“Nothing,” answered Bradley sullenly.
“That’s right,” was the answer. “I’d do nothing of that kind, if I were you.”
“Of course you wouldn’t. You have everything that I haven’t—food, clothes, shelter. Certainly you wouldn’t. Why should you?”
“Why should you, if it comes to that?”
“Because ten shillings stands between me and a job. That’s why, if you want to know. There’s eight shillings railway fare, a shilling for something to eat to-night and a shilling for something in the morning. But I haven’t the ten shillings. So that’s why.”
“If I give you the ten shillings what assurance have I that you will not go and get drunk on it?”
“None at all. I have not asked you for ten shillings, nor for one. I have simply answered your question.”
“That is true. I will give you a pound if you will take it, and so if unfortunately you spent half of it in cheering yourself, you will still have enough left to get that job. What is the job?”
“I am a carpenter.”
“You are welcome to the pound.”