human
Harcout, said I,
gpt
Well, nothing save what I've seen in the newspapers. Merely by reputation,
human
Well, sir, whatever that reputation may be, Harcout, I said,
gpt
Quite noble of you--quite noble,
human
The detection of criminals, I continued, paying no attention to his moralizing,
gpt
Oh, exactly--exactly, replied the oily Harcout;
human
here he raised his eyebrows and pursed his lips in a wise way;
gpt
Undoubtedly, I interrupted,
human
I'm sure I could do it at this moment!
gpt
Exactly. They learn it early. They will swindle at sixteen, rob at eighteen; blackmail at twenty; and kill a man any time after that!
human
Why, Harcout are _you_ a woman-hater?
gpt
Oh, no, he suddenly replied;
human
And then what?
gpt
Then what? he asked indignantly;
human
and then, as if reflecting,
gpt
And try your case in the newspapers instead of in the courts? I added,
human
only to return the next day with more objections and a new batch of suggestions, which were given me for