Arthur Morrison

The Red Triangle Arthur Morrison

Book Excerpt: ...o' such a thing beforehand? And the American--either there wasn't an American at all, or he got out the same way. But, anyway, here I am, and the tiamonts are gone, and there is nothing here but the furniture--not worth twenty pound!""Well," Hewitt said, "so far, I think I understand, though I may have questions to ask presently. But go on.""Go on? But there is no more, Mr. Hewitt! Quite enough, don't you think? There is no more--I am robbed!""But when you found the empty room, and the case, what did you do? Send for the police?"The Jew's face clouded slightly. "No, Mr. Hewitt," he said, "not for the police, but for you. Reason plain enough. The police make a great fuss, and they want to arrest the criminal. Quite right--I want to arrest him, and punish him too, plenty. But most I want the tiamonts back, because if not it ruins me. If it was to make choice between two things for me, whether to punish Denson or get my tiamonts, then of course I take the tiamonts, and let Denson...