human
Well, I told you in the first place that kid meant trouble,
gpt
You have a prophetic soul!
human
Trouble isn't the word! Mr. Boller mused further.
gpt
If you tell the truth, according to your figuring, the old gentleman will ruin you--but that doesn't matter much, because when you've told the truth it's a dead sure thing Vining will let the daylight through you, so that you'll have no need for money anyway. And if you go on trying to keep it all dark and succeed in doing it, that Hitchin idiot will have us both jailed for murder--_and we'll have to produce a David Prentiss before we get out_!
human
Johnson, could we get hold of a boy somewhere and bribe him?
gpt
To do what?
human
To go into a police court and swear that he was David Prentiss and that he came here last night and left again about half-past twelve, said the model citizen, without even reflecting that it involved perjury.
gpt
If we could manage that it might be best of all to let Hitchin go ahead.
human
Stick you and me in jail?
gpt
Better that than risk----
human
I don't see it! the less chivalrous gentleman snapped.
gpt
There's nothing inside urging me to go to jail for anybody's sake, even overnight. And another thing, I've got a wife, Anthony! Just consider where this would put me with Beatrice, and how dead certain it would be, with Hitchin airing his views and conclusions, that he'd mention the lady you introduce as Mrs. Boller!
human
But----
gpt
But nothing! Johnson Boller said, his personal trouble coming uppermost again.
human
That's the worst break you've made so far, Anthony! That Mrs. Boller business is likely to cause me----