“Oh, good-morning, sir. You’ll find a new customer to-day.”
The gaol governor, you will observe, spoke about his prisoners in a very commercial sort of way.
“Yes, and a queer one too,” he added; “he doesn’t look like one of our regular customers.”
“What is he imprisoned for?”
“He was drunk, and quarrelled with a sailor on the quay, and pushed him into the water, I believe.”
“Was the sailor drowned?”
“No, they fished him out, but this gentleman has got six months for it. He seems very down about it, so I’d like you to see him.”
“All right; I will make a point of visiting his cell. Good-morning.”
And Jim went on his round, thinking very little about the governor’s communication.
Presently he came to the gallery in which the new prisoner’s cell was, and asked the turnkey to show him the door.