human
What's up? he asked, after pausing at the door to say
gpt
By Jupiter! with every appearance of surprise.
human
Got a headache?
gpt
If I had, should I cure it with a novel?
human
Don't know, I'm sure, replied Jim, with the matutinal good-humour of a healthy animal.
gpt
Doctors recommend such rum things nowadays. But it doesn't matter. I'm off to feed.
human
Wait for ten minutes, Jim. I have something to say.
gpt
You're not goin' to read, are you? I can't stand readin' on a empty stom--well, on nothin'.
human
Have you ever heard of _The Woman in White?_
gpt
No; who is she?
human
It's a novel.
gpt
Don't read 'em. Real life's much more fun.
human
We might turn this --she touched the book lightly--
gpt
Goin' to make a play of it?
human
Well, you might call it a comedy, she answered.
gpt
I certainly do not want it to be a tragedy--though it might come to that,
human
Want of breakfast, I s'pose, he ruminated,
gpt
I've passed a white night,
human
What's that?
gpt
The French expression for a wakeful night.
human
But you say it in English, and how can----?
gpt
It's useless wasting French on a man who understands only the argot of the _trottoir_.
human
You're wastin' it now. A wakeful night--eh? Why didn't you try that new sedative Demetrius gave you?
gpt
I didn't want to sleep. This book was too interesting. I wish you to read it
human
What!!! If she had offered poison Jim could not have betrayed more abhorrence.
gpt
Read? You--want--me--to--read?
human
Well, you know words of two syllables, don't you? she retorted impatiently.
gpt
Take it.
human
Love an' diaries, and--oh, bosh!
gpt
Not at all, unless bosh is your word for common sense. I see a chance of getting that money.
human
What money?
gpt
How dense you are! The insurance money, of course--the twenty thousand pounds. Suppose you died----
human
Stop it. I told you I wouldn't.
gpt
And you told me that you might pretend to die.
human
Oh, I was only talkin'. You don't want me to be buried alive!
gpt
It wouldn't be much good, said his wife, with a shrug.
human
We must have a genuine corpse--like you.
gpt
Go on,
human
Harold Garth is like you.
gpt
Where the--what the--you saw him?
human
In church yesterday. He's ill with consumption, dying they say. Demetrius attends him. Supposing--supposing --her imagination made her cheeks flush--
gpt
Supposing he died and was buried in place of me, you mean?
human
You don't suppose I mean murder, do you?
gpt
You would if there was money in it,
human
It would be a natural death, went on Leah, rapidly, and pacing the room to relieve the strain on her nerves.
gpt
The poor fellow can't live long. If he died, and was buried as----
human
No go, contradicted Jim, rising in his turn.
gpt
Every one about here knows of the likeness; for which, he added slowly,
human
So I learned yesterday from Mrs. Arthur.
gpt
Do you mean to tell me----?
human
I mean to tell you that I gathered the truth from what she left unsaid. You don't suppose that I require words to explain things.
gpt
I don't see how it's to be managed,
human
If it could be, would you surrender everything and----?
gpt
Yes, I would, for a quarter of the money. Then I'd go out of your life an' to Lima----
human
Lima, said Lady Jim, stopping suddenly.
gpt
Why to Lima? You've been there three times since we married.
human
No end of a place, Lima,
gpt
When you're legally dead, she said sharply,
human
I shall have no control over your life or movements. All I want to know is, if this business can be managed, will you do your share by disappearing?
gpt
Yes; but I don't see how----
human
Read that book, Jim, and you'll understand better. It gave me the idea, though our plot will be different in many ways.
gpt
Well, said Jim, tucking the novel under his arm,
human
I'll dip into it.
gpt
Don't let any one see you reading, and replace it in the library without any one knowing.
human
Why should I?
gpt
You fool, snarled Leah, viciously;
human
But I don't see how----
gpt
I do--I do. Demetrius attends this young fellow.
human
Oh, and he--Demetrius, I mean----
gpt
Leave me to deal with him,
human
What is this Demetrius to you?
gpt
A puppet I can pull the strings of, she retorted;
human
If that beastly little Tartar----
gpt
My dear Jim, said his wife coolly,
human
Lima, he stammered, flushing to the roots of his fair hair.
gpt
What do you mean?
human
I mean that you can trust me to ask no questions, if you will mind your own business.
gpt
As you are my wife, Demetrius is my business.
human
Think of me as your widow then, she mocked,
gpt
Why can't you speak plainly?
human
I might ask you the same question, but --she picked up the novel and thrust it into Jim's unwilling hands--
gpt
I fancy you and I understand one another pretty well.
human
I won't have any man making love to you.
gpt
Very good, said Leah, calmly;
human
Well, with whom?--out with it!
gpt
I think you can answer that question best, Jim.
human
Upon my honour----
gpt
Pah! she said with disgust.
human
Hadn't we better leave honour out of this shady business we are about to embark in?
gpt
You really mean to----
human
I really mean to get that twenty thousand pounds!
gpt
You'll lose me,
human
My loss is another's gain, she said significantly.
gpt
Now go away, Jim. I have to dress in my best frock in order to fascinate Demetrius