human
Hullo, dear fellow! You! I never heard you come in.
gpt
Don't talk! he said.
human
Sleep!
gpt
I can't sleep. It's no use. I was only pretending. Lucas stifled a sigh of weariness.
human
Sit down,
gpt
You can sleep if you try,
human
I'm not a good subject, Boney. Thanks all the same!
gpt
Try!
human
No, old chap. It's too high a price to pay--even for sleep.
gpt
What do you mean?
human
I mean that I'm afraid of you, Boney.
gpt
Skittles!
human
Yes, it may seem so to you; but, you see, I know what you are trying to do.
gpt
What am I trying to do?
human
I know you, he said.
gpt
I know that you'll get the whip hand of me if you can, and you'll clap blinkers on me and drive me according to your own judgment. I never had much faith in your judgment, Boney. And it is not my intention to be driven by you.
human
You don't trust me then?
gpt
It's your methods I don't trust, dear fellow, not your motives. I'd trust them to perdition.
human
But not my--honour?
gpt
I believe you would be faithful to your own code,
human
But you don't consider that to trick a man who trusted me would be against that code?
gpt
Don't do violence to yourself,
human
Boney--Boney, old chap, have I wronged you? God knows I've tried to be just. But are you straight? Are you honest? I'd give my soul to be able to trust you. Only--dear fellow, forgive me--I can't!
gpt
Why not?
human
Because, very slowly and painfully Lucas made reply,
gpt
I know that you are trying to blind me. I know that you are sacrificing yourself--and another--in order to deceive me. You are doing it to save me pain, but--before God, Boney--you are torturing me in the doing far more than you realise. I'd sooner die ten times over than endure it. I can bear most things, but not this--not this!