human
Not a drop, sir, repeated Mr. Ridley.
gpt
The vile stuff is killing me. I must give it up.
human
It is your only hope, said the clergyman.
gpt
You must give up the vile stuff, as you call it, or it will indeed kill you.
human
That's just why I've come to you, Mr. Elliott. You understand this matter better than most people. I've heard you talk.
gpt
Heard me talk?
human
Yes, sir. It's pure wine that the people want. My sentiments exactly. If we had pure wine, we'd have no drunkenness. You know that as well as I do. I've heard you talk, Mr. Elliott, and you talk right--yes, right, sir.
gpt
When did you hear me talk?
human
What did I say?
gpt
Just these words, and they took right hold of me. You said that 'pure wine could hurt no one, unless indeed his appetite were vitiated by the use of alcohol, and even then you believed that the moderate use of strictly pure wine would restore the normal taste and free a man from the tyranny of an enslaving vice.' That set me to thinking. It sounded just right. And then you were a clergyman, you see, and had studied out these things and so your opinion was worth something. There's no reason in your cold-water men; they don't believe in anything but their patent cut-off. In their eyes wine is an abomination, the mother of all evil, though the Bible doesn't say so, Mr. Elliott, does it?
human
Wine is a mocker;
gpt
Look not upon the wine when it is red;
human
Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? ... They that tarry long at the wine;
gpt
At last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
human
The Bible speaks often of the misuse of wine, he answered,
gpt
Of course it does, and gluttony as well. But against the moderate use of good wine not a word is said. Isn't that so, sir?
human
Six months ago you were a sober man, Mr. Ridley, and a useful and eminent citizen. Why did you not remain so?