human
Of course, he said,
gpt
You are really too kind! The Baron was genuinely delighted and almost grateful--as near to feeling gratitude, perhaps, as he had ever been in his life.
human
I should hate to hurry you, he continued.
gpt
But really, since you are so very good, I think the sooner you can make it convenient to move, the better it will be for every one.
human
I could not manage to pack my books and drawings so soon as to-morrow,
gpt
Oh, no! certainly not! By all means take a couple of days about it. I could not think of putting you to any inconvenience.
human
Thanks. Malipieri smiled pleasantly.
gpt
If I cannot get off by the day after to-morrow, I shall certainly move the day after that.
human
I am infinitely obliged. And now that this unpleasant matter is settled, owing to your wonderful amiability, do tell me how the work is proceeding.
gpt
Fairly well, Malipieri answered.
human
You had better come and see for yourself before I go. Let me see. To-morrow I shall have to look about for a lodging. Could you come the day after to-morrow? Then we can go down together.
gpt
How far have you got?
human
I am positively sure that there is an inner chamber, where I expected to find it, Malipieri answered, with perfect truth.
gpt
Perhaps we can get into it when you come.
human
I hope so,
gpt
I have made a curious discovery in the course of the excavation, Malipieri continued.
human
The pillar of masonry which you showed me is hollow after all. It was the shaft of an oubliette which must have opened somewhere in the upper part of the house. There is a well under it.
gpt
Full of water?
human
No. It is dry. We shall have to pass through it to get to the inner chamber. You shall see for yourself--a very singular construction.
gpt
Was there nothing in it?
human
Several skeletons, answered Malipieri indifferently.
gpt
One of the skulls has a rusty knife driven through it.
human
Dear me! exclaimed the Baron, shaking his fat head.
gpt
Those Conti were terrible people! We must not tell the Baroness these dreadful stories. They would upset her nerves.
human
By the bye, he said,
gpt
If I were you, he said,
human
I would go to a hotel. In fact, I think you would be wiser to leave Rome for a time, until all these absurd stories are forgotten. The least I can do is to warn you that you may be exposed to a good deal of annoyance if you stay here. The minister with whom I was talking this evening told me as much in a friendly way.
gpt
Really? That was very kind of him. But what do you mean by the word 'annoyance'? It is rather vague. It is one thing to suspect a man of trying to evade the Pacca law; it is quite another matter to issue a warrant of arrest against him.
human
Oh, quite, answered Volterra readily.
gpt
I did not mean that, of course, though when one has once been arrested for anything, innocent or not, our police always like to repeat the operation as soon as possible, just as a matter of principle.
human
In other words, if a man has once been suspected, even unjustly, he had better leave his country for ever.
gpt
Injustice is only what the majority thinks of the minority, he observed.
human
If you do not happen to be a man of genius, the first step towards success in life is to join the majority.