human
There, he said, handing her the note.
gpt
Now listen. You are to find out certain things from your lover. I can't tell you _how_ to find them out, that is your affair, but you must do it.
human
I will,
gpt
You must find them out even if he doesn't wish to tell you. His safety and your happiness may depend on it.
human
I understand.
gpt
One thing is this woman's name and address.
human
Yes, replied Alice, and then her face clouded.
gpt
But if it isn't honorable for him to tell her name?
human
You must make him see that it _is_ honorable. The lady herself says she is ready to testify if necessary. At first she was afraid of implicating some person she thought guilty, but now she knows that person is not guilty. Besides, you can say that we shall certainly know all about this woman in a few days whether he tells us or not, so he may as well save us valuable time. Better write that down--here is a pad.
gpt
Save us valuable time,
human
Then I want to know about the lady's husband. Is he dark or fair? Tall or short? Does Kittredge know him? Has he ever had words with him or any trouble? Got that?
gpt
Yes,
human
Then--do you know whether M. Kittredge plays tennis?
gpt
Why, yes, he does. I remember hearing him say he likes it better than golf.
human
Ah! Then ask him--see here. I'll show you, and going to a corner between the bookcase and the wall, M. Paul picked out a tennis racket among a number of canes.
gpt
Now, then, he continued while she watched him with perplexity,
human
I hold my racket _so_ in my right hand, and if a ball comes on my left, I return it with a back-hand stroke _so_, using my right hand; but there are players who shift the racket to the left hand and return the ball _so_, do you see?
gpt
I see.
human
Now I want to know if M. Kittredge uses both hands in playing tennis or only the one hand. And I want to know _which_ hand he uses chiefly, that is, the right or the left?
gpt
Why do you want to know that?
human
Never mind why, just remember it's important. Another thing is, to ask M. Kittredge about a chest of drawers in his room at the Hôtel des Étrangers. It is a piece of old oak, rather worm-eaten, but it has good bronzes for the drawer handles, two dogs fighting on either side of the lock plates.
gpt
I didn't suppose you knew where M. Kittredge lived.
human
Nor did I until this morning, he smiled.
gpt
Since then I--well, as my friend Gibelin says, I haven't wasted my time.
human
Your friend Gibelin?
gpt
He is an amiable person for whom I am preparing a--a little surprise.
human
Oh! And what about the chest of drawers?
gpt
It's about one particular drawer, the small upper one on the right-hand side--better write that down.
human
The small upper drawer on the right-hand side,
gpt
I find that M. Kittredge _always_ kept this drawer locked. He seems to be a methodical person, and I want to know if he remembers opening it a few days ago and finding, it unlocked. Have you got that?
human
Yes.
gpt
Good! Oh, one thing more. Find out if M. Kittredge ever suffers from rheumatism or gout.
human
Of course he doesn't; he is only twenty-eight.
gpt
Please do not take this lightly, mademoiselle, the detective chided gently.
human
It is perhaps the most important point of all--his release from prison may depend on it.
gpt
Oh, I'm sorry. I'm not taking it lightly, indeed I'm not,