He had never once looked fairly at me since I first spoke to him.
Was it his hand that had struck the blow?
I had only sixpence in my pocket, but I took it out and followed him.

If it had been a five-pound note I should have done the same in the state I was in then.
"Would a pot of beer help you to understand me ?" I said, and offered him the sixpence.
"A pot ain't no great things," he answered, taking the sixpence doubtfully.
"It may lead to something better," I said.

His eyes began to twinkle, and he came close to me.

Oh, how my legs trembled--how my head swam! "This is all in a friendly way, is it ?" he asked, in a whisper.
I nodded my head.

At that moment I could not have spoken for worlds.
"Friendly, of course," he went on to himself, "or there would have been a policeman in it.