"I had a motive for what I did. Draycott's father is a big bug over in New South Wales. They've been telegraphing to each other, he and his father, spending no end of money on wires. It seems that the old man heard that he was missing and got flurried; but they've made that all right by telegram. Draycott's going back to his father; he is the only son, his father has big interests, and wants him, and he hasn't made a very good thing of soldiering; so Draycott's going back. And, what is much more--to me--I'm going with him." "Sydney! Really?" "Very really--thanks to Draycott. I couldn't stay in England--now; and I wouldn't. I've made such a mess of things that I shouldn't be able to breathe if I stayed. I want to put the old things behind me, and to get into a new world, and a new life." There was silence; he seemed to be straining his eyes with the effort to see the new life for which he longed. "And that means?" "That means that the man you knew is dead." "Is he? I wonder! Sydney?" He did not speak, but he looked at her. "Have you ever thought of me during all you've gone through?" "Before I answer your question, as I will do presently, let me say what I've got to say. I'm a criminal." The girl rose quickly from her seat. "And let me tell you that I won't let you say it--I will not. You answer my question, and then we'll say something to each other. Answer me--did you ever think of me when, as you put it yourself, you were picking crusts out of the gutter?" "It's not a fair question." "Why?" "Because you'll draw deductions from my answer which you must not draw." "What is your answer? We'll talk about deductions afterwards. Answer me--did you ever think of me when you were picking crusts out of the gutter?" The man closed his eyes and turned his face away. She pressed her question home. "Answer me!" "There was a time when I was so hungry, and so cold, and so deep down in hell, that I tried to stop thinking of you--and I couldn't." "They stole the locket from you which I gave you." "They did--the devils! Who told you?" "You cut my picture out of one of the papers, and you made a case for it with a piece of silk with your own hands, and you carried it next your bosom." "It's there now. Who told you all these things?" "And if you go to New South Wales you'll take that picture with you?" "I did mean to."