human
I do not remember, she replied,
gpt
Because if you were there on that morning--and I have been told you were--you may be able to solve a question that is greatly perplexing me.
human
I had business in that hotel on that morning, I continued.
gpt
I had left a letter for a young friend of mine in the Bible that lies on the small table of the inner parlor, and as she never received it I have been driven into making all kinds of inquiries in the hope of finding some explanation of the fact. As you were there at the time you may have seen something that would aid me. Is it not possible, Mrs. Walworth?
human
I do not even remember being at that hotel at all, she protested.
gpt
Did Mr. Taylor say I was there?
human
No, I answered gravely;
gpt
Mr. Taylor, unhappily, was not with you that morning.
human
Unhappily, she repeated.
gpt
What do you mean by that word?
human
I mean, I proceeded calmly,
gpt
You will tell me just what you mean,
human
That is only just. You ought to know why I trouble you with this matter. It is because this letter of which I speak was taken from its hiding-place by some one who went into the hotel parlor between the hours of 10:30 and 12 o'clock, and as to my certain knowledge only three persons crossed its threshold on that especial morning at that especial time, I naturally appeal to each of them in turn for an answer to the problem that is troubling me. You know Miss N----. Seeing by accident a letter addressed to her lying in a Bible in a strange hotel, you might have thought it your duty to take it out and carry it to her. If you did and if you lost it--
gpt
But I didn't, she interrupted, warmly.
human
I know nothing about any such letter, and if you had not declared so positively that I was in that hotel on that especial day I should be tempted to deny that too, for I have no recollection of going there last month.
gpt
Not for the purpose of rearranging a veil that had been blown off?
human
Oh!