" It meant that the men's
section would be entirely deserted for five or ten minutes.
Thomas Braddock was not a thief. He never had stolen anything in his
life. He did not intend to steal now. Before he entered the dressing-
tent, half an hour ago, he had justified himself unto himself: he was
not going to steal David's money. His purpose was an honest one, or so
his conscience had been resolutely convinced. He meant to
surreptitiously borrow the idle money, that was all. Toward the end of
the season, when he was vastly prosperous--as he was sure to be--he
would go to David and restore the money, with interest; whereupon the
grateful young man would fall upon his neck and rejoice. He needed the
money. David did not need it.
What would his wife say if she came to know of this? What would
Christine think of him? They were harsh questions and they troubled
him. But above these questions throbbed a still greater one--the one
that made his body damp with fear: was the money still in the boy's
pocket, or was he carrying it with him in the ring?
Of one thing he was sure: David trusted to the integrity of his fellow
performers.
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