human
You know all about it--about my affair, of course?
gpt
Well, said Edwin.
human
I expect you know how much I know.
gpt
I’m an honest man--you know that. I needn’t begin by explaining that to you.
human
You weren’t honest towards Hilda, if it comes to that.
gpt
To have said
human
When I say ’honest’ I mean--you know what I mean. About Hilda--I don’t defend that. Only I couldn’t help myself.... I daresay I should do it again. Edwin could feel his eyes smarting and he blinked, and yet he was angry with the man, who went on:
gpt
It’s no use talking about that. That’s over. And I couldn’t help it. I had to do it. She’s come out of it all right. She’s not harmed, and I thank God for it! If there’d been a child living ... well, it would ha’ been different.
human
Thank God!
gpt
All I mean is I’m an honest man. I’ve been damnably treated. Not that I want to go into that. No! I’m a fatalist. That’s over. That’s done with. I’m not whining. All I’m insisting on is that I’m not a thief, and I’m not a forger, and I’ve nothing to hide. Perhaps I brought my difficulties about that bank-note business on myself. But when you’ve once been in prison, you don’t choose your friends--you can’t. Perhaps I might have ended by being a thief or a forger, only on this occasion it just happens that I’ve had a good six years for being innocent. I never did anything wrong, or even silly, except let myself get too fond of somebody. That might happen to anyone. It did happen to me. But there’s nothing else. You understand? I never--
human
Yes, yes, certainly!
gpt
No one’s got the right to look down on me, I mean, George Cannon insisted, bringing his face forward over the desk.
human
On the contrary this country owes me an apology. However, I don’t want to go into that. That’s done with. Spilt milk’s spilt. I know what the world is.
gpt
I agree. I agree!
human
Well, said George Cannon,
gpt
Me!
human
You, Mr. Clayhanger! I’ve come straight here from London. I haven’t a friend in the whole world, not one. It’s not everybody can say that. There was a fellow named Dayson at Turnhill--used to work for me--he’d have done something if he could. But he was too big a fool to be able to; and besides, he’s gone, no address. I wrote to him.
gpt
Oh, that chap! murmured Edwin, trying to find relief in even a momentary turn of the conversation.
human
I know who you mean. Shorthand-writer. He died in the Isle of Man on his holiday two years ago. It was in the papers.
gpt
Cannon snarled bitterly.
human
I’m aware you’re not a friend of mine. I’ve no claim on you. You don’t know me; but you know about me. When I saw you in Dartmoor I guessed who you were, and I said to myself you looked the sort of man who might help another man.... Why did you come into the prison? Why did you bring her there? You must have known I was there.
gpt
I didn’t bring her there. Edwin blushed.
human
It was---- However, we needn’t go into that, if you don’t mind.
gpt
Was she upset?
human
Of course.
gpt
What do you want me to do?