e a mistake?"

"Quite! I am certain!"

"But is it wise to be so certain?"

"Yes," replied Ingleborough quietly. "Surely I can believe my own
eyes!"

"But might he not have been questioning the Kaffirs, as he said?"

"Certainly," replied Ingleborough, with a grim smile; "but I do not see
why he should receive two diamonds from them and give them money in
exchange, and lastly why he should flick the two diamonds away into the
dust as soon as he caught sight of me. Do you?"

"No," said West thoughtfully. "Well, I am very sorry. What will be the
next proceeding?"

"The next thing in an ordinary way would be that the scoundrel would
bolt; but, as he must have found out by this time that he is carefully
watched, he will no doubt go straight to the principals and brave it out
by telling them his own tale and trying to persuade them that I have
hatched up a conspiracy against him."

"And of course he will not be believed," replied West thoughtfully; "for
it is next door to high treason for anyone to be found buying diamonds
illicitly from the natives."

"High treason?" cried Ingleborough, laughing. "Why, my dear boy, it's
much worse than regicide. The authorities in Kimberley look upon
diamond-smuggling or stealing as the blackest crime in the calendar."

"Hallo!" cried West just then. "So soon?"

For there was a sharp rap at the door, and a man entered to announce
that the principals of the great company desired the presence of
Ingleborough and West directly.

"I don't see why they want me!" said West. "I know nothing about the
matter."

"You'll have to go all the same," said Ingleborough. "He has dragged
your name into the case, and he trusts to you to speak in his behalf."

"And of course I shall," said West; "for I'm horribly sorry for the poor
fellow. He couldn't withstand the temptation to buy the diamonds for a
mere nothing and sell them at a heavy price."

"I don't want to be malicious, Noll," said Ingleborough; "but I've for
some time been under the impression that Master Anson was a humbug.
There, come along! Of course I don't like a piece of business like
this; but we must make rogues go to the wall. You're too soft-hearted,
Noll, my boy."

"Perhaps so," replied the lad; "but I'd rather be so than too
hard-hearted."

CHAPTER SIX.

A VAIN SEARCH.

West saw at once upon entering the presence of the principals that
things appeared bad for Anson, who stood facing a table at whic