human
One must be fair, Miss Waring, he said gently.
gpt
I can't imagine you being deliberately unfair to anyone.
human
Not deliberately--of course,
gpt
Of course not, he agreed, in his courteous, rather tired voice.
human
If, for instance, you were out with a friend and met a scorpion in a rage who stung you both, you'd want to take it out of the scorpion, wouldn't you, not the friend?
gpt
Please don't be afraid of me, he said, with that most winning smile of his.
human
I promise you on my honour that whatever you say shall not be used against you.
gpt
I am not afraid of you, only--
human
Only--
gpt
I think there are a good many scorpions about, she told him rather piteously.
human
I could name several, all venomous.
gpt
I understand, said Lucas Errol. He passed his hand within her arm again and pressed it gently.
human
And so you are flinging away all your valuables to escape them? he questioned.
gpt
Forgive me--is that wise?
human
I believe you're a woman of sense, Miss Waring, and you know as well as I do that there is a price to pay for everything. And the biggest things command the highest prices. If we haven't the means to pay for a big thing when it is offered us, we must just let it go. But if we have--well, I guess we'd be wise to sell out all the little things and secure it. Those same little things are so almighty small in comparison.