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CHAPTER IX
A LIBEL ON THE THIEF
He found Plymouth horrified the next morning.
"Murder! A murderous assault—by Manling!" The shock and astonishment of the English met the young American as he came down to the breakfast-room of his hotel upon the Hoe.
For Manling, whose eminently safe operations the police and public had followed with complacency—indeed, almost with admiration—had made the expected bolder and more audacious attempt. And heavier even than the sense of horror, there seemed to have fallen upon these strange English the pain of a betrayal, an outrage, and violation of their trust.
Even the staid Morning News seemed to share the general shame and chagrin of a
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