"I will, as long as you keep away from my mother."
"Lord, I'll keep away," said Antonio good-humouredly. "I don't want to live with her nagging and whimpering. You're her son, sure enough--a young prig going against your lawful father."
"Only for my mother's sake. And you want me to do wrong. I'm seeing light, father, and I'm changing."
"What do you mean by seeing light? You're always saying that."
"I've been to the Salvation Army meetings," said Cain solemnly, "and I see what a sinner I am."
"Oh, you're going to turn parson, are you? Well, you can do what you like, but hold your tongue about my business."
"I'll do so. But tell me, father?" Cain looked anxiously into the brutal face, "had you anything to do with that murder?"
Antonio glared and looked like a devil. He made another dash at the boy, but at that moment three or four men came round the corner, and amongst them a policeman. At once Antonio burst out into a loud laugh and took to his broken English. "Ver' goot, my leetle boy, gif me the letter. I go to Mees Lorry. Ah, Dio!"
Cain saw that he would not receive a reply to his terrible question just then, so, glad to get away on the chance of having another talk with Jane, he escaped. Hardly had he turned the corner when his father was after him, and a deep voice breathed in his ear:
"I had nothing to do with that," said Antonio anxiously; "I'm bad, but not so bad as that. I don't know who killed the man. Go"--a push sent the boy reeling--"and hold your tongue. I'll keep my part of the bargain and leave your mother alone. Keep yours," and before Cain could recover his breath Antonio was ringing the bell of Miss Lorry's lodgings.