human
God bless you, sir, I thought you'd never wake!
gpt
I wish I never had, for I am awfully tired. How are you. Hardy? and how is all going on?
human
Quite well, sir, thank you; and I hope you're the same. We've wanted you badly enough. There's that Williams, he's been here almost every day, teasing and tormenting about having his mortgage called in; and Lady Ormskirk, she called twice, and seemed in some trouble. Then there was a queer young chap from the country with a long case about some inheritance; in short, sir, if you had been at home we might have been no end busy--what with the old ones and what with the new;
gpt
Well, I'll see to it all as soon as I have dressed and had some breakfast. I suppose they've brought it up, and also the hot water?
human
Some time ago, sir; you slept so late that I ventured to come in.
gpt
All right. I shall be ready directly.
human
There's a fine to-do at Smith and Walker's, sir, this morning. I just met their head-clerk as I was coming here.
gpt
Smith and Walker's! I cried;
human
Well, sir, I couldn't quite make out the particulars, he was in such a hurry; but old Mr. Thorneley's been found dead in his room this morning, and they suspect there has been foul play. Mr. Griffiths--that's the clerk--was going off to Scotland Yard. It's a terrible thing, an't it, sir, to be hurried off so quick? and none of the best of lives too, if one may believe what folks say. It's shocked you, sir, I see; and so it did me, for I thought of Mr. Atherton and what a blow like it would be to him.