'Now, there you puzzle me extremely; for I thought you said you were a thief; and the two are incompatible.' 'Is it very bad to steal ?' asked Jean-Marie.
'Such is the general opinion, little boy,' replied the Doctor.
'No; but I mean as I stole,' explained the other.

'For I had no choice.
I think it is surely right to have bread; it must be right to have bread, there comes so plain a want of it.

And then they beat me cruelly if I returned with nothing,' he added.

'I was not ignorant of right and wrong; for before that I had been well taught by a priest, who was very kind to me.' (The Doctor made a horrible grimace at the word 'priest.') 'But it seemed to me, when one had nothing to eat and was beaten, it was a different affair.

I would not have stolen for tartlets, I believe; but any one would steal for baker's bread.' 'And so I suppose,' said the Doctor, with a rising sneer, 'you prayed God to forgive you, and explained the case to Him at length.' 'Why, sir ?' asked Jean-Marie.