I was wrong in taking that money from Beauclerc _when_ I did, 'twas in the midst of a dismal run of ill-fortune.

There was nothing unfair in taking it, though.

The man was a cheat.

It was not really his, and no one could tell to whom it belonged; 'twas no more his because I had found it in his pocket than if I had found it in a barrel on the high seas.

I killed him to prevent his killing me.