human
The first time they rejected him. I've followed it all.
gpt
Rejected whom? said Graham.
human
The Sleeper?
gpt
Sleeper? _No_. Ostrog. He was terrible--terrible! And he was promised then, promised certainly the next time. Fools they were--not to be more afraid of him. Now all the city's his millstone, and such as we dust ground upon it. Dust ground upon it. Until he set to work--the workers cut each other's throats, and murdered a Chinaman or a Labour policeman at times, and left the rest of us in peace. Dead bodies! Robbing! Darkness! Such a thing hasn't been this gross of years. Eh!--but 'tis ill on small folks when the great fall out! It's ill.
human
Did you say--there had not been--what?--for a gross of years?
gpt
Eh?
human
Fighting and slaying, and weapons in hand, and fools bawling freedom and the like, said the old man.
gpt
Not in all my life has there been that. These are like the old days--for sure--when the Paris people broke out--three gross of years ago. That's what I mean hasn't been. But it's the world's way. It had to come back. I know. I know. This five years Ostrog has been working, and there has been trouble and trouble, and hunger and threats and high talk and arms. Blue canvas and murmurs. No one safe. Everything sliding and slipping. And now here we are! Revolt and fighting, and the Council come to its end.
human
You are rather well-informed on these things,
gpt
I know what I hear. It isn't all Babble Machine with me.
human
No, said Graham, wondering what Babble Machine might be.
gpt
And you are certain this Ostrog--you are certain Ostrog organised this rebellion and arranged for the waking of the Sleeper? Just to assert himself--because he was not elected to the Council?
human
Everyone knows that, I should think, said the old man.
gpt
Except--just fools. He meant to be master somehow. In the Council or not. Everyone who knows anything knows that. And here we are with dead bodies lying in the dark! Why, where have you been if you haven't heard all about the trouble between Ostrog and the Verneys? And what do you think the troubles are about? The Sleeper? Eh? You think the Sleeper's real and woke of his own accord--eh?
human
I'm a dull man, older than I look, and forgetful, said Graham.
gpt
Lots of things that have happened--especially of late years--. If I was the Sleeper, to tell you the truth, I couldn't know less about them.
human
Eh! said the voice.
gpt
Old, are you? You don't sound so very old! But it's not everyone keeps his memory to my time of life--truly. But these notorious things! But you're not so old as me--not nearly so old as me. Well! I ought not to judge other men by myself, perhaps. I'm young--for so old a man. Maybe you're old for so young.
human
That's it, said Graham.
gpt
And I've a queer history. I know very little. And history! Practically I know no history. The Sleeper and Julius Caesar are all the same to me. It's interesting to hear you talk of these things.
human
I know a few things, said the old man.
gpt
I know a thing or two. But--. Hark!