human
So that is it!
gpt
Stratton! said he,
human
Tell me first, I said, delaying myself with the lighting of a cigarette,
gpt
Go on, I said with a note of irony, when he paused.
human
Go on. Tell me some more. Where did you say they have taken her; let us have it right.
gpt
Riddling, said I, and stood up beside him suddenly and dropped my hand with a little added weight upon his shoulder,
human
Riddling, do you know the only right and proper thing to do when you hear scandal about a friend?
gpt
Come straight to him, said Riddling virtuously,
human
No. Say you don't believe it. Ask the scandal-monger how he knows and insist on his telling you--insist. And if he won't--be very, very rude to him. Insist up to the quarrelling point. Now who were those people?
gpt
Well--that's a bit stiff.... One chap I didn't know at all.
human
You should have pulled him up and insisted upon knowing who he was, and what right he had to lie about me. For it's lying, Riddling. Listen! It isn't true that I'm besieging Lady Mary Justin. So far from besieging her I didn't even know where she was until you told me. Justin is a neighbor of my father's and a friend of mine. I had tea with him and his wife not a month ago. I had tea with them together. I knew they were going away, but it was a matter of such slight importance to me, such slight importance --I impressed this on his collarbone--
gpt
You mean to say that there is nothing in it all?
human
Nothing.
gpt
But everybody, he said,
human
Somebody will get a slander case if this goes on. I don't care what they've got.
gpt
Good Lord! he said, and stared at the rug.
human
You'll take your oath---- He glanced up and met my eye.
gpt
Oh, of course it's all right what you say. He was profoundly perplexed. He reflected.
human
But then, I say Stratton, why did you go for Maxton at Blake's? _That_ I had from an eye-witness. You can't deny a scrap like that--in broad daylight. Why did you do that?
gpt
Oh _that's_ it, said I.
human
I begin to have glimmerings. There's a little matter between myself and Maxton....
gpt
But he said it was his sister, persisted Riddling.
human
He said so afterwards, in the club.
gpt
Maxton, said I, losing my temper,
human
... I perceived my temper was undoing me. I invented rapidly but thinly.
gpt
As a matter of fact, Riddling, it's quite another sort of lady has set us by the ears.
human
I see Stratton, yes, I see. Yes, all this makes it very plain, of course. Very plain.... Stupid thing, scandal is.... Thanks! no, I won't have a cigarette.