She hesitated, but gave him quite clearly to understand her meaning.
"'Perhaps' again," said Barton. "You mean to say that I have not sufficiently strong incentive to be anything else—that if I had, that if I were a poor man for instance, I should probably land in prison."
"I am quite sure you would."
"Dear me, you seem to have made up your mind about me very definitely—it hasn't taken you long either."
"I judge by your face. As I read it, it is a page of devil-print!"
Barton rubbed his hands. He seemed more tickled than anything else. Certainly he was in no wise offended.
"I believe I have found a real pearl in the gutter," he chuckled. Then he turned to her,
"Tell me now, why did you save me from your Jabez?"
"I did not know you then—perhaps if I had, your body would now be lying in the river."
"And my soul—what about that?"