colonel. "Why, my dear
Elphinstone, what on earth do you mean? I am much obliged for your
congratulations, certainly; but whether the diamonds here be many or
few, we shall of course all share alike, so you may also congratulate
yourself and our absent friends at the same time. And as to my
supposition being correct, I have had too much experience at the South
African diamond-fields to make a mistake in such a matter. Why," he
continued, looking round and picking up two or three more stones, "they
are positively sown broadcast just here--an hour's diligent work in this
spot will make us all rich beyond the power of computation."

"If that be the case," returned the baronet, "then here goes to help
you. But, mind, I am a rich man already; and not a single stone will I
accept until all three of you are perfectly satisfied that you have
abundantly sufficient for all your requirements."

"Very well," said the colonel. "Go ahead with that understanding if you
like. I feel pretty confident that, even upon such terms, you will be
able to take back to England, if all goes well, sufficient gems to make
the future Lady Elphinstone--should there ever be such a personage--a
diamond suite which shall cause her to be the envied of all beholders."

Sir Reginald laughed gleefully. "I have never yet met a woman charming
enough to induce me to yield up my freedom of action and movement for
her sake, and I do not think it likely I ever shall," he said.

Lethbridge shook his head a little doubtfully, but he was just then so
busy digging down into the gravel with his hunting-knife that he had no
breath to waste in the words of a disclaimer.

The baronet moved away to a distance of some twenty feet, and began
poking about the gravel in a very careless, half-hearted sort of way,
occasionally picking up and slipping into one of his capacious pockets
such crystals as he thought likely to be of value.

Half an hour of this work sufficed him; and, rising to his feet, he
cried: "Spell, ho! as our friend Mildmay would probably observe. Now,
Lethbridge," as he sauntered up to his companion, "let us compare the
results of our labour."

With this he flung himself down upon the gravel, and, plunging his hand
into his pocket three or four times, produced a goodly little heap of
gems of all sizes, ranging from that of a pea up to stones of fully one
ounce in weight. Meanwhile the colonel brought his collection to light,
and a very fine o