human
You may think it all very strange,
gpt
Yes, it is to me.
human
It is strange to me that _you_, of all men, should have been the one to save my life. I owe my life to you. Loss of blood was telling on my strength, and those assassins would have finished me if you had not come to my rescue.
gpt
You are right, but you will prosecute those men. You know them evidently.
human
No, I do not. I only know they are connected with a gang and they evidently have spotted me, as you _detectives say_.
gpt
As we detectives say?
human
Yes.
gpt
How do you know I am a detective?
human
I know you are a detective, and I have a still more startling announcement to make. You have saved my life, but I have been lying about expecting at any moment to go to your aid and save yours.
gpt
Save mine?
human
Yes.
gpt
Well, you do amaze me.
human
I knew I would, and I will amaze you still more. We are engaged in the same business. We are hunting down the same gang, and I believe we have succeeded.
gpt
You amaze me.
human
I will be perfectly frank with you. I know all about you.
gpt
Why did you not seek me?
human
I had made up my mind to do so. I was waiting for you to come from the house you had entered when I was assailed by those two men; and now I will tell you my story, and I trust you will believe every word I say, for I shall tell you nothing but the truth.
gpt
Proceed and tell me your story. I am ready to believe what you tell me, and how is it you know about me?
human
I found out who you were. I saw you first when you were on the track of that Spitzanni.
gpt
Spitzanni?
human
Yes, the man whom you tracked to the meadows, or rather you were inveigled to meet him. I was at hand to aid if it became necessary, for I also was on that man's track. I will tell you about myself.
gpt
A great robbery occurred in Rome. A large reward was offered for the capture of the robbers and the recovery of particular pieces of jewelry--old family heirlooms. An Italian detective in Paris engaged me to come to the United States; he believed that the robbers had fled to America. He knew I spoke both Italian and English as well as French. He speaks only French and Italian. I came here and I have been on the track of those fellows for months.
human
Have you made any discoveries?
gpt
No discoveries connecting them with the Roman robbery, but I have established the fact that they are desperate characters. This fellow Spitzanni arrived in America just after the Roman robbery. I propose to ally myself with you, if you will permit me, and I know I can be of great service to you.
human
You are acquainted with Mrs. Frewen?
gpt
I am. She was my mother's kindest friend, but she is bitterly prejudiced against me.
human
You sent her a letter.
gpt
I did, warning her that a robbery was contemplated. I had no positive knowledge and dared not make a direct statement, but I sent a note calculated to put her on her guard, and wished she would take the necessary precautions. I learned that she did. She called you to her aid and captured the robbers.
human
That is all true, and this has been a most remarkable revelation to me, for do you know I was tracking you.
gpt
Believing me to be connected with the gang?
human
Yes.
gpt
Had you any grounds for suspecting me?
human
Only the fact that you were an Italian and appeared to know in advance the intentions of a gang of robbers.
gpt
I obtained my information while trailing an Italian who is an associate of those fellows. I got into his good favor and won his confidence. I rewarded him by a warning at the last moment, and that is the way I obtained my knowledge.
human
Do you know the basis of Mrs. Frewen's prejudice against you?
gpt
I do not. She was once my friend. She has since appeared to be my enemy.
human
You were not engaged in any criminal acts?
gpt
Why do you ask?
human
Because Mrs. Frewen really believes you are a criminal.
gpt
She has no basis for her belief. I never did a dishonorable deed in my life. My only crime is being a poor young man.
human
Have you any suspicion as to your real parentage?
gpt
Aha! you have heard about me from Mrs. Frewen.
human
I have.
gpt
I have no proofs as concerns the identity of my father. I have many well-grounded reasons for believing I can identify him. I probably will never obtain the proofs, never establish my claim to a noble name.