human
Are you wanting anything?
gpt
Nothing much, Nap said.
human
You might give me a sleeping-draught if you're disposed to be charitable. I seem to have lost the knack of going to sleep. What I really came to say was that Hudson will go with you to-morrow if you will be good enough to put up with him. He won't give you any trouble. I would let him go with me next week if his wits would stand the strain of travelling in my company, but I don't think they will. I don't want to turn him into a gibbering maniac if I can help it.
gpt
What have you been doing to him?
human
My dear doctor, I never do anything to anybody. If people choose to credit me with possessing unholy powers, you will allow that I am scarcely to be blamed if the temptation to trade now and then upon their fertile imaginations proves too much for me.
gpt
I allow nothing, Capper said,
human
Then that places me on the black list at once, remarked Nap.
gpt
Good-night!
human
Stay a moment! ordered Capper.
gpt
Let me look at you. If you will promise to behave like an ordinary human being for once, I'll give you that draught.
human
I'll promise anything you like, said Nap, a shade of weariness in his voice.
gpt
I'm going up to town to-morrow, and I never sleep there so I reckon this is my last chance for some time to come.
human
Are you trying to kill yourself?
gpt
If that were my object I'd take a shorter cut than this. No, I guess I shan't die this way, Doctor. You seem to forget the fact that I'm as tough as leather, with the vitality of a serpent.
human
The toughest of us won't go for ever, observed Capper.
gpt
You get to bed. I'll come to you directly.