"That can only mean telling you about myself," he said.

"It's raking up a past which I had hoped, with God's help, to bury.

But I have sinned to-night, and it is my punishment to tell you.
And you have a right to know.

My father was a porter in Covent Garden Market.

My mother--I've already mentioned--" "Yes--the Sicilian and the barrel organ--I remember," said Paul, with a shiver.
"I had a hard boyhood.