human
I came--about Evie.
gpt
Quite so. I knew there was a hitch. I've just had a mysterious note from Queenie Jarrott which I haven't been able to make out. Can't they hit it off?
human
It's a good deal more serious than that. Mr. Strange came to see Mr. Wayne and me last night. I may as well tell you as simply as I can. His name isn't Strange at all.
gpt
Ho! ho! What's up?
human
Did you ever hear the name of--Norrie Ford?
gpt
Good Lord, yes! I can't quite remember--Let's see. Norrie Ford? I know the name as well as I know my own. Wasn't that the case--why, yes, it must have been--wasn't that the case Wayne was mixed up in six or eight years ago?
human
Yes, it was.
gpt
The fellow gave 'em all the slip, didn't he?
human
Hadn't he been commuted to a life sentence--?
gpt
Mr. Wayne hoped it would be done, but it hadn't been done yet. He was still under sentence of--death.
human
Yes, yes, yes. It comes back to me. We thought Wayne hadn't displayed much energy or ability of foresight--or something. I remember there was talk about it, and in the newspapers there was even a cock-and-bull story that Wayne had connived at his escape. Well, what has that got to do with Evie?
gpt
It has everything to do with her.
human
You don't mean to say--?
gpt
I do.
human
Well, upon--my--! The exclamation trailed off into a silent effort to take in this extraordinary piece of intelligence
gpt
Do you mean to say the scamp had the cheek--? Oh no, it isn't possible. Come now!
human
It was exactly as I'm going to tell you, but I don't think you should call him a scamp. You see, he's engaged to Evie--
gpt
He's not engaged to her now?
human
He is. She means to be true to him. So do we all.
gpt
Well, I'm blowed!
human
Perhaps you won't be so much--blowed, when you hear all I have to tell you.
gpt
Go ahead; I'm more interested than if it was a dime novel.