He recalled the rumors of Joe Ellison's repressed volcano of a temper; if Joe Ellison should learn how he had been defrauded, all the man's vital forces would be instantly transformed into destructive, vengeful rage that would spare no one and count no cost.

The result would doubtless be tragedy, with no one greatly served, and with Joe very likely back in prison.

If he himself should go out to give Old Jimmie his deserts, his action would be just good powder wasted--it likewise would serve no constructive purpose.

Larry realized that it is only human nature for a wronged man to wish for and attempt revenge; but that in the economy of life revenge has no value, serves no purpose; that it usually only makes a bad situation worse.
A tremendous wrong had been done here, a wrong which showed a malignant, cunning, patient mind.

But as Larry finally saw the matter, the point for first consideration was not the valueless satisfaction of making the guilty man suffer, but was to try to restore to the victims some part of those precious things of which they had been unconsciously robbed.
And then Larry had what seemed to him an inspiration: his inspiration being only a sane thought, and what the Duchess, though she had not pointed the way to him, had thought he would do.