ston's departure there came the shambling
trot of another horse, and Piet Vreiboom, slouched like a sack in
the saddle rode up and rolled off at the door.

"Oh, bother the man!" said Matilda, "I shan't ask him in with Bill
away."

The amiable Piet, however, did not wait to be asked. He fastened
up his horse and rolled into the house with his hat on, where he
gave her perfunctory greeting, grinned at Sylvia, and seated
himself in the easiest chair he could find.

Matilda's face of unconcealed disgust nearly provoked Sylvia to
uncontrolled laughter, but she checked herself in time, and went to
get the unwelcome visitor a drink in the hope of speeding his
departure.

Piet Vreiboom however was in no hurry, though they assured him
repeatedly that Merston would probably not return for some hours.
He sat squarely in his chair with his little greedy eyes fixed upon
Sylvia, and merely grunted in response to all their efforts.

When he had refreshed himself and lighted his pipe, he began to
search his mind for the few English words at his disposal and to
arrange these in a fashion intelligible to the two very inferior
beings who were listening to him. He told them in laboured
language that he had come from Brennerstadt, that the races were
over and the great Wilbraham diamond was lost and won. Who had won
it? No one knew. Some said it was a lady. He looked again at
Sylvia who turned out the pockets of her overall, and assured him
that she was not the lucky one.

He looked as if he suspected ridicule behind her mirth, and changed
the subject. Guy Ranger had disappeared, and no one knew what had
become of him. Some people thought he was dead, like Kieff. Again
he looked searchingly at Sylvia, but she did not joke over this
information. She began to peel some potatoes as if she had not
heard it. And Piet Vreiboom sat back in his chair and stared at
her, till the hot colour rose and spread over her face and neck,
and then he puffed forth a cloud of vile smoke and laughed.

At that juncture Mrs. Merston came forward with unusual briskness.
"You had better go," she said, with great decision. "There is
going to be a storm."

He began to dispute the point, but meeting most unexpected
lightning in her pale eyes he thought better of it, and after a few
seconds for deliberation and the due assertion of his masculine
superiority, he lumbered to his feet and prepared to depart.

Mrs. Merston followed him firmly to the