er and his step more firm as the conviction grew upon him that
the company would soon return once again to its former condition of
affluence.

It may be imagined, therefore, that when the rumours of a bona fide
diamond find in the Orange Free State came to his ears John Girdlestone
was much agitated and distressed. On the same day that he saw the
announcement in the papers he received a letter from his son announcing
the failure of their enterprise. After narrating the robbery, the
pursuit, the death of Farintosh, and the announcement of the new
discovery, it gave an account of his subsequent movements.

"There was no doubt about the truth of the scoundrel's words," he said,
"for when we went to the nearest farm to get some food and have the
sergeant's wound dressed we found that every one was talking about it.
There was a chap there who had just come from the State and knew all
about it. After hearing the details from him I saw that there was no
doubt of the genuineness of the thing.

"The police rode back to Jacobsdal with Williams, and I promised to come
after them; but when I came to think it over it didn't seem good enough.
The fact of my having so many diamonds would set every tongue wagging,
and, again, the sergeant had heard what Farintosh said to me, so it was
very possible that I might have the whole district about my ears. As it
was, I had the stones and all my money in the bag. I wrote back to the
hotel, therefore, telling the landlord to send on my traps to Cape Town
by mail, and promising to settle my bill with him when I received them.
I then bought a horse and came straight south. I shall take the first
steamer and be with you within a few days of your receiving this.

"As to our speculation, it is, of course, all up. Even when the Russian
business proves to be a hoax, the price of stones will remain very low
on account of these new fields. It is possible that we may sell our lot
at some small profit but it won't be the royal road to a fortune that
you prophesied, nor will it help the firm out of the rut into which you
have shoved it. My only regret in leaving Africa like this is that that
vermin Williams will have no one to prosecute him. My head is almost
well now."

This letter was a rude shock to the African merchant. Within a week of
the receipt of it his son Ezra, gloomy and travel-stained, walked into
the sanctum at Fenchurch Street and confirmed all the evil tidings by
word of mou