“Then you would work all your life, a poor man, rather than accept a little bribe, would you?”
“Yes, under the circumstances, I would. I feel that in the end I will be better prepared to meet my dear mother, when called home, than you will be. Did I not have something coming to me from the estate? My mother was a wealthy woman when I left home.”
“Well, we had many reverses in business affairs, and she died practically a poor woman.”
“I may be spared to live my sentence here if I am not found innocent and discharged, and then I shall return to the old home and investigate affairs and see if I am not entitled to a share in my dear mother’s estate.”
“Why can you not believe me? I have explained. She died practically a poor woman.”
“You are not a poor man, are you, brother?”
“Well, I have a comfortable home.”
“Is that all you have?”
“I do not feel disposed to explain everything to you.”
“Where were you to get the five thousand dollars to bribe me with? Have you got that much money besides your comfortable home?”