human
What does it all mean? Who are you, and what have you shown me? asked the lad.
gpt
This morning the world was as ordinary as a sixpenny magazine: and now my head is turning, and I am walking not like a man in a dream, but, what is worse, like a man in a painted picture. Those flowers are fatal and those walls fantastic. Quick, tell me, what does it all mean? The sunshine is grimacing.
human
You have seen, said the stranger,
gpt
Damn the higher plane: tell me who you are. But there, do you think I didn't know it all the time? You can be none other but that....
human
Not a word, said his companion, cutting him dead short.
gpt
You did not know it till now, when I intended to let you know. By '_it_' I mean either the Secret of the Picturesque or what you meant by '_it_.' Besides, it's not true that I am this or am that; that depends on what I am.
human
Puzzle me no longer: talk plain sense,
gpt
Surely my words are plain enough. What is it you want to know?
human
Your name and history.
gpt
I have no name, but my friends are allowed to call me the Old Man. My history is a dead secret. But if you are in earnest and willing to talk on the higher plane, I will explain to you the meaning of my remark about the Secret of the Picturesque.
human
I am willing,