human
What's happened?
gpt
One of the most singular adventures of my life,
human
Singular! cried Hodge.
gpt
I should say so! You are dead in luck to be alive!
human
I consider myself so, confessed Merry;
gpt
Are you certain?
human
Certain! Great Scott! You do not fancy for an instant that Burns was the man, do you?
gpt
I don't know.
human
Well, I do!
gpt
You mean you think you do.
human
No; I mean that I know. Burns was not the man.
gpt
How do you know?
human
Why, hang it, Hodge! Why should that unfortunate old fellow wish to harm me, who has been his friend?
gpt
Somebody may have hired him to do it.
human
Oh, you're daffy on that point! Reason will teach you that. If it had been Burns, he would not have registered under his own name. But I absolutely know it was not Burns I encountered. Besides being ridiculous that a man of his years and habits should venture to enter my room in such a manner, the man whom I encountered was supple, strong, and quick as a flash. Burns could not have fought like that; he could not have escaped in such an astonishing manner.
gpt
Oh, well, perhaps not, admitted Hodge, who seemed reluctant to give up.
human
But I have warned you against Burns all along, and----
gpt
Oh, drop him now! Somebody else is trying to injure the poor fellow. I want to know who did the job last night, and W. S. Burns will not be able to tell me anything.