human
Lord, what an idiot I am. Alter your line of thought and alter it quick.
gpt
No dress clothes--deuce of an appetite. Chap who had scraped up a few guineas perhaps to do himself well--on the bust. No, that won't do. Ordered his dinner too well for that. Had the air of a man accustomed to the best places. Brown said so. A shilling and five coppers to the porter. Queer kind of tip! What in blazes was the fellow doing? What sort of company does he keep?
human
Look here, I want to get hold of Brown,
gpt
You're in luck, sir, the man returned.
human
One of our visitors 'as been giving a supper and Mr. Brown was in charge. If 'e 'asn't gone I'll try and get him for you.
gpt
Tremendously sorry, said Cranbourne,
human
I've been thinking about him myself, sir, and one or two things have come to mind. Remembered his tie for instance.
gpt
Yes.
human
Old Etonian colours,
gpt
Anything else?
human
I was looking over his bill this afternoon and it seems to me he did himself too well to be natural. Rare for a man by himself to order a long dinner like that. Then again he looked at the prices on the menu just as if he meant to spend up to a certain amount. Something odd in that--unusual. But I'm pretty sure it was in his mind, sir.
gpt
And you believe he spent the last of his notes.
human
Certain of it.
gpt
What's your idea?
human
He was very hungry--eat everything put before him. I should say--'course it's only a guess----
gpt
Well?
human
He'd gone a bit short and was wanting that meal.
gpt
Did he seem depressed?
human
Not a bit. Rather amused. But it struck me when he got up he looked like a man saying goodbye to his mother.
gpt
How old should you think?
human
Thirty-two or three.
gpt
Old Etonian tie?
human
Yes.
gpt
You're a man of experience, Brown, said Cranbourne.
human
Ever known a case of a chap who's on the point of going under, blueing the last of his cash on one big dinner?
gpt
I should just think so. There's a type does that sort of thing.
human
His type?
gpt
Or one very like it.
human
Many thanks. You've helped me no end. Now I'll get a taxi and drive to Windsor. Goodnight.