human
I say, Bob, there’ll be a splendid rag to-morrow, he said on rejoining his friend.
gpt
There’s a meeting of parliamentary electors at the new Literary Institute—a final kick before the election on Saturday. Old Noakes is in the chair: he’s a pacifist, you remember, and the bill gives short notice that the meeting will be addressed by—— (He mentioned the name of a notorious agitator.)
human
We’ll go. Ask a few questions, perhaps.
gpt
Soldiers in uniform are forbidden to——
human
Rats! That’s all gone by the board. The soldier’s a citizen now-a-days.... I say, is this Wilkins?
gpt
My employer,
human
Well, any business a-doing?
gpt
There have been two callers: one was a man who’d over-driven his machine and run short of oil. He was in a tearing hurry, and distinctly offensive. I did what I could for him, and warned him he’d lose his big ends if he wasn’t careful. Here’s the half-crown he paid me.
human
Half-a-crown! No more than that?
gpt
Well, he paid what I asked.
human
Rot it all! You didn’t ask enough. A feller in a hurry, and likewise rude, ought to be made to pay. Look ’ee here, Mr. Templeton, you’re a young feller, and have got a thing or two to learn: you’d best get a notion of charging if you’re to be of any use to me.
gpt
What about that, then?
human
Ah, now, that’s better, to be sure! How did ’ee get ’em?
gpt
An Irishman wanted to get to the camp in a hurry. He happened to be polite, so I drove him up in my road yacht. As a matter of fact, we passed the other fellow in his car: he had picked up your mayor, and I gathered he was a business rival of the Irishman. I wasn’t sorry we beat him; his big ends dropped off, as I warned him.
human
The Irishman was so pleased that he offered me five pounds, Templeton went on,
gpt
Then dang me if you ain’t done me out of three pounds! cried the man, irritably.
human
Did any one ever hear the likes of refusing good money when ’twas offered free? Done me out of three pounds—_three_ pounds, look ’ee, as ought to have been in my pocket! Done me out of it, you have!
gpt
Well, Mr. Wilkins, said Templeton, quietly,
human
I’m sorry you’re not satisfied. Perhaps we had better part.
gpt
I don’t say that, said Wilkins, calming himself with an effort.
human
You’re a gentleman, that’s where ’tis, and not bred up to understand business. I’ll say no more—let it bide—but another time don’t ’ee go and refuse good money; that’s business. Well, I’m off up along to the town; know where I can get some petrol on the quiet; that’s business too. I’ll be back afore long.
gpt
You keep queer company, old man!
human
He’s trying at times, I confess—a rough diamond, said Templeton.
gpt
But I think he’s sound.
human
I wonder! Somebody wanted him to give Noakes a tip, you remember. He must be very well in with Noakes, and that’s suspicious in itself. His face was as long as a fiddle when you told him O’Reilly got in ahead of Noakes.
gpt
Well, I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. Now, I’ve got to make a new crank pin for a motor cycle that was brought in for repair this morning. It’ll take me some time, and I don’t want to keep you hanging about. Why not go into the town and have a look round?
human
Righto. What time do you knock off?
gpt
Five.
human
I’ll call for you, then. So long!