human
There's been a terrible affair up in Charlton Wood, sir, John Harris, the keeper, on going his round to-night found a man shot dead. They sent down to the house to telephone to the doctor half-an-hour ago.
gpt
Who's the man?
human
Nobody knows. They haven't brought him down to the village yet.
gpt
It's probably some poor beggar who's committed suicide,
human
He's badly-dressed, Harris says. Perhaps he's a tramp,
gpt
Perhaps so. We want nothing more, Rainer, to-night,
human
Very good, sir,
gpt
What shall we do?
human
You would hate me!
gpt
Do? I echoed at last in a low whisper, fearing Rainer might be listening.
human
Why, we must make our own inquiries before those local busybodies of police step in and bungle the affair. She must be saved-- don't you agree?
gpt
Yes. At all costs we must save her, he cried quickly.
human
Let's go out and see who the fellow is.
gpt
Not yet. Wait for half an hour or so, until they're all gone to bed. The servants' hall is all in a flutter, it seems, and the maids will be about frightened and whispering. If we are to get away unseen we must slip out of yonder window. All the doors are closed now, and the dogs are loose in the courtyard.
human
You're right, old fellow. We must wait a bit, he agreed.
gpt
But what's your private opinion of the affair?
human
I have none, was my blank reply.
gpt
Until I have some proof, I suspect nobody.
human
Quite so. Let's leave Tibbie entirely out of the question. Remember, not a word to anyone of what I've told you, for I'm the principal witness against her. Think, if they called me. My evidence would condemn her!
gpt
I regard all that you've told me, Eric, as unsaid, I responded.
human
Tibbie is my friend.
gpt
But you don't think I've lied, do you?
human
Of course not. Why should you? We know each other too well to make false charges against our friends, I answered.
gpt
It is a mystery--a complete mystery.
human
Absolutely. I was struck dumb when I discovered her in the arms of the fellow. I couldn't really believe my own eyes. Then, after a pause, he asked in a lower tone,
gpt
What secret of hers did he hold, I wonder?
human
Ah! what indeed.
gpt
To me, it is very evident that she met the fellow at that lonely spot under compulsion. She may have reciprocated his affection at one time, but her manner was inert and unresponsive. She allowed him to caress her because she was in deadly fear--I'm absolutely certain of that.
human
Then she didn't betray any love for him?
gpt
None whatever. In his reproaches, however, he reminded her of how she had once loved him and allowed him to think that he might aspire to her hand. He reproached her with cruelty and double-dealing, saying that she had betrayed him to his enemies, and that now, in return, he would reveal to the world her dark and terrible secret. This announcement electrified her. Until that moment she apparently had no idea of her peril, but instantly she saw that he held her future entirely in his hands--and--well, that's all.