"Who am I?"
"Mr. Thornton."
"Humph! Do you know why I have come?"
"No, Sir."
"To rid Mr. O'Reilly of you."
I did not reply. I knew I had become a burden and a thing to be got rid of.
"I am going abroad," continued Mr. Thornton, "so I just want to settle that before I go; you understand?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Well, what have you to say to that?"
"Nothing, Sir."