"'"It is," said Belmore, with laconic sadness.
"'"Then how, in the name of all that's black and blue, are you ever going to get any money if that old fiddle is up the spout? That's what's the puzzle to me."
"'Belmore rose, and clasping his long, knotty, emaciated hands in front of him, said:
"'"I cannot say more than that I am very sorry I cannot pay you Mr. Watkins. If you wish it, I am willing to go. If I go I have my choice of two things--the workhouse or the river----"
"'"And you would choose the river?"
"'"And I would choose the river."
"'"That is the way always with you----" Mr. Watkins paused. Belmore waited for him. "With all you fools," said Mr. Watkins, using the most tender word his nature would allow, instead of the most offensive, as he had intended when he had set out with the sentence.
"'"I will go if you wish it," said Belmore meekly, making a motion first to an old battered hat that lay on the floor, and then towards the door.
"'"Who asked you to go?" said Watkins doggedly.
"'"No one has asked me," answered Belmore; "but of course you have a perfect right to ask me to go if you wish."