't go! Don't go! I feel that
something will happen."

He laughed carelessly as he fondled her. More seriously he replied:

"I hope something does happen. That's what I'm going out there for.
Why, Helen dear, I don't think you quite realize what this trip means
to us. If the deal goes through, and we get full control of all that
property, we'll all be as rich as Croesus. Just think, dear, 300,000
square miles of the most wonderful diamond producing country. In ten
days they found 400 beautifully clear stones, some of them weighing
over a hundred carats. If the reports are true, we shall have a group
of mines as valuable as the famous De Beers group. Do you know what
they have produced to date in actual money?"

The young woman shook her head. Usually she was glad enough to listen
to her husband's business plans, but to-day they wearied her. Her mind
was too much preoccupied with something that concerned her far more.
The idea of this coming separation, the knowledge that he was running a
risk, had left her singularly depressed. She had tried to remain calm
and control her emotion, but the effort was beyond her. The prospect
of this separation, with its vague, undefined forebodings of disaster,
was simply intolerable. The tears she was unable to restrain rolled
silently down her cheeks.

He looked at her in surprise. Never had he seen her in this mood.
Approaching her more closely, he said kindly:

"That can't be the only reason, dear, what's the matter?"

She hesitated a moment before she answered:

"I'm very nervous to-day. I was dreadfully irritated last night at the
dinner. I wish I hadn't gone----"

"Who irritated you?"

"That man Signor Keralio. I simply can't tolerate the man. How I hate
him!"

"Why--what did he do?"

"He did nothing. He wouldn't dare--there. But I wouldn't care to be
alone with him. His eyes were enough. He imagines he is irresistible,
and that every woman is immoral. That is the kind of man he is. He
annoyed me all evening. There was no getting away from him."

Kenneth laughed and went back to finish his breakfast, quite
indifferent to what he had just heard. He knew his wife too well to be
afraid of any number of Signor Keralios. Humming a tune, he said
carelessly:

"Why didn't you call me?"

"What? Create a scandal? That would only make me ridiculous. He
wouldn't care. I can't bear the sight of the man, yet I have to be
polite to him."

Kenne