ell, yes, we
stored grain; but whose advice has turned that grain to gold, I might
say? Well, what's his offence? He trusted the diamonds to your man, and
sent him to you. Is he the first honest man that has trusted a rogue?
How was he to know? Likely he judged the husband by the wife. Answer me
one thing, Pheeb. If he makes away with fifteen hundred pounds that
is his, or partly yours--for he has eaten your bread ever since I knew
him--and fifteen hundred more that is the doctor's, where shall we find
fifteen hundred pounds, all in a moment, to pay the doctor back his
own?"

"My honest friend," said Staines, "you are tormenting yourself with
shadows. I don't believe Mr. Falcon will wrong me of a shilling; and,
if he does, I shall quietly repay myself out of the big diamond. Yes, my
dear friends, I did not throw away your horse, nor your rifle, nor your
money: I gave them all, and the lion's skin--I gave them all--for this."

And he laid the big diamond on the table.

It was as big as a walnut, and of the purest water.

Dick Dale glanced at it stupidly. Phoebe turned her back on it, with a
cry of horror, and then came slowly round by degrees; and her eyes were
fascinated by the royal gem.

"Yes," said Staines sadly, "I had to strip myself of all to buy it, and,
when I had got it, how proud I was, and how happy I thought we should
all be over it, for it is half yours, half mine. Yes, Mr. Dale, there
lies six thousand pounds that belong to Mrs. Falcon."

"Six thousand pounds!" cried Dick.

"I'm sure of it. And so, if your suspicions are correct, and poor Falcon
should yield to a sudden temptation, and spend all that money, I shall
just coolly deduct it from your share of this wonderful stone: so make
your mind easy. But no; if Falcon is really so wicked as to desert his
happy home, and so mad as to spend thousands in a month or two, let us
go and save him."

"That is my business," said Phoebe. "I am going in the mail-cart
to-morrow."

"Well, you won't go alone," said Dick.

"Mrs. Falcon," said Staines imploringly, "let me go with you."

"Thank you, sir. My brother can take care of me."

"Me! You had better not take me. If I catch hold of him, by --- I'll
break his neck, or his back, or his leg, or something; he'll never run
away from you again, if I lay hands on him," replied Dick.

"I'll go alone. You are both against me."

"No, Mrs. Falcon; I am not," said Staines. "My heart bleeds for you."

"Don't y