human
Is it conceivable, said she, hesitatingly--
gpt
I only suggest this because the whole thing seems so extraordinary--that somebody is playing a very foolish joke on you?
human
Who on earth would wish to joke with me?
gpt
I wish, she said,
human
I think that my father must be very hard up for something to do.
gpt
Oh--I don't think I should speak of it in that way if I were you.
human
Why not? If he cites filial duty to me, why shall I not cite paternal duty to him? Why should he confine his entire relations with me in twenty-four years to two preposterous detective-story letters?
gpt
You grasp the situation? He knows exactly where I am; evidently he has known it all along. He could come to see me to-night; he could have come as soon as I arrived here three months ago; he could have come five, ten, twenty years ago, when I was in New York. But instead he elects to write these curious letters, apparently seeking to make a mystery, and throwing the burden of finding him on me. Why should I become excited over the prospect? If he would promise to endow me now, to support or pension me off, if I found him, that would be one thing. But I submit to you that no man can be expected to interrupt a most important life-work in consideration of a single twenty-dollar bill. And that is the only proof of interest I ever had from him. No-- he broke off suddenly--
human
To Tim?
gpt
Tim Queed.
human
And do you want to tell me who Tim Queed is?