human
May I see the enclosure?
gpt
No,
human
What's the nature of it?
gpt
It's a would-be humorous account of the events in that little street down-town.
human
Is it a true story?
gpt
Is it true, Papa?
human
In a way it's true, was the snarling reply.
gpt
From a certain point of view. But it's blackguardly just the same.
human
What makes you think I wrote it?
gpt
Nobody else could have known all the circumstances.
human
But we were watched and followed every step of the way.
gpt
So you say.
human
Why, you're surrounded by spies. I expect every servant in the house is in the pay of this gang. I hadn't been in the house half an hour before they approached me.
gpt
What did I tell you? the old man snarled to his son.
human
Why don't you fire them?
gpt
How many times have I fired them? What good did it do? As fast as we get a new lot they're corrupted from the outside.
human
Then it's been going on for some time, said Evan.
gpt
I never had any connection with Mr. Deaves until yesterday.
human
How do we know that?
gpt
That's why you were so eager to get a job here, added the old man.
human
To have a better chance of spying on me.
gpt
Never thought of such a thing. The offer came from you.
human
You paid your own fare on the trolley-car, didn't you? Mine, too!
gpt
Well, if that's an incriminating circumstance I'm guilty!
human
Don't be a fool, Papa,
gpt
If I was a member of the gang would I show my hand so clearly? Would I betray the sources of my information? I tell you Alfred told me yesterday there was good money to be made on the side in this house.
human
Why didn't you tell me that yesterday?
gpt
I wanted to find out what was up first. I know now.
human
Have up the policeman. I can tell him no more than I've told you. But the whole affair must be well aired, I suppose.
gpt
There's no hurry, he said.
human
We may have been mistaken. At any rate we don't want any unnecessary publicity.
gpt
You don't mean to say you're going to _pay_!
human
Wouldn't you advise it?
gpt
No! Fight! Call their bluff! The nervy blackguards! Oh, to give up to them would be too tame!
human
I guess he isn't one of them, George,
gpt
Look here, here's a proposition for you. This thing interests me a whole lot. That letter was written by a damn clever crook, humorous too. I'd like to match my wits against his. Let me have a try at running them down. Won't cost you a cent more than my salary, and you won't have to let in any outsiders on the affair. Of course I've had no experience, but if I fail you'll be no worse off than you are now. If you go to the police it will be the newspaper sensation of the year.