely acting lady. It is indeed a strange thing for a lady who expects robbers to visit her house to ask that they be permitted to escape. I must do my duty, miss, I cannot grant your request unless you ask that I let Alphonse go and arrest the others.
human
No, that will not do, she exclaimed,
gpt
Aha! ejaculated the detective,
human
Oh, what shall I do?
gpt
I can tell you.
human
Please do.
gpt
Make a full confidant of me.
human
Will you believe me?
gpt
I know of no reason why I should doubt your word.
human
I have already deceived you.
gpt
Eh! you have already deceived me?
human
I have.
gpt
In what direction?
human
I told you I had never seen or spoken to Alphonse Donetti?
gpt
I remember.
human
My denial was false.
gpt
I did not dare let my aunt know that I had ever seen him.
human
And you have met?
gpt
Yes.
human
Often?
gpt
Yes, very often. He has confided in me.
human
One moment! are you his affianced wife?
gpt
On my honor, I am not; but knowing his real story I sympathize with him most heartily.
human
He has revealed to you more than his mother ever revealed to your aunt?
gpt
Yes.
human
Tell me what he revealed to you.
gpt
I cannot.
human
Oh, but you can.
gpt
No, I am bound by an oath; I cannot break my oath.
human
Do you know that Donetti is in New York?
gpt
I do not.
human
Have you reason to suspect that he is?
gpt
I had no reason to so suspect until you indicated that he was possibly the author of the warning note, then I did suspect that he was in New York.
human
Have you any grounds for believing that he is a criminal?
gpt
I have not.
human
Then why do you fear he may be with the robbers to-night?
gpt
I do not know to what desperate deeds his many wrongs and privations may have driven him. If he is in New York I will find him. If he is being driven toward the career of a criminal I will save him. If you arrest him I cannot save him, and yet he deserves to be saved, for he is the victim of a great wrong.
human
This is a very unfortunate girl, but she is only one of a type of woman who can be thus fascinated.
gpt
I do not think Alphonse will be one of the robbers.
human
You believe he is in New York?
gpt
Yes, I believe so.
human
How would he know of the intended robbery?
gpt
That is a question I cannot answer. Indeed I can advance no theory, but I do not believe he will be one of the robbers.
human
It is possible he is not in New York at all.
gpt
Yes, it is possible, but the probabilities are that he is.