y fist.
With a burst of profanity he broke out:

"Yes, damn him! He had all the advantages. I had none. But it's my
turn now. I want all that's coming to me."

"Hush!" exclaimed the valet, raising his finger warningly. "Zey may
hear. Everything will be all right. We must be very careful. You
must not talk. You must avoid people. Let them think you sick, or
strange, or crazy, anything you like. But keep away from zem, or else
they soon discover that 'Handsome Jack,' ze penniless adventurer, is
quite a different person from ze accomplished and wealthy Monsieur
Kenneth Traynor."

"We can't expect to keep the game up long," interrupted the big fellow
moodily.

"We won't have to," replied his companion calmly. "Just enough time to
squeeze ze orange dry--that's all----"

Handsome looked up quickly. Savagely he retorted:

"Of which juice you and Keralio want a goodly share, don't you?"

The valet's greenish eyes flashed.

"Of course I do, and, what's more, I mean to get it." Changing his
free, careless tone to one tense with significance and menace he went
on: "Don't be a fool, Monsieur Handsome. Who put you up to this snap,
but me? Who knows what you did to monsieur out there on ze _veldt_,
better than me? Dead men tell no tales, but live ones do. Don't
forget that! If you want to keep clear of ze electric chair, you'll
keep your mouth shut, and play fair."

The gambler listened, his mouth twitching nervously, his eyes glowing
with sullen hatred.

"What do you and Keralio want? I gave you the diamonds--what more do
you expect?"

The valet laughed scoffingly.

"You gave him ze diamonds. Why? You were d----d glad to be rid of
zem. We can't do anything with zem now. We may have to wait months or
years before we can venture to cut zem up and dispose of zem. _Non_,
monsieur! If zey appeared on ze market now, ze news would be flashed
_immediatement_ to every corner of ze globe, and your career and mine
would come to a quick end. _Voila_!"

"Don't forget Keralio!" said Handsome, with a sneer.

"_Eh, bien_? Has he not earned it, Signor Keralio? Is it not because
of his courage and daring that you are here--ze master in this house?
Who but Keralio would have had ze nerve to carry ze thing through?"

Handsome shrugged his shoulders. Cynically he said:

"Oh, I don't know. It seems to me that Keralio is safe under cover,
while here I am, disporting myself in the limelight, with every ey