human
Let me explain, he went on.
gpt
You have suspected me of insincerity, and, luckily, you have stated your suspicion with great frankness, beyond the reach of mistake. This is my case: I wanted very much an article by Metcalfe in the City Journal, and when he called that morning, I was prepared to pay as much as two hundred pounds for it, but not more. Eventually I paid him four hundred pounds, twice that sum, partly, no doubt, because it was necessary that he should not be able to say that I had attempted to bribe him; but I must demand that you believe that the fact of my thereby giving the young fellow a good chance made me pay that sum willingly. I did not haggle over it, though I am perfectly certain I could have got what I wanted for less. You believe this?
human
I was delighted to do it, he said,
gpt
Certainly you must have made a friend of Metcalfe senior, and junior if he only knew,
human
Yes, I am delighted to have done so. I have also incidentally made Metcalfe senior a--a confederate. From a business point of view that also pleases me. How marvellously all things work together for good! It comes in the morning lesson to-day.