Moderne landhaaien

Summary

Prompted by stories heard from Mrs Howard, his sister's governess, Hugo Writley, the son of an American shipping magnate, travels to Holland accompanied by his steward, Longway. Mrs Howard is also on board the ship. Upon arrival in Amsterdam, the tourists find lodging in Hotel Metro.

One evening Hugo tells Longway that he intends going to bed early because he has toothache. Longway says that he too wants an early night because he has a headache. So, they are surprised when, some hours later, they meet in a cabaret. There they get into conversation with two men and their girlfriends who, at closing time, invite the Americans to their home for a few drinks. The hosts are "land-sharks" who think it will be easy to strip the two inebriated Yankees of their cash. When proposing a toast to the ladies, Hugo sees a panel in the wall slide open. From it a hand stretches out and deftly removes the wallets from the Americans' overcoats which are hanging over a chair. It happens so quickly that Hugo is momentarily stupefied before yelling to Longway that they have been robbed. They fight with the "land-sharks" and escape from the house after kicking open the locked door.

Some evenings later, curiosity drives Hugo and Longway back to the disreputable district to have a good look at the house. They see a young man lying on the street and rescue him from a negro who is threatening him. They take the young man, a student named Paul Mathon, to their hotel and call a doctor to bandage his wounds. Paul relates how he got into the clutches of the "land-sharks" and was fleeced of all his money. Hugo notifies the police, who are soon able to round up the whole gang of criminals. In the meantime Mr Writley has joined his son in Amsterdam. When the three Americans sail back to New York, they take Paul with them, promising him a good position in the Writley company and feeling convinced that they have done a good deed.