human
Good-evening, Mr. Thorold, he said, with a wary glance;
gpt
You shall know that before long, replied Alan, closing the door. He was now considerably cooler, and had made up his mind that more was to be got out of this man by diplomacy than by blind rage.
human
Have I your permission to sit down?
gpt
Certainly, my dear sir. Will you smoke?
human
No, thank you.
gpt
Have some refreshment, then?
human
No, thank you.
gpt
Ah! sneered Lestrange, throwing himself again on the couch,
human
Considering your behavior, it would be strange if I came as anything else.
gpt
My behavior?
human
I refer to your interview with Mr. Phelps and Miss Marlow.
gpt
Mademoiselle Lestrange, if you please.
human
Ah, that is for you to prove!
gpt
I shall prove it, said the other, quite unmoved,
human
That will be a harder task than you imagine, retorted Alan quickly.
gpt
But I am not here to discuss Miss Marlow's parentage. My errand is to ask you why you have accused me of taking away the body of her father.
human
Richard Marlow was not her father,
gpt
So you say--we can pass that point, as I told you before. I speak of the charge you have thought fit to bring against me.
human
It is a true one. I am willing to take it into court.
gpt
You may be brought into court sooner than you expect, remarked Alan dryly; and from the sudden start the man gave he saw that the shot had gone home.
human
On what grounds do you base this charge?
gpt
If Mr. Phelps reported the interview correctly, you must know,
human
To save time, retorted Alan,
gpt
I may as well admit that I do know. Jarks and Cicero speak the truth.
human
Then you admit your guilt?
gpt
No; that is quite another thing. I admit that I was in Heathton on that night when Jarks saw me. What I came for does not concern you, Captain Lestrange; but I can prove also that I was back in Bournemouth before twelve o'clock. You will observe that I can establish an alibi.
human
Upon my word, I really believed you guilty!
gpt
No doubt, was the scornful reply.
human
The wish is father to the thought. I will thank you not to accuse me falsely again.
gpt
You have to explain away the finding of the lancet.
human
That was stolen from my desk, with the key of the vault, by a man called Brown, whom I believe to have been guilty of a crime. You need not try to fasten the guilt upon me! I can defend myself--to use your favorite phrase--in open court, if necessary.
gpt
Your word is enough, protested Lestrange.
human
I was wrong to accuse you!
gpt
Very wrong. You did it out of spite----
human
No, no! I really believed----
gpt
What you wished yourself to believe, interrupted Alan in his turn.
human
It was my intention to have given you a thrashing, Captain Lestrange----
gpt
Sir!
human
But I have changed my mind, pursued Alan, without noticing the interruption.
gpt
I now intend to take another course. If you do not at once leave Heathton, I shall bring a charge against you of defamation of character.
human
Oh! Lestrange shrugged his shoulders.
gpt
You are a true English shop-keeper. A man should protect himself by more honorable means.
human
I know very well what I am about, sir. I wish to bring you into contact with the law. For that reason--unless you go--I shall bring the action.
gpt
And what can the law do to me? he asked defiantly.
human
I have committed no wrong.
gpt
You intend to. Oh! I know that you are innocent of taking Marlow's body, and of murdering Warrender. But you are here to blackmail Miss Marlow on the threat of proclaiming her dead father a murderer.
human
I am here to claim my daughter! shouted Lestrange fiercely.
gpt
Sophia Marlow I know nothing of; but Marie Lestrange is the daughter of Achille Lestrange, and I --the Captain struck his breast--
human
I am he!