And I had never seen, he shouted;
then suddenly bit his lip and frowned. What a bally ass I've been, he said very
slow in an awed tone.... You are a brick! he cried next in a muffled voice. He
snatched my hand as though he had just then seen it for the first time, and
dropped it at once. Why! this is what I - you - I... he stammered, and then with
a return of his old stolid, I may say mulish, manner he began heavily, I would
be a brute now if I... and then his voice seemed to break. That's all right, I
said. I was almost alarmed by this display of feeling, through which pierced a
strange elation. I had pulled the string accidentally, as it were; I did not
fully understand the working of the toy. I must go now, he said. Jove! You have
helped me. Can't sit still. The very thing... He looked at me with puzzled
admiration. The very thing...
    Of course it was the thing. It was ten to one that I had saved him from
starvation - of that peculiar sort that is almost invariably associated with
drink. This was all. I had not a single illusion on that score, but looking at
him, I allowed myself to wonder at the nature of the one he had, within the last
three minutes, so evidently taken into his bosom. I had forced into his hand the
means to carry on decently the serious business of life, to get food, drink, and
shelter of the customary kind while his wounded spirit, like a bird with a
broken wing, might hop and flutter into some hole to die quietly of inanition
there. This is what I had thrust upon him: a definitely small thing; and -
behold! - by the manner of its reception it loomed in the dim light of the
candle like a big, indistinct, perhaps a dangerous shadow. You don't mind me not
saying anything appropriate, he burst out. There isn't anything one could say.
Last night already you had done me no end of good. Listening to me - you know. I
give you my word I've thought more than once the top of my head would fly off...
He darted - positively darted - here and there, rammed his hands into his
pockets, jerked them out again, flung his cap on his head. I had no idea it was
in