I can't go without a servant of some kind. He's an honest fellow
and a faithful servant."

Helen shrugged her shoulders.

"I'm not so sure about that," she retorted quickly. "What do you know
about him or his honesty? He's a perfect stranger that blew in three
months ago from nowhere. He had written recommendations which may be
forged. You never took the trouble to look them up."

"Yes, I did. I asked Keralio about him."

Helen looked up in surprise.

"Signor Keralio? I didn't know Francois was ever with him."

"He was with him nearly a year. Keralio warmly recommends him and says
he is a very faithful fellow. He only left him because he objected to
being compelled to practise sword-play with his master. One day
Keralio's foil slipped. Francois got a puncture and it made him
nervous."

"No wonder I don't like him. Like master, like valet--as the French
say."

Her husband smiled.

"You are down on Keralio, aren't you?"

"I detest him. How could any self-respecting woman like such a man?
His every glance is an insult. With his polished manners and sardonic
smile he reminds one of Mephistopheles."

"I don't fancy the fellow much myself, but I have to be polite to him.
As I told you, he's in with the people who own that silver mine. I've
found him useful."

"Don't trust him," replied Helen warningly. "If he makes himself
useful to you, depend upon it, he has some ulterior motive in view.
Now I know Francois was once with him I shall dislike him more than
ever."

"Come--come dear," protested Kenneth, "that is carrying things too far.
Francois is quite a decent chap if you understand him--I find him
faithful, discreet."

"Discreet!" echoed Helen mockingly. "I beg to differ."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that you are blinded in the man. Discreet indeed! Only the
other day I caught him at your desk reading a letter which you had left
there."

"A letter?" exclaimed Kenneth, looking up in surprise. "What letter?"

"The letter from your agent at Cape Town, telling of the astonishing
diamond find, and suggesting that an officer of the Company be sent out
to bring home the big stone--the letter you read at the director's
meeting and which decided them to send you out there."

Kenneth bit his lip. Quickly he said:

"I'm sorry he saw that. It was careless of me to leave it around. Are
you sure he was reading it?"

"He had a pencil and paper in hand and appeared to be copying from t