human
You do know, however,
gpt
Is it trouble you mean for him? asked the woman,
human
Can gold, the moralist asked,
gpt
Is it trouble? she repeated, looking greedily at the money.
human
Will the young man get copped?
gpt
How much? Who so is covetous let him know that his heart is poor. How much?
human
Poor young man! I'll take them all, please, sir. What's he done?
gpt
Where does he live?
human
I know where he lives, she said,
gpt
she said with a gasp.
human
To think that people can earn five pounds so easy.
gpt
May the gold procure you happiness--such happiness as you desire!
human
It will nearly pay the quarter's rent. And that's about happiness enough for one morning.
gpt
Hallo! he cried.
human
You here, Nig? How the devil did you find out my address?
gpt
Never mind. I want a little conversation with you, Mr. Joseph.
human
Well, sit down and let us have it out. I say, have you come to tell me that you did sneak those papers, after all? What did you get for them?
gpt
I have not come to tell you that. I dare say, however, we shall be able, some day, to tell you who did steal the papers--if any were stolen, that is.
human
Quite so, my jolly mariner. If any were stolen. Ho, ho! you've got to prove that first, haven't you? How's the old man?
gpt
He is ill; he is feeble with age; he is weighed down with misfortune. I am come, Mr. Joseph, to ask your help for him.
human
My help for him? Why, can't he help himself?
gpt
Four or five years ago he incurred a debt for one who forged his name. He needed not to have paid that money, but he saved a man from prison.
human
Who was that? Who forged his name?
gpt
I do not name that man, whose end will be confusion, unless he repent and make amends. This debt has grown until it is too large for him to pay it. Unless it is paid, his whole property, his very means of living, will be sold by the creditor.
human
How can I pay him back? It is three hundred and fifty pounds now,
gpt
Man, thou hast named thyself.
human
Well--then--what the devil do you mean--you and your forgery?
gpt
Forgery is one crime: you have since committed, perhaps, others. Think. You have been saved once from prison. Will any one save you a second time? How have you shown your gratitude? Will you now do something for your benefactor?
human
What do you mean, I say? What do you mean by your forgery and prison? Hang me, if I oughtn't to kick you out of the room. I would, too, if you were ten years younger. Do you know, sir, that you are addressing an officer and a gentleman?
gpt
There is sometimes, even at the very end, a door opened for repentance. The door is open now. Young man, once more, consider. Your grandfather is old and destitute. Will you help him?
human
I don't believe he is poor. He has saved up all his money for the girl; let her help him.
gpt
You are wrong. He has saved nothing. His granddaughter maintains herself by teaching. He has not a penny. You have got from him, and you have spent all the money he had.
human
He ought to have saved.
gpt
He could, at least, have lived by his calling but for you and for this debt which was incurred by you. He is ruined by it. What will you do for him?
human
I am not going to do anything for him, said Joseph.
gpt
Is it likely? Did he ever have anything but a scowl for me?
human
He who injures another is always in the wrong. You will, then, do nothing? Think. It is the open door. He is your grandfather; he has kept you from starvation when you were turned out of office for drink and dishonesty. I heard that you now have money. I have been told that you have been seen to show a large sum of money. Will you give him some?