human
You don't chuck orange-peel my way, ma'am,
gpt
I don't understand you, and I am sure you do not understand me,
human
Let it go at that, ma'am. But I reckon I kin make m'self as clear as any man, livin' or dead, when dollars are in th' pool. Now you --he shook a large brown finger--
gpt
What is taffy?
human
What you might call sugar--best brand, an' no sand in it, anyhow. I've struck heaps of the female in my time, and it's all taffy with them, till they annex the outfit, an' then y' kin go hang, I guess ; he fixed her with a true quarter-deck eye.
gpt
I surmise as you're tryin' t' play Sally Waters low down. Not much--oh, no. I should smile considerable to think as any gilded female got th' bulge on me. Go slow, ma'am. Make no haste when the fat's afire, ses Isaiah. Beckon he knew things, did thet prophet.
human
You are a free child of nature, Captain Strange.
gpt
Taffy agin. I'm a man, you bet, same along as your husband.
human
I should think you and he would get on together extremely well, said Lady Jim, dryly.
gpt
But don't you think you could contrive to be a little less rude?
human
Why, bless y', this is civil fur me.
gpt
How your crew must love you!
human
I'd boot 'em round the ship if they didn't, snapped Strange, very ferociously.
gpt
They've got t' love me up t' the level of workin' their insides out, else I'd lay out every man jack in his little wooden overcoat.
human
What a sweet nature you have! Are you married?
gpt
Got a wife o' sorts, said the mariner, indifferently,
human
His eyes softened.
gpt
Now, ma'am, you could talk t' me fur a millennium 'bout them little nippers.
human
On another occasion I shall be delighted to talk nursery, Captain Strange; but the millennium has not yet arrived in Curzon Street.
gpt
Y've got me there, I don't deny, cried Strange, hardening.
human
Now this here racket, as I've sailed long-sides t' fix up----
gpt
It will be fixed up, as you call it, at once, said Lady Jim, sharply.
human
The matter is very simple.
gpt
Is it now? Lay on th' paint, ma'am.
human
You were kind to that poor Mr. Garth, she explained, calmly.
gpt
And, besides, took Dr. Demetrius to my husband in Jamaica. For these services I am willing to give you one thousand pounds--in gold, if you like
human
Shucks, ma'am, shucks! You've bin talkin' paint an' putty fur th' las' hour an' more. T'ain't no good nohow--not a bit, seein' as I'm being paid fur cold-drawn kidnappin' of your husband, so as y might loot a company of sorts.
gpt
I object to the word kidnap. Lord James went with you of his own accord.
human
You kin lay to that, ma'am, an' mighty spry wos he in lightin' out of these gilded halls int' the free an' wild. Kidnappin' it ain't, if y' come t' th' bone, so I climb down slick. Oh, there ain't no meanness 'bout me, ma'am. Prove me wrong, an' I go pious right along.
gpt
As you are apparently pious now, Captain Strange, there may be a chance of our arriving at an understanding.
human
If as how you'll talk down t' th' bed-rock level of what we've bin doin', ma'am.
gpt
You want a thousand pounds?
human
Well, drawled the captain,
gpt
Which means that you intend to ask for what you won't get.
human
Huh! Guess thet'll be as right as pie, when I open out.
gpt
You can open out now,
human
You're a dandy one t' deal with, fur sure, an' a woman at that. My word --this was Australian--
gpt
Go on,
human
Don't waste chin-music, neither, mused the captain.
gpt
Want's t' git at my cards afore she shows her own.
human
You are in the right so far, Captain Strange
gpt
Talks book English like print. If she ain't a queen of dimins an' hearts I'm----
human
I have no doubt you will be some day, interposed Leah, before he could get the word out;
gpt
Touchin' the passage money, as you might call it in a high-falutin' way, ma'am?
human
Passage money for my husband?
gpt
An' fur a double of his, as negotiated the Noo Jerusalem on th' v'yge, nodded the captain, extending his long legs.
human
Then there's th' man we planted at Funchal.
gpt
Your nephew--buried in place of Mr. Garth.
human
Nephew! Oh, he wasn't any relative o' mine.
gpt
Dr. Demetrius informed me that he was.
human
Huh! Guess he wos filled up with thet idear by me. Yes, ma'am, I reckoned t' make more dollars by supplyin' a nevy as a corp. But he wos a pick-up, bless y', racketin' off chain, withouter friend, wife, or kid, till I help plant him in Madeira.
gpt
Will inquiries be made about him?
human
Y' make me smile some, ma'am. Why, I picked up a stray dog o' purpose.
gpt
H'm! said Leah, lying back comfortably;
human
Goin' t' cut int' th' thousand?
gpt
He was not your nephew, remember, she retorted. The mariner stared and chuckled.
human
Donner und Blitz!
gpt
I know German, if you prefer to talk in that tongue.
human
I reckon y've hed a board-school eddication all along th' line. I swear in any lingo handy----
gpt
So I hear,
human
But I don't stock furrein chin-chin nowhow. An' now, ma'am --he expanded his chest and puffed out his cheeks--
gpt
I'll trouble y' t' han' over ten thousand dollars.
human
What's that in English?
gpt
Two thousand pounds.
human
And if you do not get it?
gpt
Then I guess you'll be sent up.
human
I understand: unless I submit to extortion you will tell this story about your supposed nephew and Mr. Garth.
gpt
I'll rip out everything the captain assured her without flinching;
human
Be careful, she warned him;
gpt
Ras--ras--rascality?
human
Blackmail, in plain English, Captain Strange.
gpt
Naow don't git me riz, Strange implored her.
human
I'm a holy terror with m' hair off.
gpt
Oh, we can tame wild beasts in this country.
human
But if I tell----
gpt
Tell what?
human
Damn! breathed the astonished man; then almost shrieked an explanation:
gpt
Why, thet Dr. Demetrius brought Garth as a corp t' Kingston, an' yanked your husband int' the Blue Mountains t' sham death. Aye; he did, y' bet. An' thet Berrin'--Lord James, y' call him in your cussed fine way--come aboard my barkey, while the corp as wos called by his name lighted out fur th' old country, so thet y' might run rings round a company of sorts.
human
How interesting! And what has it all to do with me?
gpt
My stars!
human
Sit down, please, said Lady Jim, sweetly.
gpt
I do not allow people of your class to show their manners in my drawing-room.
human
It should be a prison with you in it, he raged.
gpt
What a brute you are! Because you think that I am under your thumb, you not only attempt blackmail, but add insult.
human
I'll make things hum, I kin tell y'. I'll bust up this conspiracy.
gpt
What conspiracy?
human
You kin arsk th' nearest copper. I'll give him details, never fear.
gpt
Close the door after you, please,
human
Cold-drawn cheek of th' mos' freezing style, murmured the almost stupefied man.
gpt
Oh, my country, t'aint no wonder he took leg-bail. If I wos married t' her I'd larrup her every day an' twice on Sundays.
human
Not gone yet? inquired Leah, glancing over the top of her book.
gpt
Oh, please do! I dislike hearing an illiterate person muttering.
human
Lord keep me fro' murder, gasped Strange, piously.
gpt
Say, ma'am, ain't you afeared?
human
Awfully! And as there are several policemen within call----
gpt
Bring 'em up--bring 'em all up, right along.
human
I will, if you do not go away
gpt
Snakes! Y' mus' hev a card up your sleeve.
human
Perhaps I have.
gpt
Or y' may be bluffin'.
human
Perhaps I am. Don't you think it would be better if you sat down and talked pleasantly?
gpt
If I'd a wife like you, commenced the captain, obeying,
human
I'd----
gpt
I am quite sure you would. Bullies like you always enjoy wife-beating.
human
I ain't a bully
gpt
Yes, you are, and a coward, who thought to frighten me. Now I am about to frighten you.
human
Huh! Strange laughed scornfully.
gpt
There ain't man, woman, or kid kin make me sing small. Though I don't deny, he added gracefully,
human
Thanks, but I am rather tired of costermonger compliments. Come to business. You accuse me of being mixed up in a conspiracy?
gpt
Well, an' ain't it true?
human
As gospel, between ourselves. To the world it is a lie.
gpt
I bet you can't prove 'tis so,
human
Proof is not required. Denial is.
gpt
Not when I'm in th' witness-box.
human
Not when you're in the dock, you mean, my good man.
gpt
Me--in th' dock!
human
Lower your voice, please, or I shall order my servants to turn you out. Yes--in the dock, your natural place. This conspiracy of yours.
gpt
Engineered for your little game, mind,
human
Not at all. I have nothing to do with it ; her hard eyes held him as he blankly considered her astonishing impudence.
gpt
You tell me that Dr. Demetrius buried a man at Funchal in place of Mr. Garth, and then, when Mr. Garth died on board your ship, sent home his body as that of my husband. As Mr. Garth and my husband resembled one another closely, I can see how I and the family were mistaken when we beheld the substituted corpse. But I do not understand why my husband should have consented to this, no more than I understand how you dare accuse me of conspiring.
human
But I do, you bet, ma'am. You played low down on a company.
gpt
Where is your proof?
human
You've got the dollars.
gpt
Ignorant that the money was paid under false pretences. It shall be given back.
human
My share!
gpt
I know nothing of your share. Apparently, Dr. Demetrius, who happened to--to--er--admire me, kidnapped my husband in order that I might think myself free to marry him,--a thing, said Lady Jim, with scorn,