hat Mrs. Ranger has left for
Brennerstadt?"

"What?" said Kelly.

Kieff did not repeat his question. He merely waited for it to sink
in. A faint, subtle smile still hovered about his sallow features.
It was obvious that he regarded his news in anything but a tragic
light.

"Gone to Brennerstadt!" ejaculated Kelly at length. "But what the
devil would she go there for? I was going myself to-morrow. I'd
have taken her."

"She probably preferred to choose her own escort," said Kieff.

"What?" said Kelly again. "Man, is it the truth you're giving me?"

"Not much point in lying," said Kieff coldly, "when there is
nothing to be gained by it! Mrs. Burke Ranger has gone to
Brennerstadt by way of Ritzen, in the company of Guy Ranger. Piet
Vreiboom will tell you the same thing if you ask him. He is going
to Brennerstadt too to-morrow, and I with him. Perhaps we can
travel together. We may overtake the amorous couple if we ride all
the way."

Without any apparent movement, his smile intensified at sight of
the open consternation on Kelly's red countenance.

"You seem surprised at something," he said.

"I don't believe a damn' word of it," said Kelly bluntly. "You
didn't see them."

"I saw them both," said Kieff, still smiling, "Piet Vreiboom saw
them also. But the lady seemed to be in a great hurry, so we did
not detain them. They are probably at Ritzen by now, if not
beyond."

"Oh, damnation!" said Kelly tragically.

Kieff's smile slowly vanished. His eyes took on a stony, remote
look as though the matter had ceased to interest him. And while
Kelly tramped impotently about the room, he leaned his shoulders
against the wall and stared into space.

"I am really rather glad to have met you," he remarked presently.
"Can you give me any tip regarding this diamond of Wilbraham's?
You know its value to the tenth part of a farthing, I have no
doubt."

Kelly paused to glare at him distractedly, "Oh, curse the diamond!"
he said, "It's Mrs. Burke I'm thinking of."

Kieff's thin lips curled contemptuously. "A woman!" he said, and
snapped his fingers. "A woman who can be bought and sold
again--for far less than half its cost! My good Kelly! Are you
serious?"

Kelly stamped an indignant foot. "You infernal, cold-blooded
Kaffir!" he roared. "I'm human anyway, which is more than you are!"

Kieff's sneer deepened. It was Kelly's privilege always to speak
his mind, and no one took offence however ext