human
Thank Heaven, he's gone! muttered Laurence.
gpt
If ever there existed a greater bore than our friend from Burton's I shouldn't care to meet him.
human
Daddy, he said, when the door closed upon the genial housekeeper,
gpt
I'm playing the part of an amateur detective. My one aim just now is to get to the bottom of the mystery of the two determined attacks on your life. It's no use for you to try to deceive me. You have some deep secret--something is haunting you every moment of your existence; and I shall not rest until I have discovered what it is.
human
Laurence, don't, don't try! It's for your own sake that I ask it of you. When I am dead you will know all. Until then, do not try to discover what is not meant for you to learn. I want you to love and respect your father while he lives. Therefore do as I beg of you.
gpt
Don't talk like that, Daddy, said Laurence, gently,
human
No, my boy, thank God, it is not!
gpt
Then answer me this; have you ever heard of a Doctor Meadows?
human
Meadows! No. But why, Laurence?
gpt
Or a Major Jones-Farnell?
human
No, no! But----
gpt
Or of a fellow named Horncastle?
human
Never!
gpt
Then, have you ever mentioned anything about the matter which you wish to keep a secret from me to a living soul?
human
Why all these questions, Laurence? You know now that I have a secret, so there is no need for me to deny it. I have never before now breathed a word of this to a single soul, with the exception of one person.
gpt
And he?
human
He is dead. My secret lies within my own heart. No cross-questioning shall drag it from me.
gpt
One thing more, then I will not speak to you again for a little while, because you must be kept quite quiet. Were you ever in India? If so, did you happen to meet there a Major Carrington, of Madras?