t. Then, pressing the cock sidewise, the butt opened from
end to end upon a concealed hinge, showing that it was perfectly
hollowed out and that half-a-dozen large diamonds lay within, closely
packed in cotton wool.

Anson turned clay-coloured.

"'Tisn't mine!" he cried. "I know nothing about it!"

"Well, never mind," said the General; "it is ours now. An interesting
bit of loot, gentlemen!"

There was a murmur of voices at this, and as soon as the pistol had been
handed round the butt was closed with a sharp snap, and the General
turned to Ingleborough again.

"Well, sir," he said: "is that all?"

"I am not sure," replied Ingleborough; "but I am suspicious about that
stick."

"You think it is hollowed out?"

"Yes, sir," said Ingleborough, and, taking it in his hands, he drew it
apart, dragging into the light from its sheath a handsome Damascened
three-edged blade, which he held against the cane, proving that the
blade went right down to the ferrule at the end.

"What about the handle?" said one of the officers eagerly, as
Ingleborough thrust back the blade into its cane sheath.

"That is what I suspect!" said Ingleborough, and he carefully examined
the silver-gilt tip, but twisted and turned it in vain, for there seemed
to be no way of opening it, till all at once he tried to twist the
sheath portion beneath the double ring which divided hilt from sheath,
when the handle turned for about half-an-inch and was then drawn off,
disclosing a hollow shell lining which held another deposit of diamonds
packed in cotton wool.

"More loot, gentlemen!" said the General, smiling. "What comes next?"

"The flute," cried two voices together, and Ingleborough opened the
case, showing the three joints fitting tightly in the velvet-lined
compartments.

"A silent musical instrument!" said the General, smiling.

"Can anyone play the overture to the Crown Diamonds?" said one of the
_aides-de-camp_ merrily.

"This is the overture!" said another, and Ingleborough took out two
joints in turn, perfectly empty, fitted them together, and then took out
the top joint, to put that in its proper position, before raising the
instrument to his lips and running up and down the gamut.

"Nothing there," said the General.

But Ingleborough lowered the flute, held it in both hands, and drew it
apart at the tuning-slide, held it sidewise, and then unscrewed the top
plug, showing an opening, out of which he shook a magnificent gem o