W. Pett Ridge

“ What you want, sir, is push; what you want is enterprise; what you want is to fling yourself about."
"Another fifty pound," said Mr. Bourne thoughtfully, "and I could 'ave got into a main thoroughfare, where a demand for a good sound twopenny goes on the whole day long."
"People ain't coming down this by-street to get no twopennies," agreed Robert Henry, "sound or unsound." He took a broom and swept the spotless floor with something of fury. "Nobody never comes 'ere; nothing never 'appens; no one never——Ullo!"
Robert Henry ran to the doorway. ”

“ Mr. Schenker, affected almost to tears by this stern attitude, implored Mr. Bourne not to be a hasty man, and said, two hundred and fifty pounds. Three hundred pounds. Well, three hundred and fifty pounds, and not a penny more if it meant imperilling his life, the life of Mrs. Schenker, and the lives of the Schenker family. At three hundred and fifty pounds, therefore, the diamonds, wrapped in the cigarette papers, changed hands, and Mr. Schenker wrote a cheque which Mr. Bourne accepted He made his way immediately down still holding the precious bag. ”

“ Schenker appeared at the window, the window was thrown up, and down on the hat of Mr. Bourne were showered some small missiles.
He made his way through the busy street into Holborn and took a 'bus home. When, near the shop, K 052 engaged him in casual conversation, Mr. Bourne's knees trembled.
"We don't serve sailors," Robert Henry was saying as he entered the shop. Two Japanese were asking for cigars, and Robert Henry, seated on the counter, with lemonade and pastry by his side, was treating them in a contemptuous manner that evidently gave him much satisfaction. "Outside, if you please." ”

“ Ah Lun bent forward and whispered. As he did so, amazement, indignation, and comprehension flitted across the tobacconist's face. He had to moisten his lips before he could speak.
"And the blooming things go back to their original state the moment they pass out of the hands of the owner of the black bottle? Well, I'm——"
"He no use to English," said Ah Lun, nodding affirmatively; "he use to pol Chilaman."
"Business is business," said Mr. Bourne, "all the world over. ”

“ No keep lil bot'l."
"You're 'aving it all your own way," said Mr. Bourne doubtfully, "but——" he looked at the small pile of sovereigns. They, at any rate, were genuine. "I'm not a 'ard man," said Mr. Bourne; "’ere"s the bottle, and 'ere's this bag full. They're no use to an honest man like me. Be off now, and don't let me see you again."
"No flear," said Ah Lun.
And readjusting his shawl, and pulling the little black bottle very carefully in his blouse, he slipped away.
"Nice go!" cried Robert Henry bitterly, almost falling into the shop. ”

“ Bourne.
"More blooming foreigners," growled the cabman. "There won't be an Englishman left soon to keep me company."
At number 142 Hatton Garden he found Mr. Lewis Schenker, Diamond Merchant of Amsterdam and London. Mr. Bourne explained in laborious broken English that he had diamonds to sell, and Mr. Schenker, who was a stout man with only just enough breath for his wants, listened without wasting a word of comment. When Mr. Bourne had finished his description of the death of the favourite aunt who had left him the diamonds, Mr. ”

“ When this agreeable duty had been performed he looked at the cheque and discovered that it was made payable to order, and as shopkeepers in Emmett Street, Limehouse, do not keep banking accounts, he was compelled to go back to Hatton Garden to request Mr. ”