human
Well, who are you, anyhow?
gpt
Who am I? returned Bangs smilingly,
human
Bangs never blushed at the libel on the kind old man bearing that name and title, and continued,
gpt
It is our vacation now, and I am travelling a little in the East investigating this subject. My brother is an enthusiastic believer in it, but I wished other testimony.
human
Professor, you want the whole truth, don't you?
gpt
Nothing but the truth,
human
Humbug!
gpt
It can't be possible,
human
It oughtn't to be possible, urged the Doctor,
gpt
Well, continued the Doctor earnestly,
human
And you came fair and square, without any ifs and ands, didn't you?
gpt
All of that,
human
And, continued the Doctor helping himself to the brandy, then excusing himself and pushing it towards Bangs, who partook sparingly,
gpt
Exactly,
human
And you said you'd pay me liberally for information, didn't you?
gpt
Yes, and I'll be as good as my word,
human
Well, then, continued the Doctor in a burst of good feeling, brandy and honesty,
gpt
continued the Doctor, taking another pull at the brandy bottle, then wiping the mouth and passing it to Mr. Bangs, who excused himself,
human
I glided into a 'specialist.' It required too much money to advertise, and the papers slashed me villainously besides. _Then_ I became a Spiritualist--it's the record of every one of us. You can see, and the Doctor waved his hand towards the cosy appointments in a satisfied way,
gpt
I am pretty comfortable now.
human
Yes, quite comfortable,
gpt
So I am an enthusiastic Spiritualist, resumed the happy physician,
human
Do you really effect any of the marvellous cures you advertise?
gpt
Most assuredly,
human
And may I ask how?
gpt
In the good old-fashioned way--salts, senna, calomel, and the blue-pill,
human
And is not the aid of the spirits essential to your cures?
gpt
A belief, or _faith_, that such an agency is used, does the whole thing, Professor.
human
And is there no such thing?
gpt
Just as much of it as there is faith in it; no more and no less.
human
Then the whole thing's a humbug, as you say?
gpt
Just as thoroughly as is that woman,