“‘I don’t know anything about that, but I’m tired of the way we’re going on. I would rather be in a prison than lead this sort of life.’
“‘Have you ever been in a prison?’ exclaimed Wareham, with a searching glance.
“‘No, but the time may come for all that. I’m going the right road to be shut up in gaol,’ returned Brown, savagely.
“‘As we are friends,’ said Wareham, ‘I don’t mind telling you that I have.’
“‘You!’ said Brown.
“‘For a year and a half I enjoyed that pleasure.’
“‘I wish you were there now.’
“‘Very possibly, my friend, but I really cannot join you in your amiable desire. I am unable to say in the spirit of the hymn, “I have been there and still would go,” for it is anything but a little heaven below.’
“‘So you had your hand in before you met me?’ said Brown, with a malicious grin.
“‘Certainly I had; a man must live, and I can declare that I was never any burden to my respectable parents. From my earliest infancy I had a talent for appropriating the property of other people, and I have lived upon my wits ever since I first knew I had any.’