human
Gilbert Charnock! said the first comer.
gpt
Is't not he?
human
The same, returned the other;
gpt
Right, said the first;
human
I am sworn to do so,
gpt
And are you armed to do as sworn to do?
human
I am, if on trial the object of our meeting here is found to be dangerous to the cause.
gpt
He has been found so,
human
And yet our friend. One joined heart and hand in that cause. And yet to die by our hands.
gpt
Either he or ourselves, besides others implicated in the plot: nay, the cause itself demands the sacrifice.
human
And he will be here to meet us?
gpt
He has sworn it.
human
Which of us is to deal with him?
gpt
Why this question? The lot was drawn by you.
human
Enough: and he is even now in concealment at Sir Hugh Clopton's. Is't not so?
gpt
So far I traced him by the mad acts he hath committed since leaving France, and by which conduct our faction is placed in jeopardy.
human
But come; it still wants several minutes of the appointed time. Walk aside here, and I will tell you in how much the man is unfortunate in his position. You know the circumstance of his coming amongst us, and how he undertook to be the instrument, the steel, the dagger, as it were, by which our arch enemy was to be reached.
gpt
I do, and how he refused to share the glory of the enterprise with others, and resolving to take the whole upon himself, suddenly and secretly set off, without further circumstance.
human
There shone out the dangerous madness of the man, returned the other,
gpt
Methinks that such authority might have satisfied his scruples.
human
Not a whit as you shall hear; for so deeply did the fiend palter with him in favour of the heretic Elizabeth, that even when he had opportunity twice, thrice, nay, a dozen times repeated, he could not strike the blow.
gpt
The evil one surely mounts guard over that iron-hearted woman, said Gifford,
human
One would think it, returned Charnock,
gpt
And how escaped he being apprehended and examined?
human
Ah, there consists the marvel, returned Charnock;
gpt
Indeed, continued Charnock,
human
And then he afterwards relapsed into his former violence; was't not so?
gpt
It was. He returned to France, saw the Nuncio and Ragazoni, became again confirmed in his first intent, and has again recrossed to England, where his madness and his extravagant conduct are likely to compromise all his friends. Nay, an he is not speedily silenced, we shall assuredly perish by the gibbet.