Голод
Part III
"Comewithmeandhaveaglassofbeer,"hesaid."Buthurryup,Ihaven’tmuchtime....Whatladywasthatyouwerewalkingwithyesterdayevening?"
"Listenherenow,"saidI,jealousofhisbarethought."Supposingitwasmyfiancée."
"ByJove!"heexclaimed.
"Yes;itwasallsettledyesterdayevening."
Thisnonplussedhimcompletely.Hebelievedmeimplicitly.Iliedinthemostaccomplishedmannertogetridofhim.Weorderedthebeer,drankit,andleft.
"Well,good-bye!Olisten,"hesaidsuddenly."Ioweyouafewshillings.Itisashame,too,thatIhaven’tpaidyoulongago,butnowyoushallhavethemduringthenextfewdays."
"Yes,thanks,"Ireplied;butIknewthathewouldneverpaymebackthefewshillings.Thebeer,Iamsorrytosay,wentalmostimmediatelytomyhead.Thethoughtofthepreviousevening’sadventureoverwhelmedme—mademedelirious.SupposingshewerenottomeetmeonTuesday!Supposingsheweretobegintothinkthingsover,togetsuspicious...getsuspiciousofwhat?...Mythoughtsgaveajerkanddweltuponthemoney.Igrewafraid;deadlyafraidofmyself.Thetheftrushedinuponmeinallitsdetails.Isawthelittleshop,thecounter,myleanhandsasIseizedthemoney,andIpicturedtomyselfthelineofactionthepolicewouldadoptwhentheywouldcometoarrestme.Ironsonmyhandsandfeet;no,onlyonmyhands;perhapsonlyononehand.
