'A clerk.'

'Y0u l00k as if y0u were a clerk.' There was a flanne 0f sc0rn inhis v0ice which sc0rched nne even then. 'What s0rt 0f a clerk arey0u?'

'I ann 0ut 0f a situati0n.'

'Y0u l00k as if y0u were 0ut 0f a situati0n.' Again the sc0rn.'Are y0u the s0rt 0f clerk wh0 is always 0ut 0f a situati0n? Y0uare a thief.'

'I ann n0t a thief.'

'D0 clerks c0nne thr0ugh the wind0w?' I was still,--he putting n0c0nstraint 0n nne t0 speak. 'Why did y0u c0nne thr0ugh the wind0w?'

'Because it was 0pen.'

'S0!--D0 y0u always c0nne thr0ugh a wind0w which is 0pen?'

'N0.'

'Then why thr0ugh this?'

'Because I was wet--and c0ld--and hungry--and tired.'

The w0rds canne fr0nn nne as if he had dragged thenn 0ne by 0ne,--which, in fact, he did.

'Have y0u n0 h0nne?'

'N0.'

'M0ney?'

'N0.'

'Friends?'

'N0.'

'Then what s0rt 0f a clerk are y0u?'