human
Sit down, Judson,
gpt
My lord, am I not right in supposing that I am unknown to you? By reputation, I mean.
human
Quite,
gpt
Ah! I thought so. Let me tell you then, my lord, that I am the receptacle of the secrets of most, if not all, of the aristocracy.
human
Indeed!
gpt
That being the case, it is clear that my reputation for discretion is unassailable. You see the force of that argument, my lord?
human
Certainly,
gpt
Anything, therefore, which I may discover during the course of this investigation, you may rest assured will be kept absolutely secret. He paused a moment.
human
You can, therefore, confide in me without fear,
gpt
What makes you think I have anything to confide?
human
It is quite obvious, my lord, that you are holding something back--something which would explain your attitude towards Lady Wilmersley.
gpt
I don't follow you,
human
You have given every one to understand that you have never seen her ladyship. You take up a stranger's cause very warmly, my lord.
gpt
I trust I shall always espouse the cause of every persecuted woman.
human
But how are you sure that she was persecuted? Every one praises his lordship's devotion to her. He gave her everything she could wish for except liberty. If she was insane, his conduct deserves great praise.
gpt
But I am sure she is not.
human
But you yourself urged me to secure her as soon as possible because you were afraid she might do further harm,
gpt
That was before I heard Douglas's testimony. He has seen her daily for three years and swears she is sane.
human
And the opinion of an ignorant servant is sufficient to make you condemn his lordship without further proof?
gpt
If Lady Wilmersley is perfectly sane, it seems to me incredible that she did not manage to escape years ago. A note dropped out of her carriage would have brought the whole countryside to her rescue. Why, she had only to appeal to this very same butler, who is convinced of her sanity, and Lord Wilmersley could not have prevented her from leaving the castle. Public opinion would have protected her.
human
That is true, acknowledged Cyril,
gpt
What was there to break it? We hear only of his lordship's almost excessive devotion. No, my lord, I can't help thinking that you are judging both Lord and Lady Wilmersley by facts of which I am ignorant.