Page:Rowland--The Mountain of Fears.djvu/148

   Trocas and that !' He really had a very poor opinion of 'La Fouchere.'

" 'Why?' I asked, although I had my suspicions.

" 'Oh, never mind. There are other things to think of. Bribery has failed; there is left only force.' He looked at me inquiringly.

" 'Force?' said I, for at that time a Jew and a fight were not associated in my mind.

" Tiens! said he, 'we cannot return and leave the little Jacob in that cesspool! Think of his lung, my dear Doctor; besides, it would be necessary to refund the money subscribed by our friends in Curaçao.'

" 'Did you give them receipts?' I asked, curious to get at the odd principles of the man. He looked at me reproachfully.

" 'There, there, Leyden! Did you ever hear of Isidore Rosenthal going back upon his word?'

" 'I apologize. What is the next move?'

"Rosenthal shrugged. 'They are not much [ 132 ]