“I’m sorry, very sorry. I’d rather it had been any one else. Tell me, is there any reason I shouldn’t hand you over to the police?”
No answer.
“Speak, please. Is there any reason?...”
Her arms dropped. She straightened up, and looked him full in the face.
“There is. I’m starving. I haven’t tasted food for two days....” Then she sank at his feet.
2.
Two hours later they were in a lonely corner of a restaurant. She had satisfied her hunger, and was sitting silent, downcast, sullen.
He looked at her with keen, bright eyes. “Poor little devil!” he thought, “perhaps she isn’t so bad after all.” Then aloud he said: “I suppose when you went to the Twitcher’s room your intention was to steal?”
She hesitated. After all, what did it matter? “Yes,” she answered. “I went down there to steal.”
“You also stole the money belonging to the Swede women....”