human
Clever, Rennett! he said.
gpt
I tell you, those people are super-humanly brilliant!
human
I'm not a great admirer of villainy,
gpt
You must take a detached interest, my dear chap. Personally, I admire them. I admit they gave me a fright when I realised that Miss Beale had not called the cab, but that it had been carefully planted for her, but still I can admire them.
human
What does it mean? asked the puzzled girl.
gpt
I'm so confused--where are we going now? To the office?
human
I fear you will not get to the office to-night, said the young man calmly,
gpt
Abducted? said the girl incredulously.
human
Do you mean to say that man----
gpt
He was carrying you into the country, said the other calmly.
human
He would probably have travelled all night and have left you stranded in some un-get-at-able place. I don't think he meant any harm--they never take unnecessary risks, and all they wanted was to spirit you away for the night. How they came to know that we had chosen you baffles me, he said.
gpt
Can you advance any theory, Rennett?
human
Chosen me? repeated the startled girl.
gpt
Really, I feel I'm entitled to some explanation, and if you don't mind, I would like you to take me back to my office. I have a job to keep,
human
Six pounds ten a week, and a few guineas extra for your illustrations, said the man in the raincoat.
gpt
Believe me, Miss Beale, you'll never pay off your debts on that salary, not if you live to be a hundred.
human
You seem to know a great deal about my private affairs,
gpt
A great deal more than you can imagine.
human
In the past twelve months you have had thirty-nine judgments recorded against you, and in the previous year, twenty-seven. You are living on exactly thirty shillings a week, and all the rest is going to your father's creditors.
gpt
You're very impertinent!
human
I'm very pertinent, really. By the way, my name is Glover--John Glover, of the firm of Rennett, Glover and Simpson. The gentleman at your side is Mr. Charles Rennett, my senior partner. We are a firm of solicitors, but how long we shall remain a firm, he added pointedly,
gpt
Upon me? said the girl in genuine astonishment.
human
Well, I can't say that I have so much love for lawyers----
gpt
That I can well understand,
human
But I certainly do not wish to dissolve your partnership,
gpt
It is rather more serious than that, said Mr. Rennett, who was sitting by her side.
human
The fact is, Miss Beale, we are acting in a perfectly illegal manner, and we are going to reveal to you the particulars of an act we contemplate, which, if you pass on the information to the police, will result in our professional ruin. So you see this adventure is infinitely more important to us than at present it is to you. And here we are!