"My father and mother are dead."
"Then will you kindly inform us what number in Park Lane you live at?"
"I have not determined that as yet. I intend to buy a house there."
Some constables lounging about the office laughed, and the inspector, incensed out of his routine habits, shouted, angrily:
"This is no place for joking, boy. Answer me properly, or it will be worse for you."
"I have answered you quite properly. The constable who brought me here has in his possession diamonds worth many thousands of pounds belonging to me. I own a hundred times as many. Surely I can buy a house in Park Lane if I like."
The inspector was staggered by this well-bred insolence. He was searching for some crushing legal threat that would frighten the boy into a state of due humility when Mr. Isaacstein entered.
The Hatton Garden magnate again related the circumstances attending Philip's arrest, and the inspector promptly asked:
"What charge shall I enter? You gave him into custody. Do you think he has stolen the diamonds?"
Isaacstein had been thinking hard during a short cab drive. His reply was unexpectedly frank.