human
Donald Lindsay? I seem to have heard the name.
gpt
I shouldn't be surprised.
human
Donald Lindsay? Why--it can't be!
gpt
That conscience is pricking you at last? No, it can't be that.
human
Harry Trevor wouldn't--couldn't--he couldn't do a thing like that; and yet----
gpt
And yet? So it's Harry Trevor now; as usual, everybody's guilty except the man who did it.
human
Mr. Morgan, I'm willing to believe that you don't realize what a confused nightmare I seem all at once to be moving in, and that that explains your attitude. If you did realize how wholly you have taken me by surprise----
gpt
I do realize that; I quite think that you're altogether the most surprised man I've lately met. I don't know what you did expect when you rang that bell, but I don't suppose that you expected this.
human
I did not; though you speak in one sense, and I in another. With reference to what you say about those bills, a horrible--I can only call it fear, has come into my mind, of which I scarcely dare to think, lest I should be guilty of heinous injustice; and before I speak of it----
gpt
You would like to have time to think it over?
human
I should.
gpt
Then you shall have it; that's what I'm coming to. You will be at the office to-morrow morning at eleven o'clock.
human
I will.
gpt
You had better.
human
You need not tell me that.
gpt
Needn't I? I think I need. Mr. Nash and I are administering Mr. Oldfield's estate.
human
Are you an executor?
gpt
I am; the only executor. I do not know that I ought to say so, but you will understand that I am not committing myself, and that I speak without prejudice; but, at present, it is our wish--Mr. Nash's and mine--not to prosecute.
human
Prosecute!
gpt
Prosecute. Do you wish me to believe that you were unaware that forgers are occasionally prosecuted? Our first consideration is, and must be, the business; we fear that it may do the business no good to have the manager sent to penal servitude for forgery. These bills have been taken up, in the first place under a misapprehension, at a very heavy cost; we will tell you all about that to-morrow; you will have to make that loss good.
human
I shall!
gpt
You will; do you imagine that you are to escape scathless? You are a truly remarkable person. But, as I have said, we will discuss that in the morning. I only trust that no further irregularities may be brought to light.
human
Mr. Morgan!
gpt
Please drop that tone; it makes me sick; nothing is so nauseous as a futile hypocrite. My advice to you is, think things over, carefully, seriously; in the morning make a clean breast of everything; the more candid we find you the better it will be. Now, as Mr. Nash and I have much to attend to, I must ask you to leave us.
human
That I am willing to do; but so far you have done all the talking; but, before I go, there are some remarks which I wish to make.
gpt
We wish to hear nothing now--nothing; think first, Mr. Clifford, think.
human
It is not necessary to think before making simple statements dealing with plain facts, and you will have to listen, willingly or not; I have had to listen, now it is your turn. What I have to say is this; that I did not know Mr. Oldfield was dead; that I did not know that he had any name but Oldfield; that I had no knowledge of his connection with Donald Lindsay, of Cloverlea; that this is the first time I have been made aware that there ever was such a person as Donald Lindsay; that I never before saw the bill of exchange which you showed me just now.
gpt
I have proof to the contrary.
human
That's impossible. That there may be a mystery about that bill, and about the others of which you have spoken, I admit; between this and to-morrow I may be able to institute inquiries which will throw light on it; but I assure you, Mr. Morgan, I am as incapable of forgery as you are. If Mr. Oldfield really did believe that I was capable of such conduct he was a much worse judge of character than I believed he was. Now, Mr. Morgan, I will go.
gpt
With a lie upon your lips.
human
No, sir, not with a lie upon my lips. You will either give your authorities for the statements you have made, or, in the morning, you will apologize. You will find that you will have to make many apologies, Mr. Morgan. I notice, Mr. Nash, that you have not associated yourself with the charges Mr. Morgan has made, nor with the language he has used; when I lay the facts before you in the morning, as I hope to be in a position to do, you will have no cause to regret your attitude.