human
Hello, Briggerland,
gpt
Well, have you been fishing?
human
Yes,
gpt
Did you catch anything?
human
Only one,
gpt
Hard luck, said Mr. Briggerland, with a smile,
human
She went to San Remo,
gpt
To be sure, he said.
human
I had forgotten that.
gpt
This is shocking news, my dear,
human
Come in, Briggerland, said Jack, without ceremony. There was a man with him, a tall, keen Frenchman whom Briggerland recognised as the chief detective of the Préfecture.
gpt
We want you to give an account of your actions.
human
My actions? said Mr. Briggerland indignantly.
gpt
Do you associate me with this dreadful tragedy? A tragedy, he said,
human
Nevertheless, m'sieur, said the tall man quietly,
gpt
That is easily explained. I went to San Remo.
human
By road?
gpt
Yes, by road, said Mr. Briggerland,
human
What time did you arrive in San Remo?
gpt
At midday, or it may have been a quarter of an hour before.
human
You know that the murder must have been committed at half-past eleven?
gpt
So the newspapers tell me.
human
Where did you go in San Remo?
gpt
I went to a café and had a glass of wine, then I strolled about the town and lunched at the Victoria. I caught the one o'clock train to Monte Carlo.
human
Did you hear nothing of the murder?
gpt
Not a word, said Mr. Briggerland,
human
Did you see the car?
gpt
I left some time before poor Lydia,
human
Did you know of any attachment between the chauffeur and your guest?
gpt
I had no idea such a thing existed. If I had, said Mr. Briggerland virtuously,
human
I should have taken immediate steps to have brought poor Lydia to her senses.
gpt
Your daughter says that they were frequently together. Did you notice this?
human
Yes, I did notice it, but my daughter and I are very democratic. We have made a friend of Mordon and I suppose what would have seemed familiar to you, would pass unnoticed with us. Yes, I certainly do remember my poor friend and Mordon walking together in the garden.
gpt
Is this yours?
human
Yes, that is mine, admitted Briggerland without a moment's hesitation.
gpt
It is one I bought in Amiens, a souvenir of our gallant soldiers----
human
I know, I quite understand your patriotic motive in purchasing it, said the detective dryly,
gpt
I haven't the slightest notion, said Mr. Briggerland in surprise.
human
I had no idea it was lost--I'd lost sight of it for some weeks. Can it be that Mordon--but no, I must not think so evilly of him.
gpt
What were you going to suggest? asked Jack.
human
That Mordon fired at Mrs. Meredith when she was on the swimming raft? If you are, I can save you the trouble of telling that lie. It was you who fired, and it was I who knocked you out.
gpt
I can't understand why you make such a wild and unfounded charge, he said gently.
human
Perhaps, my dear, you could elucidate this mystery.