human
Yes, mystery, he declared emphatically.
gpt
I saw in your company the very child of whom I told you I had had a glimpse and whom I was so eager to see again.
human
But how could I know that the child with me was the one who had attracted your attention?
gpt
Well, in the first place, he answered, looking at me keenly,
human
I gave you a tolerably accurate description of the girl in question. The type is not a very common one, and might, I think be easily recognized.
gpt
I hope you will not consider it rude if I say that I think you did know it was the child I was in search of.
human
And why?
gpt
Because of your manner and your course of action the other day in the parlor of the Waldorf. I saw at once that, for some reason or another, you were disturbed at my presence there. When the girl spoke and thus attracted my attention, you were distressed; and while I was in the act of addressing her you seized her by the hand and fled from the hotel. (An irrepressible smile came over his face at the recollection.)
human
You left in such haste that you forgot the letter you had been writing. However, I posted that for you. And you went along Thirty-third Street, I should be afraid to say at what rate of speed. Did you suppose I was going to pursue you and forcibly wrest away the child?
gpt
Well, not exactly, I observed;
human
Oh, you _were_ in a hurry--there was no possible doubt about that!
gpt
Will you not sit down? I inquired.
human
You look so very unsociable standing, and the night is cold enough to make this fire agreeable.
gpt
May I ask, he resumed,
human
She is not,
gpt
Where is she?
human
That I can not tell.
gpt
Can not tell! he repeated musingly.
human
Surely that is a very strange answer. Perhaps, at least, you will tell me _who_ she is?
gpt
I am not at liberty to tell that either,
human
Mystery on mystery! he cried, with an impatient gesture.
gpt
What in the name of common-sense--if you will forgive my bluntness--is the purpose of this mystification?
human
The mystification arises, I declared,
gpt
From whom?
human
From all inquirers.
gpt
Are there likely to be many?
human
That I can not say.
gpt
Under ordinary circumstances, he said, after a pause,
human
I should, of course, respect your desire for secrecy and say no more about the matter. But there are reasons which make the identity of this child of vital interest to me.
gpt
You will pardon me for saying further that I strongly suspect _I_ am the person toward whom you are pledged to maintain this secrecy.
human
You! I repeated.
gpt
Why, surely you are in a singular mood to-night, full of fancies and suspicions!
human
For which I have good and sufficient reasons. Are yours equally so for maintaining this secrecy?
gpt
I believe that they are,
human
Since you will not give me your confidence--
gpt
Since I can not,
human
Well, since you can not or will not, I shall give you mine instead, and open for your inspection a page of my life which I fancied was closed forever.
gpt
I was brought up, he went on,
human
When I was about twenty-three we had a serious difference of opinion, which arose in part from my marriage. For at that time I married a very beautiful girl, who lived only a few years, and left one child--a girl.
gpt
It is always unpleasant to go into family affairs, but my relations with my wife's family were such that I removed the child from their influence and took her back to the old dwelling. There I placed her in charge of an old woman who had been my nurse. I refused to accept any of my wife's money, even for the maintenance of the child; and, my own circumstances being not of the best, I came to America. I had but one object in view--to make money, that I might return, claim my child and restore the old dwelling of my fathers to something of its former state.