"
"I wanted to show you the worse side first," said I; "it's much better on
the other side."
"Ay, ay; it's no good. I won't own it; and you wouldn't raise a penny on
it anywhere."
"No, it's clear it isn't worth anything," I said; "but I thought it might
go with another old blanket at an auction."
"Well, no; it's no use."
"Three pence?" said I.
"No; I won't have it at all, man! I wouldn't have it in the house!" I took
it under my arm and went home.
I acted as if nothing had passed, spread it over the bed again, smoothed
it well out, as was my custom, and tried to wipe away every trace of my
late action. I could not possibly have been in my right mind at the moment
when I came to the conclusion to commit this rascally trick. The more I
thought over it the more unreasonable it seemed to me. It must have been
an attack of weakness; some relaxation in my inner self that had surprised
me when off my guard. Neither had I fallen straight into the trap. I had
half felt that I was going the wrong road, and I expressly offered my
glasses first, and I rejoiced greatly that I had not had the opportunity
of carrying into effect this fault which would have sullied the last hours
I had to live.
I wandered out into the city again. I let myself sink upon one of the
seats by Our Saviour's Church; dozed with my head on my breast, apathetic
after my last excitement, sick and famished with hunger.
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