"Struck you?"
"Oh, he often did that. But I was a weak and helpless creature. I seemed to myself to be half-witted. He used to say that he believed I had a tile loose. I had, then. Then they locked him up."
"What for?"
"He put an advertisement in the paper for a person to fill a position of trust. When someone applied he got them to make what he termed a 'deposit' of a few pounds. Then he stole it. Of course there was no position of trust to fill. That was how he made his living. I always wondered where he got his money from. After he was arrested I understood."
"And he was sentenced?"
"To twelve months' hard labour."
"Only twelve months' hard labour? Then his term of imprisonment will soon be drawing to a close."
"To-morrow."
"To-morrow! You poor child!"
"Now you perceive why I hurried back from Lake Como to say good-bye."