human
Jaggs! she said aloud, and her voice was as soft as silk.
gpt
I think, Mr. Jaggs, you ought to be in heaven.
human
Who were the haughty individuals interviewing Jean in the saloon?
gpt
Poor Jean is rather worried, she said.
human
It appears that she had a love affair with a man three or four years ago, and recently he has been bombarding her with threatening letters.
gpt
Poor soul, said Jack dryly,
human
She had one this morning--posted in Monte Carlo last night.
gpt
By the way, Jean went into Monte Carlo last night, didn't she?
human
We all went into Monte Carlo, she said severely.
gpt
Now, please don't be horrid, Mr. Glover, you aren't suggesting that Jean wrote this awful letter to herself, are you?
human
Was it an awful letter?
gpt
A terrible letter, threatening to kill her. Do you know that Mr. Briggerland thinks that the person who nearly killed me was really shooting at Jean.
human
You don't say, said Jack politely.
gpt
I haven't heard about people shooting at you--but it sounds rather alarming.
human
Go on with your thrilling story of Jean's mortal enemy. Who is he?
gpt
She doesn't know his name, said Lydia.
human
She met him in Egypt--an elderly man who positively dogged her footsteps wherever she went, and made himself a nuisance.
gpt
Doesn't know his name, eh? said Jack with a sniff.
human
Well, that's convenient.
gpt
I think you're almost spiteful, said Lydia hotly.
human
Poor girl, she was so distressed this morning; I have never seen her so upset.
gpt
And are the police going to keep guard and follow her wherever she goes? And is that impossible person, Mr. Marcus Stepney, also in the vendetta? I saw him wandering about this morning like a wounded hero, with his arm in a sling.
human
He hurt his hand gathering wild flowers for me on the--
gpt
I think you're boorish, she snapped angrily.
human
I'm sorry I came out with you.
gpt
And I'm sorry I've been such a fool, apologised the penitent Jack,
human
He doesn't wear a top hat or a morning suit in Monte Carlo, she said, furious at his banter.
gpt
Let us talk about somebody else than my friends.
human
I haven't started to talk about your friends yet, he said.
gpt
And please don't try to tell your chauffeur to turn round--the road is too narrow, and he'd have the car over the cliff before you knew where you were, if he were stupid enough to try. I'm sorry, deeply sorry, Mrs. Meredith, but I think that Jean was right when she said that the southern air had got into my blood. I'm a little hysterical--yes, put it down to that. It runs in the family, he babbled on.
human
I have an aunt who faints at the sight of strawberries, and an uncle who swoons whenever a cat walks into the room.
gpt
I hope you don't visit him very much,
human
Two points to you, said Jack,
gpt
Why do you think these things about Jean?
human
Because I have a criminal mind, he replied promptly.
gpt
I have the same type of mind as Jean Briggerland's, wedded to a wholesome respect for the law, and a healthy sense of right and wrong. Some people couldn't be happy if they owned a cent that had been earned dishonestly; other people are happy so long as they have the money--so long as it is real money. I belong to the former category. Jean--well, I don't know what would make Jean happy.
human
And what would make you happy--Jean?
gpt
Jean? he said, as though the question had just been asked.
human
No, I don't want Jean. She is wonderful, really, Mrs. Meredith, wonderful! I find myself thinking about her at odd moments, and the more I think the more I am amazed. Lucretia Borgia was a child in arms compared with Jean--poor old Lucretia has been maligned, anyway. There was a woman in the sixteenth century rather like her, and another girl in the early days of New England, who used to denounce witches for the pleasure of seeing them burn, but I can't think of an exact parallel, because Jean gets no pleasure out of hurting people any more than you will get out of cutting that cantaloup. It has just got to be cut, and the fact that you are finally destroying the life of the melon doesn't worry you.
gpt
Have cantaloups life? She paused, knife in hand, eyeing the fruit with a frown.
human
No, I don't think I want it. So Jean is a murderess at heart?
gpt
Oh yes--in intention, at any rate. I don't know whether she has ever killed anybody, but she has certainly planned murders.
human
Do you still suggest that she harbours designs against my young life?
gpt
I not only suggest it, but I state positively that there have been four attempts on your life in the past fortnight,
human
Let us have this out, she said recklessly.
gpt
Number one?
human
The nearly-a-fatal accident in Berkeley Street,
gpt
Will you explain by what miracle the car arrived at the psychological moment?
human
That's easy, he said with a smile.
gpt
Old man Briggerland lit his cigar standing on the steps of the house. That light was a brilliant one, Jaggs tells me. It was the signal for the car to come on. The next attempt was made with the assistance of a lunatic doctor who was helped to escape by Briggerland, and brought to your house by him. In some way he got hold of a key--probably Jean manoeuvred it. Did she ever talk to you about keys?
human
No, said the girl,
gpt
Are you sure she didn't?
human
I think she may have done, said the girl defiantly;
gpt
The third attempt, said Jack slowly,
human
Jean did it? said the girl incredulously.
gpt
Oh no, that would be impossible.
human
The child was in your bed. Jaggs saw it and threw two buckets of water over the bed, so that you should not sleep in it.
gpt
And I suppose the next attempt was the shooting?
human
Now do you believe?
gpt
No, I don't believe, she said quietly.
human
I think you have worked up a very strong case against poor Jean, and I am sure you think you're justified.
gpt
You are quite right there,
human
Mrs. Meredith, I want you to do something and tell Jean Briggerland when you have done it.
gpt
What is that?
human
I want you to make a will. I don't care where you leave your property, so long as it is not to somebody you love.
gpt
I don't like making wills. It's so gruesome.
human
It will be more gruesome for you if you don't, he said significantly.
gpt
The Briggerlands are your heirs at law.
human
So that is what you are aiming at? You think that all these plots are designed to put me out of the way so that they can enjoy my money?
gpt
If you weren't a hard-headed lawyer, I should think you were a writer of romantic fiction, she said.
human
But if it will please you I will make a will. I haven't the slightest idea who I could leave the money to. I've got rather a lot of money, haven't I?
gpt
You have exactly £160,000 in hard cash. I want to talk to you about that, said Jack.
human
It is lying at your bankers in your current account. It represents property which has been sold or was in process of being sold when you inherited the money, and anybody who can get your signature and can satisfy the bankers that they are bona fide payees, can draw every cent you have of ready money. I might say in passing that we are prepared for that contingency, and any large cheque will be referred to me or to my partner.
gpt
Are you expecting anybody?
human
I'm expecting Jean,
gpt
But we left her----
human
The fact that we left her talking to the police doesn't mean that she will not be coming up here, to watch us. Jean doesn't like me, you know, and she will be scared to death of this _tête-à-tête_.