"The idea!" "Do you mean to say that I can't get out of here ?" I demanded.

"That you will keep me here against my will ?" "Yes," he snorted.
I do not know what might have happened, for I was waxing indignant myself; but the "congregation" had "piped" the situation, and he drew me over to a corner of the room, and then into another room.

Here he again demanded my reasons for wishing to go.
"I want to go," I said, "because I wish to look for work over in Stepney, and every hour lessens my chance of finding work.

It is now twenty-five minutes to twelve.

I did not think when I came in that it would take so long to get a breakfast." "You 'ave business, eh ?" he sneered.