human
They'll be at it, he resumed, laying the wooden rod that he measured with across two casks, entering his last calculation, and straightening his back,
gpt
Regularly. I hope you don't object, Joey?
human
We shall got over that objection day by day, Joey.
gpt
Ay, Master George; but I shall day by day get over the objection that I'm too old, and so I shan't be capable of seeing much improvement in you.
human
But what's no laughing matter, Master George, he resumed, straightening his back once more,
gpt
Has this growth on the roof anything to do with your divination? asked Vendale, holding his light towards a gloomy ragged growth of dark fungus, pendent from the arches with a very disagreeable and repellent effect.
human
We are famous for this growth in this vault, aren't we?
gpt
We are Master George, replied Joey Ladle, moving a step or two away,
human
Ay, indeed? Why so?
gpt
Why, not so much because it rises from the casks of wine, and may leave you to judge what sort of stuff a Cellarman takes into himself when he walks in the same all the days of his life, nor yet so much because at a stage of its growth it's maggots, and you'll fetch 'em down upon you, returned Joey Ladle, still keeping away,
human
What other reason?
gpt
I am doing so.
human
Done, sir. Now, come out of the place.
gpt
Well, Joey? The colour.
human
Is it like clotted blood, Master George?
gpt
Like enough, perhaps.
human
More than enough, I think,
gpt
Well, say it is like; say it is exactly like. What then?
human
Master George, they do say--
gpt
Who?
human
How should I know who? rejoined the Cellarman, apparently much exasperated by the unreasonable nature of the question.
gpt
Them! Them as says pretty well everything, you know. How should I know who They are, if you don't?
human
True. Go on.
gpt
They do say that the man that gets by any accident a piece of that dark growth right upon his breast, will, for sure and certain, die by murder.