Читать книгу When the Sea Gives Up Its Dead. A Thrilling Detective Story онлайн

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“‘Meaning that he would make me change places with Riddell! Good God! what shall I do? I can’t give up the diamonds!’

“‘But you must give them up! Do you think I will allow you to ruin us all? And simply because you want money to squander in drinking and gambling hells? Tell me what you have done with your booty.’

“‘It’s all gone. I realised the diamonds for a quarter their value, and paid my creditors with it.’

“‘What! you were heavily in debt?’

“‘Yes. I owed hundreds, and the money melted like wax.’

“‘What have you left?’

“‘About fifty pounds.’

“‘It’s a lie! You cannot have gone through the worth of all you took.’

“‘I tell you I have.’

“‘I wonder what I have done that I should be cursed by a son like you! I won’t ruin myself to buy your freedom. You shall go to gaol like the dog you are.’

“‘And what about the mater and the girls? If you won’t do it for me, you will perhaps wish you had done it for their sakes.’

“‘Ah, you have me there! You are not worth stretching out a saving hand to. But it would be hard to make them suffer for you.’