'You owe the money,' I said; 'that should be a sufficient explanation.'
'Do you mean to tell me,' he asked, 'that they would turn me out of house and home?' And he looked around his comfortably-furnished room.
'It is more than probable,' I replied. 'I know the lawyers with whom you have to deal. This house is your own freehold, and its value is included in the statement.'
He clasped his hands despairingly; I was silent, despising his weakness.
'Can't you advise me?' he cried. 'If ruin came to you, what would you do?'
'Bear it,' I replied. I was growing weary of him.
'Have you any children?' he asked.
'No,' I replied.
'Nor wife perhaps?' he continued.
'Nor wife, nor child, nor friend,' I said, rising.