He took out his handkerchief and applied it to his eyes, uttering a low piteous groan the while.

"You hear this, Ingleborough?" said West.

"Yes, I hear," said Ingleborough sourly, as he thrust the gems back in his pocket. "So do you, and you know now what it is my duty to do."

West was silent.

"Oh, do speak and help me!" cried Anson. "Don't stand by and see me ruined, West! You know how he has taken up lately with the new superintendent of police, and been always with him, and watching the poor natives till he is half a detective himself, and goes about suspecting innocent people. I am innocent, West, and it's all a horrible mistake of his, or a cruel trick to ruin me; and I'm afraid I've been mistaken in him altogether, and that it is a wicked conspiracy."

"Ingleborough wouldn't do a mean thing!" said West warmly.

"That's what I want to believe," whined Anson; "but he's got hold of two diamonds, and he's going to charge me with buying them, and he'll get me sent to Cape Town breakwater."

"Not if you are innocent!" said West.

"Well, that's what I am, and he can't prove that I've any of the precious stones about me. Come and search me if you like!"

"You will be searched by the police authorities," said Ingleborough sternly.

"What!--Oh, it's abominable!" cried Anson. "Here, West, aren't you going to do anything to help an innocent man?"

"What can I do," said West, "but look on? I'll tell you this, though: I don't believe it possible of you! There must be some mistake!"

"Thank you for nothing," cried Anson bitterly. "It's the old story--and you call yourself a friend! Well, I'm not going to be bullied. I've given you both a chance to own that you are all wrong; but you always were both of you dead against me. I'll do now what I ought to have done at once--go to the princ.i.p.als. I shall get justice there."

Saying this, he clapped on his hat, giving it a fierce c.o.c.k on one side, pa.s.sed out, and banged the door after him.

Ingleborough paid no heed to his companion's enquiring look, but crossed quickly to the window and looked out.

"Anson thinks he is going to make a bolt," said Ingleborough, half to himself; "but he'll soon find out his mistake."

"How?" said West eagerly.

"Norton is outside with a couple of the police," Ingleborough replied.

"But this is very horrible!" cried West. "Once more, are you quite sure that you have not made a mistake?"

"Quite! I am certain!"

"But is it wise to be so certain?"

"Yes," replied Ingleborough quietly. "Surely I can believe my own eyes!"

"But might he not have been questioning the Kaffirs, as he said?"

"Certainly," replied Ingleborough, with a grim smile; "but I do not see why he should receive two diamonds from them and give them money in exchange, and lastly why he should flick the two diamonds away into the dust as soon as he caught sight of me. Do you?"

"No," said West thoughtfully. "Well, I am very sorry. What will be the next proceeding?"

"The next thing in an ordinary way would be that the scoundrel would bolt; but, as he must have found out by this time that he is carefully watched, he will no doubt go straight to the princ.i.p.als and brave it out by telling them his own tale and trying to persuade them that I have hatched up a conspiracy against him."

"And of course he will not be believed," replied West thoughtfully; "for it is next door to high treason for anyone to be found buying diamonds illicitly from the natives."

"High treason?" cried Ingleborough, laughing. "Why, my dear boy, it's much worse than regicide. The authorities in Kimberley look upon diamond-smuggling or stealing as the blackest crime in the calendar."

"Hallo!" cried West just then. "So soon?"

For there was a sharp rap at the door, and a man entered to announce that the princ.i.p.als of the great company desired the presence of Ingleborough and West directly.

"I don't see why they want me!" said West. "I know nothing about the matter."

"You'll have to go all the same," said Ingleborough. "He has dragged your name into the case, and he trusts to you to speak in his behalf."

"And of course I shall," said West; "for I'm horribly sorry for the poor fellow. He couldn't withstand the temptation to buy the diamonds for a mere nothing and sell them at a heavy price."

"I don't want to be malicious, Noll," said Ingleborough; "but I've for some time been under the impression that Master Anson was a humbug.

There, come along! Of course I don't like a piece of business like this; but we must make rogues go to the wall. You're too soft-hearted, Noll, my boy."

"Perhaps so," replied the lad; "but I'd rather be so than too hard-hearted."

CHAPTER SIX.

A VAIN SEARCH.

West saw at once upon entering the presence of the princ.i.p.als that things appeared bad for Anson, who stood facing a table at which three of the directors of the great company were seated, all looking very stern. They signed to Ingleborough and West to stand upon their right-- Anson was facing them to the left.

Then there was a brief colloquy in a low tone between the three directors, ending in one of them saying aloud: "You speak."

The gentleman thus addressed turned to Ingleborough.

"Mr Anson has sought this interview with the directors, Mr Ingleborough, to inform us that you have made up a malicious tale about his having been engaged in illicit-diamond-buying. Of course, if you could prove such a charge, it was your duty to inform us."

"Of course, sir," replied Ingleborough; "but, though I have for some time suspected him, this affair only occurred during our tiffin-time this morning, and as soon as we returned to the office I felt bound to accuse him as my fellow-clerk, and tell him what I intended to do."

"So as to give him, if guilty, a good chance to conceal the diamonds or escape?"

"Oh no, sir," said Ingleborough quietly. "I took proper precautions against that."

"Indeed?" said the director. "What did you do?"

"Mr Superintendent Norton is a friend of mine, sir, and I went to him at once. He and two of his keenest men have been carefully watching Anson ever since."

"Humph! Quite right," said the director, and he glanced at Anson, who was smiling contemptuously then; but West had seen him wince sharply when Ingleborough mentioned the superintendent's name. "Well,"

continued the director, "let us hear your version of this business."

"Really, gentlemen," cried Anson, "I ought to have the a.s.sistance of a law officer and--"