human
Where was the body of my father?
gpt
I don't know; the body was gone. I've never been able to find out where the captain put up the body. But, as I say, he turned out Mr. Vand and his wife, as I knew she was then, and cursed up and down. But he didn't pick up the knife; in place of doing so, which would have been more sensible, seeing that he had murdered the Lister cove with it, he went to his desk and pulled out a black bag. He emptied this of jewels, and my mouth watered.
human
Ah, so you recognised the bag when you tried to steal it from Mrs. Vand in your mother's cottage?
gpt
Yes, I did, said Luke sullenly,
human
You have quite enough to answer for as it is, said Inglis sharply.
gpt
Go on, as I have got everything down so far.
human
Well, then while the captain was sitting at the desk gloating over the jewels Mr. Vand comes in softly like a cat. He saw the jewels and his eyes lighted up. Captain Huxham, being busy, didn't hear him, so he picks up the knife lying near the door, and before I could cry out he rushed at the old man. Huxham turned to meet him, and got the knife in his heart. Then Mr. Vand, as cool as you please, dropped the knife behind the desk, and taking the bag with the jewels, he put 'em back--went away.
gpt
What did you do?
human
I went home and tried to sleep, but couldn't.
gpt
Why didn't you warn the police?
human
No, sir. I'm only a gipsy, and they'd have thought I'd something to do with the business. If I'd accused Mr. Vand him and his wife would have accused me, and it would be two to one. Besides, said Luke coolly,
gpt
I wasn't sorry to see old Huxham downed after killing the other gent. Serve him right, say I. So that's all.
human
Humph, said Inglis, finishing his writing.
gpt
You made capital out of this?
human
Yes, I did, said Luke defiantly, and taking the pen which Inglis held out to him.
gpt
I told Mr. and Mrs. Vand what I'd seen. They were frightened--it was the next morning, you see--and paid me heaps of money to hold my tongue. Then, like a fool, I went on the bend, and talked so much that Granny got to know heaps, and so set the nigger brute on our tracks. There --Luke signed his name--