human
Paula, however, has always wanted Aygon Castle; always envied us as its rightful owners; always said what _she_ would do with it if it belonged to _her_. And now that Ross has taken up with this electrical hobby (an extravagant one, as you no doubt know), he has installed a complete lighting plant in the Castle instead of the musty old lamps which we used to use, and has thereby frightened all the old tenants of the place nearly out of their wits. For they have never seen such a thing before!
gpt
And yet we live in modern times, and in the year of grace Nineteen-Twenty-Two,
human
But you must remember that our village is miles away from anywhere, she returned quickly.
gpt
It is a sort of rock-bound fortress which is almost as impenetrable as the fortresses of old. Miles of heather-covered hills and crags surround us, and the nearest town--Cragnorth--is a three hours' journey away. Many of the villagers have never even seen a train, so that this modern installation of electricity into the old castle is like some witchcraft that terrifies them. Paula has made a tremendous fuss, too, saying that the place is ruined, that it is vandalism, and has so inflamed Father that quarrels take place all the time between him and Ross, and he has threatened to disinherit him if he continues in such mad practices.
human
Aha! now we have come to the root of the affair altogether, he said with some satisfaction.
gpt
That was the point I was waiting for. Your father has actually volunteered that statement, Miss Duggan?
human
He has. And in my presence.
gpt
And how does your brother Ross take it?
human
Ross has the family temper, Mr. Narkom. Ross said hot words which he should never have uttered, and then dashed off to his fiancée's house, three miles distant--a sweet girl, whom we all love--and did not come back until the next afternoon.
gpt
I see, I see. A very unpleasant affair altogether. And you, naturally loving your brother, Miss Duggan, have pieced things together, and have now come to me to see what I can do for you? I must have a few minutes to think this over. A finger touched the bell at his side. Almost immediately a head appeared and Mr. Narkom gave his orders.
human
Tell Mr. Deland to come here, Petrie. I want to speak to him.
gpt
Very good, sir.
human
And now, to look the thing straight in the face. You can bring me no actual proof of guilt upon your stepmother's part but your own love for your brother and your woman's intuition, added to what you have seen. One can bank upon a woman's intuition very often--but not in a case of this sort. That you will readily understand. However, something is obviously wrong and wants looking into. So I've sent for one of my best men, Miss Duggan, and if he thinks enough of the case to take it up, I will entrust the matter entirely to him. He happens to have looked in this morning, luckily, and--here he is!