MAZZINI. He put his hands up and said it was a fair cop.
THE BURGLAR. So it was. Send for the police.
HECTOR. No, by thunder! It was not a fair cop. We were four to one.
MRS HUSHABYE. What will they do to him?
THE BURGLAR. Ten years. Beginning with solitary. Ten years off my life. I shan't serve it all: I'm too old. It will see me out.
LADY UTTERWORD. You should have thought of that before you stole my diamonds.
THE BURGLAR. Well, you've got them back, lady, haven't you? Can you give me back the years of my life you are going to take from me?
MRS HUSHABYE. Oh, we can't bury a man alive for ten years for a few diamonds.
THE BURGLAR. Ten little shining diamonds! Ten long black years!
LADY UTTERWORD. Think of what it is for us to be dragged through the horrors of a criminal court, and have all our family affairs in the papers! If you were a native, and Hastings could order you a good beating and send you away, I shouldn't mind; but here in England there is no real protection for any respectable person.