human
Fill up my cup, Jude, you're a tasty one with cooking.
gpt
Luck or no luck, I ain't got nothing, nor ever will have again, so that's an end of it.
human
Jude, where you going to?
gpt
Where be you?
human
I'm going to St. Angé.
gpt
I've just come from there,
human
You been there?
gpt
How is--she?
human
That's it, Jude. Now let's get down to business. Having to hide somewhere after that little unpleasantness down State, I ran up to St. Angé. Knowing the way about, it was a better place than some others, and I could keep from sight and find things out. I stopped at Laval's haunted shack. Billy shivered.
gpt
I kept clear of my place.
human
Guess you wasn't disturbed none at Laval's,
gpt
What you mean? Spit it out.
human
He's--left her!
gpt
Gaston?
human
Gaston. But not for what you think. Jude, he's after you.
gpt
After me?
human
You, my son. He wants you to free Joyce.
gpt
Free her? Me? What's got you, old man? Didn't she cut, herself?
human
You don't catch on, Jude. He wants to do the big, white thing by the girl--marry her out of hand clean and particular, and he wants to get your word that you won't make any trouble.
gpt
Well, by thunder! Won't he have to pay high for it?
human
Now tell me, so true as you live, what was _you_ going down to St. Angé for?
gpt
I was going down to --Jude hesitated.
human
Well, I was tired of being hounded, and having to hide and starve. I was going down to get--what--I could--and no questions asked.
gpt
Gosh darn it, Jude! It's good I fell across your path again. You might have thrown away the one, great, shining opportunity of your life. Listen to _my_ plans. You better stay where you are, and let me run this here show. I got the tracks all laid out. I'm sort o' inspired where it comes to plotting for them I love. I'm going to write a touching letter to her. It's going to state that Gaston is laid up from an accident in a hut, further up to the north. A lumberman is going to write the letter--catch on? and she's wanted up to Gaston's dying bedside. The lumberman is going to meet her at Laval's. When she's caught safe and sure, Jock Filmer--he's the go-between in all this--will get that information, or the part about her going away, to Gaston; then the game's in our hands. If Gaston means business, he'll pay what _we_ say. If he ain't sharp set as to a big figger, we've got Joyce; and by thunder! who's got a better right? Then we'll make tracks, after the spring freshet, to another place I know of where laws is stationary and folks ain't over keen, and where a handsome woman like Joyce will help. I've got money enough left from the wreck to tide us over, my son--unless Gaston planks down.