human
Whist now,
gpt
What is the matter?
human
Can you bear a surprise, sir?
gpt
Have you any bad news for me?
human
No; it's good news, but you must promise not to tell Curtis.
gpt
Is it about Florence? Your messenger can hardly have reached Chicago.
human
He isn't going there, sir.
gpt
But you promised that he should,
human
I'll tell you why, sir. Florence is not in Chicago.
gpt
I--I don't understand. You said she was there.
human
Begging your pardon, sir, it was Curtis that said so, though he knew she was in New York.
gpt
But what motive could he have had for thus misrepresenting matters?
human
He doesn't want you to take her back.
gpt
I can't believe you, Mrs. Barnes. He loves her, and wants to marry her.
human
He couldn't marry her if she consented to take him.
gpt
Why not? Mrs. Barnes, you confuse me.
human
I won't deceive you as he has done. There's rason in plinty. He's married already.
gpt
Is this true?
human
It's true enough; more by token, to-morrow, whin he's out, his wife will come here and tell you so herself.
gpt
But who are you who seem to know so much about my family?
human
I'm a friend of the pore girl you've driven from the house, because she would not marry a rascally spalpeen that's been schemin' to get your property into his hands.
gpt
You're a friend of Florence? Where is she?
human
She's in my house, and has been there ever since she left her home.
gpt
Is she--well?
human
As well as she can be whin she's been workin' her fingers to the bone wid sewin' to keep from starvin'.
gpt
My God! what have I done?
human
You've let Curtis Waring wind you around his little finger--that's what you've done, Mr. Linden.
gpt
How soon can I see Florence?
human
How soon can you bear it?
gpt
The sooner the better.
human
Then it'll be to-morrow, I'm thinkin', that is if you won't tell Curtis.
gpt
No, no; I promise.
human
I'll manage everything, sir. Don't worry now.
gpt
My uncle looks better,
human
Yes, sir, answered the nurse.
gpt
I've soothed him like.
human
Indeed! You seem to be a very accomplished nurse.
gpt
Faith, that I am, sir, though it isn't I that should say it.
human
May I ask how you soothed him?
gpt
I told him that Miss Florence would soon be home.
human
I do not think it right to hold out hopes that may prove ill-founded.
gpt
I know what I am about, Mr. Curtis.
human
I dare say you understand your business, Mrs. Barnes, but if my uncle should be disappointed, I am afraid the consequences will be lamentable.
gpt
Do you think he'll live long, sir?
human
It is very hard to tell. My uncle is a very feeble man.
gpt
And if he dies, I suppose the property goes to you?
human
I suppose so.
gpt
But where does Florence come in?
human
It seems to me, Mrs. Barnes, that you take a good deal of interest in our family affairs,
gpt
That's true, sir. Why shouldn't I take an interest in a nice gentleman like you?
human
I am doing my best to find Florence. Then our marriage will take place, and it matters little to whom the property is left.
gpt
But I thought Miss Florence didn't care to marry you?
human
It is only because she thinks cousins ought not to marry. It's a foolish fancy, and she'll get over it.
gpt
Thrue for you, sir. My first husband was my cousin, and we always agreed, barrin' an occasional fight----
human
I don't think Florence and I will ever fight, Mrs. Barnes.
gpt
What surprises me, Mr. Curtis, is that a nice-lookin' gentleman like you hasn't been married before.
human
I never saw one I wanted to marry till my cousin grew up,
gpt
I belave in marryin', meself. I was first married at sivinteen.
human
How long ago was that, Mrs. Barnes?
gpt
It's long ago, Mr. Curtis. I'm an old woman now. I was thirty-five last birthday.
human
Then you are just my age,
gpt
If I make him laugh he won't suspect nothing, soliloquized the wily nurse.
human
That's a pretty big lie, even for me.
gpt
Shure I look older, Mr. Curtis, she said, aloud.
human
What wid the worry of losin' two fond husbands, I look much older than you.
gpt
Oh, your are very well preserved, Mrs. Barnes.
human
How are you feeling, uncle?
gpt
I think I am better,
human
That is right. Only make an effort, and you will soon be strong again.
gpt
I think I may. I may live ten years to annoy you.
human
I fervently hope so, said Curtis, but there was a false ring in his voice that his uncle detected.
gpt
How do you like the new nurse?
human
She is helping me wonderfully. You made a good selection.
gpt
I will see that she is soon discharged, Curtis inwardly resolved.
human
If her being here is to prolong my uncle's life, and keep me still waiting for the estate, I must clear the house of her.
gpt
You must not allow her to buoy you up with unfounded hopes. She has been telling you that Florence will soon return.
human
Yes; she seems convinced of it.
gpt
Of course she knows nothing of it. She may return, but I doubt whether she is in Chicago now. I think the family she was with has gone to Europe.
human
Where did you hear that, Curtis?
gpt
I have sources of information which at present I do not care to impart. Rest assured that I am doing all I can to get her back.
human
You still want to marry her, Curtis?
gpt
I do, most certainly.
human
I shall not insist upon it. I should not have done so before.
gpt
Have you changed your mind, uncle?
human
Yes; I have made a mistake, and I have decided to correct it.
gpt
What has come over him? Curtis asked himself.
human
Some influence hostile to me has been brought to bear. It must be that nurse. I will quietly dismiss her to-morrow, paying her a week's wages, in lieu of warning. She's evidently a meddler.
gpt
Is Mr. Waring at home?
human
No, sir; he has gone downtown.
gpt
I'll step in and wait for him. Please show me to the library.
human
How long have you been here, Bolton?
gpt
But a short time. You sent for me?
human
I did.
gpt
On business?
human
Well, yes.
gpt
Is there anything new?
human
Yes, my uncle is failing fast.
gpt
Is he likely to die soon?
human
I shouldn't be surprised if he died within a week.
gpt
I suspect Curtis means to help him! Well, what has that to do with me? he asked.
human
You will step into the property, of course?
gpt
There is a little difficulty in the way which I can overcome with your help.
human
What is it?
gpt
I can't get him to give up the foolish notion that the boy he lost is still alive.
human
It happens to be true.
gpt
Yes; but he must not know it. Before he dies I want him to make a new will, revoking all others, leaving all the property to me.
human
Will he do it?
gpt
I don't know. As long as he thinks the boy is living, I don't believe he will. You see what a drawback that is.
human
I see. What can I do to improve the situation?
gpt
I want you to sign a paper confessing that you abducted the boy----
human
At your instigation?
gpt
That must not be mentioned. You will go on to say that a year or two later--the time is not material--he died of typhoid fever. You can say that you did not dare to reveal this before, but do so now, impelled by remorse.
human
Have you got it written out? I can't remember all them words.
gpt
Yes; here it is.
human
All right, said Bolton, taking the paper and tucking it into an inside pocket.
gpt
I'll copy it out in my own handwriting. How much are you going to give me for doing this?
human
A thousand dollars.
gpt
Cash?
human
I can't do that. I have met with losses at the gaming table, and I don't dare ask money from my uncle at this time. He thinks I am thoroughly steady.
gpt
At how much do you value the estate?
human
At four hundred thousand dollars. I wormed it out of my uncle's lawyer the other day.
gpt
And you expect me to help you to that amount for only a thousand dollars?
human
A thousand dollars is a good deal of money.
gpt
And so is four hundred thousand. After all, your uncle may not die.
human
He is sure to.
gpt
You seem very confident.
human
And with good reason. Leave that to me. I promise you, on my honor, to pay you two thousand dollars when I get the estate.
gpt
But what is going to happen to poor Dodger, the rightful heir?
human
Well, let it be three hundred dollars a year, then.
gpt
Where is he now?
human
I don't mind telling you, as it can do no harm. He is in California.
gpt
Whew! That was smart. How did you get him there?
human
I drugged him, and had him sent on board a ship bound for San Francisco, around Cape Horn. The fact is, I was getting a little suspicious of you, and I wanted to put you beyond the reach of temptation.
gpt
You are a clever rascal, Curtis. After all, suppose the prize should slip through your fingers?
human
It won't. I have taken every precaution.
gpt
When do you want this document?
human
Bring it back to me this afternoon, copied and signed. That is all you have to do; I will attend to the rest.