human
Is it you, boys?
gpt
All right, Parker; make haste and come down as quickly as you can.
human
So you are come back? he said.
gpt
I don't want to ask any questions, but have you done well?
human
No, was the answer;
gpt
Where is he?
human
In the cart.
gpt
The devil he is! This is a pretty kettle of fish, upon my word. What is to be done?
human
He must be left here, Parker,--that's the long and short of it. There is not the least fear of his being traced here; we have never seen a soul since we left Canterbury.
gpt
I don't suppose there is much fear, the man said gruffly;
human
Not a bit of it, Parker; you have only to show the receipt we gave you, and stick to the story we agreed upon, and which happens to be true. Three men called upon you, and said that they wanted to hire a light cart for a day, and that they heard you let one out sometimes. You told them that as you did not know them, you could not trust the horse with strangers, and so they left thirty-five pounds in your hands as security,--that they brought back the cart in the morning, and said one of their number had fallen out and got hurt, and that you agreed to let him stay for a day or so till he got well; and that you did not find, till the other two men had left, that the one who remained had been wounded by a bullet.
gpt
But what on earth am I to do with him?
human
Put him up in one of the garrets. You don't keep a servant; there will be no one to know anything about it; and as for the pay, there is twenty-five pounds left in your hands, after taking the ten pounds for the hire of the trap--that will be enough for you, won't it?
gpt
Aye, aye, the man said.
human
I am not thinking of the money. I would not do it for ten times the money if I had the choice; as I have not, I would do it whether I am paid or not. The first thing is to get him upstairs.