are
not diamondiferous, will very soon be worth as much as sixty thousand
English acres, say two pounds the acre per annum. That is under the
mark, because in Africa the land is not burdened with poor-rates,
tithes, and all the other iniquities that crush the English land-owner,
as I know to my cost. But that is not all, sir. Would you believe it?
even after the diamonds were declared, the people out there had so
little foresight that they allowed me to buy land all round Port
Elizabeth, Natal, and Cape Town, the three ports through which the world
get at the diamonds, and the diamonds get at the world. I have got a
girdle of land round those three outlets, bought by the acre; in two
years I shall sell it by the yard. Believe me, sir, English fortunes,
even the largest, are mere child's play, compared with the colossal
wealth a man can accumulate, if he looks beyond these great discoveries
to their consequences, and lets others grub for him. But what is the use
of it all to me?" said this Bohemian, with a sigh. "I have no taste for
luxuries; no love of display. I have not even charity to dispense on a
large scale; for there are no deserving poor out there; and the poverty
that springs from vice, that I never will encourage."

John heard nearly all this, and took it into the kitchen; and
henceforth Adoration was the only word for this prince of men, this rare
combination of the Adonis and the millionnaire.

He seldom held such discourses before Rosa; but talked her father into
an impression of his boundless wealth, and half reconciled him to Rosa's
refusal of Lord Tadcaster, since here was an old suitor, who, doubtless,
with a little encouragement, would soon come on again.

Under this impression, Mr. Lusignan gave Falcon more than a little
encouragement, and, as Rosa did not resist, he became a constant visitor
at the villa, and was always there from Saturday to Monday.

He exerted all his art of pleasing, and he succeeded. He was welcome to
Rosa, and she made no secret of it.

Emily threw herself in his way, and had many a sly talk with him, while
he was pretending to be engaged with young Christie. He flattered her,
and made her sweet on him, but was too much in love with Rosa, after
his fashion, to flirt seriously with her. He thought he might want her
services: so he worked upon her after this fashion; asked her if she
would like to keep an inn.

"Wouldn't I just?" said she frankly.

Then he told her that,