human
Money! said Cannon sharply.
gpt
Money! You won’t feel it, but it will save me. After all, Mr. Clayhanger, there’s a bond between us, if it comes to that. There’s a bond between us. And you’ve had all the luck of it.
human
But surely your wife-- he stammered.
gpt
Surely Mrs. Cannon isn’t without funds. Of course I know she was temporarily rather short a while back, but surely--
human
How do you know she was short?
gpt
My wife sent her ten pounds--I fancy it was ten pounds--towards expenses, you know.
human
Never told me!
gpt
But I’ve always understood she’s a woman of property,
human
Mr. Clayhanger, I’ve left my wife--as you call her. If I’d stayed with her I should have killed her. I’ve run off. Yes, I know all she’s done for me. I know without her I might have been in prison to-day and for a couple o’ years to come. But I’d sooner be in prison or in hell or anywhere you like than with Mrs. Cannon. She’s an old woman. She always was an old woman. She was nearly forty when she hooked me, and I was twenty-two. And I’m young yet. I’m not middle-aged yet. She’s got a clear conscience, Mrs. Cannon has. She always does her duty. She’d let me walk over her, she’d never complain, if only she could keep me. She’d just play and smile. Oh yes, she’d turn the other cheek--and keep on turning it. But she isn’t going to have me. And for all she’s done I’m not grateful. Hag. That’s what she is!
gpt
Hsh!
human
All right! All right! Cannon proceeded in a lower but still impassioned voice.
gpt
But look here! You’re a man. You know what’s what. You’ll understand what I mean. Believe me when I say that I wouldn’t live with that woman for eternal salvation. I couldn’t. I couldn’t do it. I’ve taken some of her money, only a little, and run off... He paused, and went on with conscious persuasiveness now:
human
I’ve just got here. I had to ask your whereabouts. I might have been recognised in the streets, but I haven’t been. I didn’t expect to find you here at this time. I might have had to sleep in the town to-night. I wouldn’t have come to your private house. Now I’ve seen you I shall get along to Crewe to-night. I shall be safer there. And it’s on the way to Liverpool and America. I want to go to America. With a bit o’ capital I shall be all right in America. It’s my one chance; but it’s a good one. But I must have some capital. No use landing in New York with empty pockets.
gpt
I was under the impression you had been to America once.
human
Yes, that’s why I know. I hadn’t any money. And what’s more, he added with peculiar emphasis,
gpt
I was brought back.
human
I shall yield to this man.
gpt
Excuse me a second,