human
It is easy, he said,
gpt
As you say, interrupted Vanbrugh, gently nodding his head,
human
continued the Advocate, not heeding the interruption, but impressed by its logic,
gpt
Exactly. But in this case there is no difficulty, although the murderer be dead.
human
Gautran! Dead!
gpt
Yes, dead, replied Vanbrugh, purposely assuming a careless tone.
human
Did I not tell you before? Singular that it should have escaped me. But I have so much to say, and in my brightest hours I was always losing the sequence of things.
gpt
And you, said the Advocate,
human
Pardon me. I asked you whether I should consider our meeting providential.
gpt
It matters not. You, meeting this man, come to me after his death, for the purpose of extracting money from me. You will fail.
human
I shall succeed.
gpt
You killed Gautran, and want money to escape.
human
No. He was killed by a higher agency, and I want no money to escape. You will hear to-morrow how he met his death, for all the towns and villages will be ringing with it. I continue. Say that Gautran at the point of death made a dying confession, on oath, not only of his guilt, but of your knowledge of it when you defended him;--say that this confession exists in writing, duly signed. Would that paper, in conjunction with what I have already offered for sale, be worth your purchase? Take time to consider. You are dealing with a man in desperate circumstances, one who, if you drive him to it, will pull you down, high as you are. You will help me, old friend.
gpt
It may be. Have you possession of the paper you speak of?
human
I have. Would you like to hear it?
gpt
Yes.