He went straight to a house agent in Knightsbridge. There he asked for particulars of houses to let on the river. I was at the next table also inquiring about houses. Then suddenly in walked Anita Grnberg, Nadinawhatever you like to call her. Superb, insolent, and almost as beautiful as ever. God! how I hated her. There she was, the woman who had ruined my lifeand who had also ruined a better life than mine. At that minute I could have put my hands round her neck and squeezed the life out of her inch by inch! Just for a minute or two I saw red. I hardly took in what the agent was saying. It was her voice that I heard next, high and clear, with an exaggerated foreign accent The Mill House, Marlow. The property of Sir Eustace Pedler. That sounds as though it might suit me. At any rate, I will go and see it. The man wrote her an order, and she walked out again in her regal insolent manner. Not by word or a sign had she recognized Carton, yet I was sure that their meeting there was a preconceived plan. Then I started to jump to conclusions. Not knowing that Sir Eustace was at Cannes, I thought that this house hunting business was a mere pretext for meeting him in the Mill House. I knew that he had been in South Africa at the time of the robbery, and never having seen him I immediately leaped to the conclusion that he himself was the mysterious Colonel of whom I had heard so much. I followed my two suspects along Knightsbridge. Nadina went into the Hyde Park Hotel. I quickened my pace and went in also. She walked straight into the restaurant, and I decided that I would not risk her recognizing me at the moment, but would continue to follow Carton. I was in great hopes that he was going to get the diamonds, and that by suddenly appearing and making myself known to him when he least expected it I might startle the truth out of him. I followed him down into the tube station at Hyde Park Corner. He was standing by himself at the end of the platform. There was some girl standing near, but no one else. I decided that I would accost him then and there. You know what happened. In the sudden shock of seeing a man whom he imagined far away in South Africa, he lost his head and stepped back upon the line. He was always a coward. Under the pretext of being a doctor, I managed to search his pockets. There was a wallet with some notes in it and one or two unimportant letters, there was a roll of filmswhich I must have dropped somewhere laterand there was a piece of paper with an appointment made on it for the 22nd on the Kilmorden Castle. In my haste to get away before anyone detained me, I dropped that also, but fortunately I remembered the figures. I hurried to the nearest cloakroom and hastily removed my makeup. I did not want to be laid by the heels for picking a dead mans pocket. Then I retraced my steps to the Hyde Park Hotel. Nadina was still having lunch. I neednt describe in detail how I followed her down to Marlow. She went into the house, and I spoke to the woman at the lodge, pretending that I was with her. Then I, too, went in. He stopped. There was a tense silence. You will believe me, Anne, wont you? I swear before God that what I am going to say is true. I went into the house after her with something very like murder in my heartand she was dead! I found her in that firstfloor roomGod! It was horrible. Deadand I was not more than three minutes behind her. And there was no sign of anyone else in the house! Of course I realized at once the terrible position I was in. By one masterstroke the blackmailed had rid himself of the blackmailer, and at the same time had provided a victim to whom the crime would be ascribed. The hand of the Colonel was very plain. For the second time I was to be his victim. Fool that I had been to walk into the trap so easily. I hardly know what I did next. I managed to go out of the place looking fairly normal, but I knew that it could not be long before the crime was discovered and a description of my appearance telegraphed all over the country. I lay low for some days, not daring to make a move. In the end chance came to my aid. I overheard a conversation between two middleaged gentlemen in the street, one of whom proved to be Sir Eustace Pedler. I at once conceived the idea of attaching myself to him as his secretary. The fragment of conversation I had overheard gave me my clue. I was now no longer so sure that Sir Eustace Pedler was the Colonel. His house might have been appointed as a rendezvous by accident, or for some obscure motive that I had not fathomed. Do you know, I interrupted, that Guy Pagett was in Marlow at the date of the murder? That settles it then. I thought he was at Cannes with Sir Eustace. He was supposed to be in Florencebut he certainly never went there. Im pretty certain he was really in Marlow, but of course I cant prove it. And to think I never suspected Pagett for a minute until the night he tried to throw you overboard. The mans a marvellous actor. Yes, isnt he? That explains why the Mill House was chosen. Pagett could probably get in and out of it unobserved. Of course he made no objection to my accompanying Sir Eustace across in the boat. He didnt want me laid by the heels immediately. You see, evidently Nadina didnt bring the jewels with her to the rendezvous as they had counted on her doing. I fancy that Carton really had them and concealed them somewhere on the Kilmorden Castlethats where he came in. They hoped that I might have some clue as to where they were hidden. As long as the Colonel did not recover the diamonds, he was still in dangerhence his anxiety to get them at all costs. Where the devil Carton hid themif he did hide them, I dont know. Thats another story, I quoted. My story. And Im going to tell it you now. XXVII Harry listened attentively whilst I recounted all the events that I have narrated in these pages. The thing that bewildered and astonished him most was to find that all along the diamonds had been in my possessionor rather in Suzannes. That was a fact he had never suspected. Of course, after hearing his story, I realized the point of Cartons little arrangementor rather Nadinas, since I had no doubt that it was her brain which had conceived the plan. No surprise tactics executed against her or her husband could result in the seizure of the diamonds. The secret was locked in her own brain, and the Colonel was not likely to guess that they had been entrusted to the keeping of an ocean steward! Harrys vindication from the old charge of theft seemed assured. It was the other, graver charge that paralyzed all our activities. For, as things stood, he could not come out in the open to prove his case. The one thing we came back to, again and again, was the identity of the Colonel. Was he, or was he not, Guy Pagett? I should say he was but for one thing, said Harry. It seems pretty much of a certainty that it was Pagett who murdered Anita Grnberg at Marlowand that certainly lends colour to the supposition that he is actually the Colonel, since Anitas business was not of the nature to be discussed with a subordinate. Nothe only thing that militates against that theory is the attempt to put you out of the way on the night of your arrival here. You saw Pagett left behind at Cape Townby no possible means could he have arrived here before the following Wednesday. He is unlikely to have any emissaries in this part of the world, and all his plans were laid to deal with you in Cape Town. He might, of course, have cabled instructions to some lieutenant of his in Johannesburg, who could have joined the Rhodesian train at Mafeking, but his instructions would have had to be particularly definite to allow of that note being written. We sat silent for a moment, then Harry went on slowly You say that Mrs. Blair was asleep when you left the hotel and that you heard Sir Eustace dictating to Miss Pettigrew? Where was Colonel Race? I could not find him anywhere. Had he any reason to believe thatyou and I might be friendly with each other? He might have had, I answered thoughtfully, remembering our conversation on the way back from the Matoppos. Hes a very powerful personality, I continued, but not at all my idea of the Colonel. And, anyway, such an idea would be absurd. Hes in the secret service. How do we know that he is? Its the easiest thing in the world to throw out a hint of that kind. No one contradicts it, and the rumour spreads until everyone believes it as gospel truth. It provides an excuse for all sorts of doubtful doings. Anne, do you like Race? I doand I dont. He repels me and at the same time fascinates me; but I know one thing, Im always a little afraid of him. He was in South Africa, you know, at the time of the Kimberley robbery, said Harry slowly. But it was he who told Suzanne all about the Colonel and how he had been in Paris trying to get on his track. Camouflageof a particularly clever kind. But where does Pagett come in? Is he in Races pay? Perhaps, said Harry slowly, he doesnt come in at all. What? Think back, Anne. Did you ever hear Pagetts own account of that night on the Kilmorden? Yesthrough Sir Eustace. I repeated it. Harry listened closely. He saw a man coming from the direction of Sir Eustaces cabin and followed him up on deck. Is that what he says? Now, who had the cabin opposite to Sir Eustace? Colonel Race. Supposing Colonel Race crept up on deck, and, foiled in his attack on you, fled round the deck and met Pagett just coming through the saloon door. He knocks him down and springs inside, closing the door. We dash round and find Pagett lying there. Hows that? You forget that he declares positively it was you who knocked him down. Well, suppose that just as he regains consciousness he sees me disappearing in the distance? Wouldnt he take it for granted that I was his assailant? Especially as he thought all along it was I he was following? Its possible, yes, I said slowly. But it alters all our ideas. And there are other things. Most of them are open to explanation. The man who followed you in Cape Town spoke to Pagett, and Pagett looked at his watch. The man might have merely asked him the time. It was just a coincidence, you mean? Not exactly. Theres a method in all this, connecting Pagett with the affair. Why was the Mill House chosen for the murder? Was it because Pagett had been in Kimberley when the diamonds were stolen? Would he have been made the scapegoat if I had not appeared so providentially upon the scene? Then you think he may be entirely innocent? It looks like it, but, if so, weve got to find out what he was doing in Marlow. If hes got a reasonable explanation of that, were on the right tack. He got up. Its past midnight. Turn in, Anne, and get some sleep. Just before dawn Ill take you over in the boat. You must catch the train at Livingstone. Ive got a friend there who will keep you hidden away until the train starts. You go to Bulawayo and catch the Beira train there. I can find out from my friend in Livingstone whats going on at the hotel and where your friends are now. Beira, I said meditatively. Yes, Anne, its Beira for you. This is mans work. Leave it to me. We had had a momentary respite from emotion whilst we talked the situation out, but it was on us again now. We did not even look at each other. Very well, I said, and passed into the hut. I lay down on the skincovered couch, but I didnt sleep, and outside I could hear Harry Rayburn pacing up and down, up and down through the long dark hours. At last he called me Come, Anne, its time to go. I got up and came out obediently. It was still quite dark, but I knew that dawn was not far off. Well take the canoe, not the motorboat Harry began, when suddenly he stopped dead and held up his hand. Hush! Whats that? I listened, but could hear nothing. His ears were sharper than mine, however, the ears of a man who has lived long in the wilderness. Presently I heard it toothe faint splash of paddles in the water coming from the direction of the right bank of the river and rapidly approaching our little landing stage. We strained our eyes in the darkness, and could make out a dark blur on the surface of the water. It was a boat. Then there was a momentary spurt of flame. Someone had struck a match. By its light I recognized one figure, the redbearded Dutchman of the villa at Muizenberg. The others were natives. Quickback to the hut. Harry swept me back with him. He took down a couple of rifles and a revolver from the wall. Can you load a rifle? I never have. Show me how. I grasped his instructions well enough. We closed the door and Harry stood by the window which overlooked the landing stage. The boat was just about to run alongside it. Whos that? called out Harry in a ringing voice. Any doubt we might have had as to our visitors intentions was swiftly resolved. A hail of bullets splattered round us. Fortunately neither of us was hit. Harry raised the rifle. It spat murderously, and again and again. I heard two groans and a splash. Thats given em something to think about, he muttered grimly, as he reached for the second rifle. Stand well back, Anne, for Gods sake. And load quickly. More bullets. One just grazed Harrys cheek. His answering fire was more deadly than theirs. I had the rifle reloaded when he turned for it. He caught me close with his left arm and kissed me once savagely before he turned to the window again. Suddenly he uttered a shout. Theyre goinghad enough of it. Theyre a good mark out there on the water, and they cant see how many of us there are. Theyre routed for the momentbut theyll come back. Well have to get ready for them. He flung down the rifle and turned to me. Anne! You beauty! You wonder! You little queen! As brave as a lion. Blackhaired witch! He caught me in his arms. He kissed my hair, my eyes, my mouth. And now to business, he said, suddenly releasing me. Get out those tins of paraffin. I did as I was told. He was busy inside the hut. Presently I saw him on the roof of the hut, crawling along with something in his arms. He rejoined me in a minute or two. Go down to the boat. Well have to carry it across the island to the other side. He picked up the paraffin as I disappeared. Theyre coming back, I called softly. I had seen the blur moving out from the opposite shore. He ran down to me. Just in time. Whywhere the hells the boat? Both had been cut adrift. Harry whistled softly. Were in a tight place, honey. Mind? Not with you. Ah, but dying togethers not much fun. Well do better than that. Seetheyve got two boatloads this time. Going to land at two different points. Now for my little scenic effect. Almost as he spoke a long flame shot up from the hut. Its light illuminated two crouching figures huddled together on the roof. My old clothesstuffed with ragsbut they wont tumble to it for some time. Come, Anne, weve got to try desperate means. Hand in hand, we raced across the island. Only a narrow channel of water divided it from the shore on that side. Weve got to swim for it. Can you swim at all, Anne? Not that it matters. I can get you across. Its the wrong side for a boattoo many rocks, but the right side for swimming, and the right side for Livingstone. I can swim a littlefarther than that. Whats the danger, Harry? For I had seen the grim look on his face. Sharks? No, you little goose. Sharks live in the sea. But youre sharp, Anne. Crocs, thats the trouble. Crocodiles? Yes, dont think of themor say your prayers, whichever you feel inclined. We plunged in. My prayers must have been efficacious, for we reached the shore without adventure, and drew ourselves up wet and dripping on the bank. Now for Livingstone. Its rough going, Im afraid, and wet clothes wont make it any better. But its got to be done. That walk was a nightmare. My wet skirts flapped round my legs, and my stockings were soon torn off by the thorns. Finally I stopped, utterly exhausted. Harry came back to me. Hold up, honey. Ill carry you for a bit. That was the way I came into Livingstone, slung across his shoulder like a sack of coals. How he did it for all that way, I dont know. The first faint light of dawn was just breaking. Harrys friend was a young man of twenty odd who kept a store of native curios. His name was Nedperhaps he had another, but I never heard it. He didnt seem in the least surprised to see Harry walk in, dripping wet, holding an equally dripping female by the hand. Men are very wonderful. He gave us food to eat, and hot coffee, and got our clothes dried for us whilst we rolled ourselves in Manchester blankets of gaudy hue. In the tiny back room of the hut we were safe from observation whilst he departed to make judicious inquiries as to what had become of Sir Eustaces party, and whether any of them were still at the hotel. It was then that I informed Harry that nothing would induce me to go to Beira. I never meant to, anyway, but now all reason for such proceedings had vanished. The point of the plan had been that my enemies believed me dead. Now that they knew I wasnt dead, my going to Beira would do no good whatever. They could easily follow me there and murder me quietly. I should have no one to protect me. It was finally arranged that I should join Suzanne, wherever she was, and devote all my energies to taking care of myself. On no account was I to seek adventures or endeavour to checkmate the Colonel. I was to remain quietly with her and await instructions from Harry. The diamonds were to be deposited in the Bank at Kimberley under the name of Parker. Theres one thing, I said thoughtfully, we ought to have a code of some kind. We dont want to be hoodwinked again by messages purporting to come from one to the other. Thats easy enough. Any message that comes genuinely from me will have the word and crossed out in it. Without trademark, none genuine, I murmured. What about wires? Any wires from me will be signed Andy.  Train will be in before long, Harry, said Ned, putting his head in and withdrawing it immediately. I stood up. And shall I marry a nice steady man if I find one? I asked demurely. Harry came close to me. My God! Anne, if you ever marry anyone else but me, Ill wring his neck. And as for you  Yes, I said, pleasurably excited. I shall carry you away and beat you black and blue! What a delightful husband I have chosen, I said satirically. And doesnt he change his mind overnight! XXVIII (Extract from the diary of Sir Eustace Pedler) As I remarked once before, I am essentially a man of peace. I yearn for a quiet lifeand thats just the one thing I dont seem able to have. I am always in the middle of storms and alarms. The relief of getting away from Pagett with his incessant nosing out of intrigues was enormous, and Miss Pettigrew is certainly a useful creature. Although there is nothing of the houri about her, one or two of her accomplishments are invaluable. It is true that I had a touch of liver at Bulawayo and behaved like a bear in consequence, but I had had a disturbed night in the train. At 3 a.m. an exquisitely dressed young man looking like a musicalcomedy hero of the Wild West entered my compartment and asked where I was going. Disregarding my first murmur of Teaand for Gods sake dont put sugar in it, he repeated his question, laying stress on the fact that he was not a waiter but an immigration officer. I finally succeeded in satisfying him that I was suffering from no infectious disease, that I was visiting Rhodesia from the purest of motives, and further gratified him with my full Christian names and my place of birth. I then endeavoured to snatch a little sleep, but some officious ass aroused me at 530 with a cup of liquid sugar which he called tea. I dont think I threw it at him, but I know that that was what I wanted to do. He brought me unsugared tea, stone cold, at 6, and I then fell asleep utterly exhausted, to awaken just outside Bulawayo and be landed with a beastly wooden giraffe, all legs and neck! But for these small contretemps, all had been going smoothly. And then fresh calamity befell. It was the night of our arrival at the falls. I was dictating to Miss Pettigrew in my sitting room, when suddenly Mrs. Blair burst in without a word of excuse and wearing most compromising attire. Wheres Anne? she cried. A nice question to ask. As though I were responsible for the girl. What did she expect Miss Pettigrew to think? That I was in the habit of producing Anne Beddingfeld from my pocket at midnight or thereabouts? Very compromising for a man in my position. I presume, I said coldly, that she is in her bed. I cleared my throat and glanced at Miss Pettigrew, to show that I was ready to resume dictating. I hoped Mrs. Blair would take the hint. She did nothing of the kind. Instead she sank into a chair and waved a slippered foot in an agitated manner. Shes not in her room. Ive been there. I had a dreama terrible dreamthat she was in some awful danger, and I got up and went to her room, just to reassure myself, you know. She wasnt there and her bed hadnt been slept in. She looked at me appealingly. What shall I do, Sir Eustace? Repressing the desire to reply, Go to bed, and dont worry over nothing. An ablebodied young woman like Anne Beddingfeld is perfectly well able to take care of herself, I frowned judicially. What does Race say about it? Why should Race have it all his own way? Let him have some of the disadvantages as well as the advantages of female society. I cant find him anywhere. She was evidently making a night of it. I sighed and sat down in a chair. I dont quite see the reason for your agitation, I said patiently. My dream That curry we had for dinner! Oh, Sir Eustace! The woman was quite indignant. And yet everybody knows that nightmares are a direct result of injudicious eating. After all, I continued persuasively, why shouldnt Anne Beddingfeld and Race go out for a little stroll without having the whole hotel aroused about it? You think theyve just gone out for a stroll together? But its after midnight! One does these foolish things when one is young, I murmured, though Race is certainly old enough to know better. Do you really think so? I dare say theyve run away to make a match of it, I continued soothingly, though fully aware that I was making an idiotic suggestion. For, after all, at a place like this, where is there to run away to? I dont know how much longer I should have gone on making feeble remarks, but at that moment Race himself walked in upon us. At any rate, I had been partly righthe had been out for a stroll, but he hadnt taken Anne with him. However, I had been quite wrong in my way of dealing with the situation. I was soon shown that. Race had the whole hotel turned upside down in three minutes. Ive never seen a man more upset. The thing is very extraordinary. Where did the girl go? She walked out of the hotel, fully dressed, about ten minutes past eleven, and she was never seen again. The idea of suicide seems impossible. She was one of those energetic young women who are in love with life, and have not the faintest intention of quitting it. There was no train either way until midday on the morrow, so she cant have left the place. Then where the devil is she? Race is almost beside himself, poor fellow. He has left no stone unturned. All the D.C.s, or whatever they call themselves, for hundreds of miles round have been pressed into the service. The native trackers have run about on all fours. Everything that can be done is being donebut no sign of Anne Beddingfeld. The accepted theory is that she walked in her sleep. There are signs on the path near the bridge which seem to show that the girl walked deliberately off the edge. If so, of course, she must have been dashed to pieces on the rocks below. Unfortunately, most of the footprints were obliterated by a party of tourists who chose to walk that way early on the Monday morning. I dont know that its a very satisfactory theory. In my young days, I always was told that sleepwalkers couldnt hurt themselvesthat their own sixth sense took care of them. I dont think the theory satisfies Mrs. Blair either. I cant make that woman out. Her whole attitude towards Race has changed. She watches him now like a cat a mouse, and she makes obvious efforts to bring herself to be civil to him. And they used to be such friends. Altogether she is unlike herself, nervous, hysterical, starting and jumping at the least sound. I am beginning to think that it is high time I went to Joburg. A rumour came along yesterday of a mysterious island somewhere up the river, with a man and a girl on it. Race got very excited. It turned out to be all a mares nest, however. The man had been there for years, and is well known to the manager of the hotel. He totes parties up and down the river in the season and points out crocodiles and a stray hippopotamus or so to them. I believe that he keeps a tame one which is trained to bite pieces out of the boat on occasions. Then he fends it off with a boat hook, and the party feel they have really got to the back of beyond at last. How long the girl has been there is not definitely known, but it seems pretty clear that she cant be Anne, and there is a certain delicacy in interfering in other peoples affairs. If I were this young fellow, I should certainly kick Race off the island if he came asking questions about my love affairs. Later. It is definitely settled that I go to Joburg tomorrow. Race urges me to do so. Things are getting unpleasant there, by all I hear, but I might as well go before they get worse. I dare say I shall be shot by a striker, anyway. Mrs. Blair was to have accompanied me, but at the last minute she changed her mind and decided to stay on at the falls. It seems as though she couldnt bear to take her eyes off Race. She came to me tonight and said, with some hesitation, that she had a favour to ask. Would I take charge of her souvenirs for her? Not the animals? I asked, in lively alarm. I always felt that I should get stuck with those beastly animals sooner or later. In the end we effected a compromise. I took charge of two small wooden boxes for her which contained fragile articles. The animals are to be packed by the local store in vast crates and sent to Cape Town by rail, where Pagett will see to their being stored. The people who are packing them say that they are of a particularly awkward shape (!), and that special cases will have to be made. I pointed out to Mrs. Blair that by the time she has got them home those animals will have cost her easily a pound apiece! Pagett is straining at the leash to rejoin me in Joburg. I shall make an excuse of Mrs. Blairs cases to keep him in Cape Town. I have written him that he must receive the cases and see to their safe disposal, as they contain rare curios of immense value. So all is settled, and I and Miss Pettigrew go off into the blue together. And anyone who has seen Miss Pettigrew will admit that it is perfectly respectable. XXIX Johannesburg, March 6th. There is something about the state of things here that is not at all healthy. To use the wellknown phrase that I have so often read, we are all living on the edge of a volcano. Bands of strikers, or socalled strikers, patrol the streets and scowl at one in a murderous fashion. They are picking out the bloated capitalists ready for when the massacres begin, I suppose. You cant ride in a taxiif you do, strikers pull you out again. And the hotels hint pleasantly that when the food gives out they will fling you out on the mat! I met Reeves, my labour friend of the Kilmorden, last night. He has cold feet worse than any man I ever saw. Hes like all the rest of these people, they make inflammatory speeches of enormous length, solely for political purposes, and then wish they hadnt. Hes busy now going about and saying he didnt really do it. When I met him, he was just off to Cape Town, where he meditates making a three days speech in Dutch, vindicating himself, and pointing out that the things he said really meant something entirely different. I am thankful that I do not have to sit in the Legislative Assembly of South Africa. The House of Commons is bad enough, but at least we have only one language, and some slight restriction as to length of speeches. When I went to the assembly before leaving Cape Town, I listened to a grayhaired gentleman with a drooping moustache who looked exactly like the Mock Turtle in Alice in Wonderland. He dropped out his words one by one in a particularly melancholy fashion. Every now and then he galvanized himself to further efforts by ejaculating something that sounded like Platt Skeet, uttered fortissimo and in marked contrast to the rest of his delivery. When he did this, half his audience yelled Whoof, whoof! which is possibly Dutch for Hear, hear, and the other half woke up with a start from the pleasant nap they had been having. I was given to understand that the gentleman had been speaking for at least three days. They must have a lot of patience in South Africa. I have invented endless jobs to keep Pagett in Cape Town, but at last the fertility of my imagination has given out, and he joins me tomorrow in the spirit of the faithful dog who comes to die by his masters side. And I was getting on so well with my reminiscences too! I had invented some extraordinarily witty things that the strike leaders said to me and I said to the strike leaders. This morning I was interviewed by a government official. He was urbane, persuasive and mysterious in turn. To begin with, he alluded to my exalted position and importance and suggested that I should remove myself, or be removed by him, to Pretoria. You expect trouble, then? I asked. His reply was so worded as to have no meaning whatsoever, so I gathered that they were expecting serious trouble. I suggested to him that his government were letting things go rather far. There is such a thing as giving a man enough rope, and letting him hang himself, Sir Eustace. Oh, quite so, quite so. It is not the strikers themselves who are causing the trouble. There is some organization at work behind them. Arms and explosives have been pouring in, and we have made a haul of certain documents which throw a good deal of light on the methods adopted to import them. There is a regular code. Potatoes mean detonators, cauliflower, rifles, other vegetables stand for various explosives. Thats very interesting, I commended. More than that, Sir Eustace, we have every reason to believe that the man who runs the whole show, the directing genius of the affair, is at this minute in Johannesburg. He stared at me so hard that I began to fear that he suspected me of being the man. I broke out into a cold perspiration at the thought, and began to regret that I had ever conceived the idea of inspecting a miniature revolution at first hand. No trains are running from Joburg to Pretoria, he continued. But I can arrange to send you over by private car. In case you should be stopped on the way I can provide you with two separate passes, one issued by the Union government, and the other stating that you are an English visitor who has nothing whatsoever to do with the Union. One for your people, and one for the strikers, eh? Exactly. The project did not appeal to meI know what happens in a case of that kind. You get flustered and mix the things up. I should hand the wrong pass to the wrong person, and it would end in my being summarily shot by a bloodthirsty rebel, or one of the supporters of law and order whom I notice guarding the streets wearing bowler hats and smoking pipes, with rifles tucked carelessly under their arms. Besides, what should I do with myself in Pretoria? Admire the architecture of the Union buildings and listen to the echoes of the shooting round Johannesburg? I should be penned up there God knows how long. Theyve blown up the railway line already, I hear. It isnt even as if one could get a drink there.


They put the place under martial law two days ago. My dear fellow, I said, you dont seem to realize that Im studying conditions on the Rand. How the devil am I going to study them from Pretoria? I appreciate your care for my safety, but dont you worry about me. I shall be all right. I warn you, Sir Eustace, that the food question is already serious. A little fasting will improve my figure, I said, with a sigh. We were interrupted by a telegram being handed to me. I read it with amazement Anne is safe. Here with me at Kimberley. Suzanne Blair. I dont think I ever really believed in the annihilation of Anne. There is something peculiarly indestructible about that young womanshe is like the patent balls that one gives to terriers. She has an extraordinary knack of turning up smiling. I still dont see why it was necessary for her to walk out of the hotel in the middle of the night in order to get to Kimberley. There was no train, anyway. She must have put on a pair of angels wings and flown there. And I dont suppose she will ever explain. Nobody doesto me. I always have to guess. It becomes monotonous after a while. The exigencies of journalism are at the bottom of it, I suppose. How I shot the rapids, by our special correspondent. I refolded the telegram and got rid of my governmental friend. I dont like the prospect of being hungry, but Im not alarmed for my personal safety. Smuts is perfectly capable of dealing with the revolution. But I would give a considerable sum of money for a drink! I wonder if Pagett will have the sense to bring a bottle of whisky with him when he arrives tomorrow? I put on my hat and went out, intending to buy a few souvenirs. The curio shops in Joburg are rather pleasant. I was just studying a window full of imposing karosses, when a man coming out of the shop cannoned into me. To my surprise it turned out to be Race. I cant flatter myself that he looked pleased to see me. As a matter of fact, he looked distinctly annoyed, but I insisted on his accompanying me back to the hotel. I get tired of having no one but Miss Pettigrew to talk to. I had no idea you were in Joburg, I said chattily. When did you arrive? Last night. Where are you staying? With friends. He was disposed to be extraordinarily taciturn, and seemed to be embarrassed by my questions. I hope they keep poultry, I remarked. A diet of newlaid eggs and the occasional slaughtering of an old cock will be decidedly agreeable soon from all I hear. By the way, I said, when we were back in the hotel, have you heard that Miss Beddingfeld is alive and kicking? He nodded. She gave us quite a fright, I said airily. Where the devil did she go to that night, thats what Id like to know. She was on the island all the time. Which island? Not the one with the young man on it? Yes. How very improper, I said. Pagett will be quite shocked. He always did disapprove of Anne Beddingfeld. I suppose that was the young man she originally intended to meet in Durban? I dont think so. Dont tell me anything you dont want to, I said, by way of encouraging him. I fancy that this is a young man we should all be very glad to lay our hands on. Not? I cried, in rising excitement. He nodded. Harry Rayburn, alias Harry Lucasthats his real name, you know. Hes given us all the slip once more, but were bound to rope him in soon. Dear me, dear me, I murmured. We dont suspect the girl of complicity in any case. On her side itsjust a love affair. I always did think Race was in love with Anne. The way he said those last words made me feel sure of it. Shes gone to Beira, he continued rather hastily. Indeed, I said, staring. How do you know? She wrote to me from Bulawayo, telling me she was going home that way. The best thing she can do, poor child. Somehow, I dont fancy she is in Beira, I said meditatively. She was just starting when she wrote. I was puzzled. Somebody was clearly lying. Without stopping to reflect that Anne might have excellent reasons for her misleading statements, I gave myself up to the pleasure of scoring off Race. He is always so cocksure. I took the telegram from my pocket and handed it to him. Then how do you explain this? I asked nonchalantly. He seemed dumbfounded. She said she was just starting for Beira, he said, in a dazed voice. I know that Race is supposed to be clever. He is, in my opinion, rather a stupid man. It never seemed to occur to him that girls do not always tell the truth. Kimberley too. What are they doing there? he muttered. Yes, that surprised me. I should have thought Miss Anne would have been in the thick of it here, gathering copy for the Daily Budget. Kimberley, he said again. The place seemed to upset him. Theres nothing to see therethe pits arent being worked. You know what women are, I said vaguely. He shook his head and went off. I have evidently given him something to think about. No sooner had he departed than my government official reappeared. I hope you will forgive me for troubling you again, Sir Eustace, he apologized. But there are one or two questions I should like to ask you. Certainly, my dear fellow, I said cheerfully. Ask away. It concerns your secretary I know nothing about him, I said hastily. He foisted himself upon me in London, robbed me of valuable papersfor which I shall be hauled over the coalsand disappeared like a conjuring trick at Cape Town. Its true that I was at the falls at the same time as he was, but I was at the hotel, and he was on an island. I can assure you that I never set eyes upon him the whole time that I was there. I paused for breath. You misunderstand me. It was of your other secretary that I spoke. What? Pagett? I cried, in lively astonishment. Hes been with me eight yearsa most trustworthy fellow. My interlocutor smiled. We are still at crosspurposes. I refer to the lady. Miss Pettigrew? I exclaimed. Yes. She has been seen coming out of Agrasatos Native Curioshop. God bless my soul! I interrupted. I was going into that place myself this afternoon. You might have caught me coming out! There doesnt seem to be any innocent thing that one can do in Joburg without being suspected for it. Ah! but she has been there more than onceand in rather doubtful circumstances. I may as well tell youin confidence, Sir Eustacethat the place is suspected of being a wellknown rendezvous used by the secret organization behind this revolution. That is why I should be glad to hear all that you can tell me about this lady. Where and how did you come to engage her? She was lent to me, I replied coldly, by your own government. He collapsed utterly. XXX (Annes narrative resumed) As soon as I got to Kimberley I wired to Suzanne. She joined me there with the utmost dispatch, heralding her arrival with telegrams sent off en route. I was awfully surprised to find that she really was fond of meI thought I had been just a new sensation, but she positively fell on my neck and wept when we met. When we had recovered from our emotion a little, I sat down on the bed and told her the whole story from A to Z. You always did suspect Colonel Race, she said thoughtfully, when I had finished. I didnt until the night you disappeared. I liked him so much all along and thought he would make such a nice husband for you. Oh, Anne, dear, dont be cross, but how do you know that this young man of yours is telling the truth? You believe every word he says. Of course I do, I cried indignantly. But what is there in him that attracts you so? I dont see that theres anything in him at all except his rather reckless good looks and his modern SheikcumStoneAge lovemaking. I poured out the vials of my wrath upon Suzanne for some minutes. Just because youre comfortably married and getting fat, youve forgotten that theres any such thing as romance, I ended. Oh, Im not getting fat, Anne. All the worry Ive had about you lately must have worn me to a shred. You look particularly well nourished, I said coldly. I should say you must have put on about half a stone. And I dont know that Im so comfortably married either, continued Suzanne in a melancholy voice. Ive been having the most dreadful cables from Clarence ordering me to come home at once. At last I didnt answer them, and now I havent heard for over a fortnight. Im afraid I didnt take Suzannes matrimonial troubles very seriously. She will be able to get round Clarence all right when the times comes. I turned the conversation to the subject of the diamonds. Suzanne looked at me with a dropped jaw. I must explain, Anne. You see, as soon as I began to suspect Colonel Race, I was terribly upset about the diamonds. I wanted to stay on at the falls in case he might have kidnapped you somewhere close by, but didnt know what to do about the diamonds. I was afraid to keep them in my possession  Suzanne looked round her uneasily, as though she feared the walls might have ears, and then whispered vehemently in my ear. A distinctly good idea, I approved. At the time, that is. Its a bit awkward now. What did Sir Eustace do with the cases? The big ones were sent down to Cape Town. I heard from Pagett before I left the falls, and he enclosed the receipt for their storage. Hes leaving Cape Town today, by the by, to join Sir Eustace in Johannesburg. I see, I said thoughtfully. And the small ones, where are they? I suppose Sir Eustace has got them with him. I turned the matter over in my mind. Well, I said at last, its awkwardbut its safe enough. Wed better do nothing for the present. Suzanne looked at me with a little smile. You dont like doing nothing, do you, Anne? Not very much, I replied honestly. The one thing I could do was to get hold of a timetable and see what time Guy Pagetts train would pass through Kimberley. I found that it would arrive at 540 on the following afternoon and depart again at 600. I wanted to see Pagett as soon as possible, and that seemed to me a good opportunity. The situation on the Rand was getting very serious, and it might be a long time before I got another chance. The only thing that livened up the day was a wire dispatched from Johannesburg. A most innocentsounding telegram Arrived safely. All going well. Eric here, also Eustace, but not Guy. Remain where you are for the present. Andy. Eric was our pseudonym for Race. I chose it because it is a name I dislike exceedingly. There was clearly nothing to be done until I could see Pagett. Suzanne employed herself in sending off a long soothing cable to the faroff Clarence. She became quite sentimental over him. In her waywhich of course is quite different from me and Harryshe is really fond of Clarence. I do wish he was here, Anne, she gulped. Its such a long time since Ive seen him. Have some face cream, I said soothingly. Suzanne rubbed a little on the tip of her charming nose. I shall want some more face cream soon too, she remarked, and you can only get this kind in Paris. She sighed. Paris! Suzanne, I said, very soon youll have had enough of South Africa and adventure. I should like a really nice hat, admitted Suzanne wistfully. Shall I come with you to meet Guy Pagett tomorrow? I prefer to go alone. Hed be shyer speaking before two of us. So it came about that I was standing in the doorway of the hotel on the following afternoon, struggling with a recalcitrant parasol that refused to go up, whilst Suzanne lay peacefully on her bed with a book and a basket of fruit. According to the hotel porter, the train was on its good behaviour today and would be almost on time, though he was extremely doubtful whether it would ever get through to Johannesburg. The line had been blown up, so he solemnly assured me. It sounded cheerful! The train drew in just ten minutes late. Everybody tumbled out on the platform and began walking up and down feverishly. I had no difficulty in espying Pagett. I accosted him eagerly. He gave his usual nervous start at seeing mesomewhat accentuated this time. Dear me, Miss Beddingfeld, I understood that you had disappeared. I have reappeared again, I told him solemnly. And how are you, Mr. Pagett? Very well, thank youlooking forward to taking up my work again with Sir Eustace. Mr. Pagett, I said, there is something I want to ask you. I hope that you wont be offended, but a lot hangs on it, more than you can possibly guess. I want to know what you were doing at Marlow on the 8th of January last? He started violently. Really, Miss BeddingfeldIindeed You were there, werent you? Ifor reasons of my own I was in the neighbourhood, yes. Wont you tell me what those reasons were? Sir Eustace has not already told you? Sir Eustace? Does he know? I am almost sure that he does. I hoped he had not recognized me, but from the hints he has let drop, and his remarks, I fear it is only too certain. In any case, I meant to make a clean breast of the matter and offer him my resignation. He is a peculiar man, Miss Beddingfeld, with an abnormal sense of humour. It seems to amuse him to keep me on tenterhooks. All the time, I dare say, he was perfectly well aware of the true facts. Possibly he has known them for years. I hoped that sooner or later I should be able to understand what Pagett was talking about. He went on fluently It is difficult for a man of Sir Eustaces standing to put himself in my position. I know that I was in the wrong, but it seemed a harmless deception. I would have thought it better taste on his part to have tackled me outrightinstead of indulging in covert jokes at my expense. A whistle blew, and the people began to surge back into the train. Yes, Mr. Pagett, I broke in, Im sure I quite agree with all youre saying about Sir Eustace. But why did you go to Marlow? It was wrong of me, but natural under the circumstancesyes, I still feel natural under the circumstances. What circumstances? I cried desperately. For the first time Pagett seemed to recognize that I was asking him a question. His mind detached itself from the peculiarities of Sir Eustace and his own justification and came to rest on me. I beg your pardon, Miss Beddingfeld, he said stiffly, but I fail to see your concern in the matter. He was back in the train now, leaning down to speak to me. I felt desperate. What could one do with a man like that? Of course, if its so dreadful that youd be ashamed to speak of it to me  I began spitefully. At last I had found the right stop. Pagett stiffened and flushed. Dreadful? Ashamed? I dont understand you. Then tell me. In three short sentences he told me. At last I knew Pagetts secret! It was not in the least what I expected. I walked slowly back to the hotel. There a wire was handed to me. I tore it open. It contained full and definite instructions for me to proceed forthwith to Johannesburg, or rather to a station this side of Johannesburg, where I should be met by a car. It was signed, not Andy, but Harry. I sat down in a chair to do some very serious thinking. XXXI (From the diary of Sir Eustace Pedler) Johannesburg, March 7th. Pagett has arrived. He is in a blue funk of course. Suggested at once that we should go off to Pretoria. Then, when I had told him kindly but firmly that we were going to remain here, he went to the other extreme, wished he had his rifle here, and began bucking about some bridge he guarded during the Great War. A railway bridge at Little Puddecombe junction, or something of that sort. I soon cut that short by telling him to unpack the big typewriter. I thought that that would keep him employed for some time, because the typewriter was sure to have gone wrongit always doesand he would have to take it somewhere to be mended. But I had forgotten Pagetts powers of being in the right. Ive already unpacked all the cases, Sir Eustace. The typewriter is in perfect condition. What do you meanall the cases? The two small cases as well. I wish you wouldnt be so officious, Pagett. Those small cases were no business of yours. They belong to Mrs. Blair. Pagett looked crestfallen. He hates to make a mistake. So you can just pack them up again neatly, I continued. After that you can go out and look around you. Joburg will probably be a heap of smoking ruins by tomorrow, so it may be your last chance. I thought that that would get rid of him successfully for the morning, at any rate. There is something I want to say to you when you have the leisure, Sir Eustace. I havent got it now, I said hastily. At this minute I have absolutely no leisure whatsoever. Pagett retired. By the way, I called after him, what was there in those cases of Mrs. Blairs? Some fur rugs, and a couple of furhats, I think. Thats right, I assented. She bought them on the train. They are hatsof a kindthough I hardly wonder at your not recognizing them. I dare say shes going to wear one of them at Ascot. What else was there? Some rolls of films and some basketsa lot of baskets There would be, I assured him. Mrs. Blair is the kind of woman who never buys less than a dozen or so of anything. I think thats all, Sir Eustace, except some miscellaneous odds and ends, a motorveil and some odd glovesthat sort of thing. If you hadnt been a born idiot, Pagett, you would have seen from the start that those couldnt possibly be my belongings. I thought some of them might belong to Miss Pettigrew. Ah, that reminds mewhat do you mean by picking me out such a doubtful character as a secretary? And I told him about the searching crossexamination I had been put through. Immediately I was sorry, I saw a glint in his eye that I knew only too well. I changed the conversation hurriedly. But it was too late. Pagett was on the warpath. He next proceeded to bore me with a long pointless story about the Kilmorden. It was about a roll of films and a wager. The roll of films being thrown through a porthole in the middle of the night by some steward who ought to have known better. I hate horseplay. I told Pagett so, and he began to tell me the story all over again. He tells a story extremely badly, anyway. It was a long time before I could make head or tail of this one. I did not see him again until lunchtime. Then he came in brimming over with excitement, like a bloodhound on the scent. I never have cared for bloodhounds. The upshot of it all was that he had seen Rayburn. What? I cried, startled. Yes, he had caught sight of someone whom he was sure was Rayburn crossing the street. Pagett had followed him. And who do you think I saw him stop and speak to? Miss Pettigrew! What? Yes, Sir Eustace. And thats not all. Ive been making inquiries about her Wait a bit. What happened to Rayburn? He and Miss Pettigrew went into that corner curio shop I uttered an involuntary exclamation. Pagett stopped inquiringly. Nothing, I said. Go on. I waited outside for agesbut they didnt come out. At last I went in. Sir Eustace, there was no one in the shop! There must be another way out. I stared at him. As I was saying, I came back to the hotel and made some inquiries about Miss Pettigrew. Pagett lowered his voice and breathed hard as he always does when he wants to be confidential. Sir Eustace, a man was seen coming out of her room last night. I raised my eyebrows. And I always regarded her as a lady of such eminent respectability, I murmured. Pagett went on without heeding. I went straight up and searched her room. What do you think I found? I shook my head. This! Pagett held up a safety razor and a stick of shaving soap. What should a woman want with these? I dont suppose Pagett ever reads the advertisements in the highclass ladies papers. I do. Whilst not proposing to argue with him on the subject, I refused to accept the presence of the razor as proof positive of Miss Pettigrews sex. Pagett is so hopelessly behind the times. I should not have been at all surprised if he had produced a cigarette case to support his theory. However, even Pagett has his limits. Youre not convinced, Sir Eustace. What do you say to this? I inspected the article which he dangled aloft triumphantly. It looks like hair, I remarked distastefully. It is hair. I think its what they call a toupee. Indeed, I commented. Now are you convinced that that Pettigrew woman is a man in disguise? Really, my dear Pagett, I think I am. I might have known it by her feet. Then thats that. And now, Sir Eustace, I want to speak to you about my private affairs. I cannot doubt, from your hints and your continual allusions to the time I was in Florence, that you have found me out. At last the mystery of what Pagett did in Florence is going to be revealed! Make a clean breast of it, my dear fellow, I said kindly. Much the best way. Thank you, Sir Eustace. Is it her husband? Annoying fellows, husbands. Always turning up when theyre least expected. I fail to follow you, Sir Eustace. Whose husband? The ladys husband. What lady? God bless my soul, Pagett, the lady you met in Florence. There must have been a lady. Dont tell me that you merely robbed a church or stabbed an Italian in the back because you didnt like his face. I am quite at a loss to understand you, Sir Eustace. I suppose you are joking. I am an amusing fellow sometimes, when I take the trouble, but I can assure you that I am not trying to be funny this minute. I hoped that as I was a good way off you had not recognized me, Sir Eustace. Recognized you where? At Marlow, Sir Eustace? At Marlow? What the devil were you doing at Marlow? I thought you understood that Im beginning to understand less and less. Go back to the beginning of the story and start again. You went to Florence Then you dont know after alland you didnt recognize me! As far as I can judge, you seem to have given yourself away needlesslymade a coward of by your conscience. But I shall be able to tell better when Ive heard the whole story. Now, then, take a deep breath and start again. You went to Florence  But I didnt go to Florence. That is just it. Well, where did you go, then? I went hometo Marlow. What the devil did you want to go to Marlow for? I wanted to see my wife. She was in delicate health and expecting Your wife? But I didnt know you were married? No, Sir Eustace, that is just what I am telling you. I deceived you in this matter. How long have you been married? Just over eight years. I had been married just six months when I became your secretary. I did not want to lose the post. A resident secretary is not supposed to have a wife, so I suppressed the fact. You take my breath away, I remarked. Where has she been all these years? We have had a small bungalow on the river at Marlow, quite close to the Mill House, for over five years. God bless my soul, I muttered. Any children? Four children, Sir Eustace. I gazed at him in a kind of stupor. I might have known, all along, that a man like Pagett couldnt have a guilty secret. The respectability of Pagett has always been my bane. Thats just the kind of secret he would havea wife and four children. Have you told this to anyone else? I demanded at last, when I had gazed at him in fascinated interest for quite a long while. Only Miss Beddingfeld. She came to the station at Kimberley. I continued to stare at him. He fidgeted under my glance. I hope, Sir Eustace, that you are not seriously annoyed? My dear fellow, I said, I dont mind telling you here and now that youve blinking well torn it! I went out seriously ruffled. As I passed the corner curio shop, I was assailed by a sudden irresistible temptation and went in. The proprietor came forward obsequiously, rubbing his hands. Can I show you something? Furs, curios? I want something quite out of the ordinary, I said. Its for a special occasion. Will you show me what youve got? Perhaps you will come into my back room? We have many specialties there? That is where I made a mistake. And I thought I was going to be so clever. I followed him through the swinging portieres. XXXII (Annes narrative resumed) I had great trouble with Suzanne. She argued, she pleaded, she even wept before she would let me carry out my plan. But in the end I got my own way. She promised to carry out my instructions to the letter and came down to the station to bid me a tearful farewell. I arrived at my destination the following morning early. I was met by a short blackbearded Dutchman whom I had never seen before. He had a car waiting and we drove off. There was a queer booming in the distance, and I asked him what it was. Guns, he answered laconically. So there was fighting going on in Joburg! I gathered that our objective was a spot somewhere in the suburbs of the city. We turned and twisted and made several detours to get there, and every minute the guns were nearer. It was an exciting time. At last we stopped before a somewhat ramshackle building. The door was opened by a Kafir boy. My guide signed to me to enter. I stood irresolute in the dingy square hall. The man passed me and threw open a door. The young lady to see Mr. Harry Rayburn, he said, and laughed. Thus announced, I passed in. The room was sparsely furnished and smelt of cheap tobacco smoke. Behind a desk a man sat writing. He looked up and raised his eyebrows. Dear me, he said, if it isnt Miss Beddingfeld! I must be seeing double, I apologized. Is it Mr. Chichester, or is it Miss Pettigrew? There is an extraordinary resemblance to both of them. Both characters are in abeyance for the moment. I have doffed my petticoatsand my cloth likewise. Wont you sit down? I accepted a seat composedly. It would seem, I remarked, that I have come to the wrong address. From your point of view, I am afraid you have. Really, Miss Beddingfeld, to fall into the trap a second time! It was not very bright of me, I admitted meekly. Something about my manner seemed to puzzle him. You hardly seem upset by the occurrence, he remarked dryly. Would my going into heroics have any effect upon you? I asked. It certainly would not. My greataunt Jane always used to say that a true lady was neither shocked nor surprised at anything that might happen, I murmured dreamily. I endeavour to live up to her precepts. I read Mr. ChichesterPettigrews opinion so plainly written on his face that I hastened into speech once more. You really are positively marvellous at makeup, I said generously. All the time you were Miss Pettigrew I never recognized youeven when you broke your pencil in the shock of seeing me climb upon the train at Cape Town. He tapped upon the desk with the pencil he was holding in his hand at the minute. All this is very well in its way, but we must get to business. Perhaps, Miss Beddingfeld, you can guess why we required your presence here? You will excuse me, I said, but I never do business with anyone but principals. I had read the phrase or something like it in a moneylenders circular, and I was rather pleased with it. It certainly had a devastating effect upon Mr. ChichesterPettigrew. He opened his mouth and then shut it again. I beamed upon him. My greatuncle Georges maxim, I added, as an afterthought. Greataunt Janes husband, you know. He made knobs for brass beds. I doubt if ChichesterPettigrew had ever been ragged before. He didnt like it at all. I think you would be wise to alter your tone, young lady. I did not reply, but yawneda delicate little yawn that hinted at intense boredom. What the devil he began forcibly. I interrupted him. I can assure you its no good shouting at me. We are only wasting time here. I have no intention of talking with underlings. You will save a lot of time and annoyance by taking me straight to Sir Eustace Pedler. To  He looked dumbfounded. Yes, I said. Sir Eustace Pedler. IIexcuse me He bolted from the room like a rabbit. I took advantage of the respite to open my bag and powder my nose thoroughly. Also I settled my hat at a more becoming angle. Then I settled myself to wait with patience for my enemys return. He reappeared in a subtly chastened mood. Will you come this way, Miss Beddingfeld? I followed him up the stairs. He knocked at the door of a room, a brisk Come in sounded from inside, and he opened the door and motioned to me to pass inside. Sir Eustace Pedler sprang up to greet me, genial and smiling. Well, well, Miss Anne. He shook me warmly by the hand. Im delighted to see you. Come and sit down. Not tired after your journey? Thats good. He sat down facing me, still beaming. It left me rather at a loss. His manner was so completely natural. Quite right to insist on being brought straight to me, he went on. Minks is a fool. A clever actorbut a fool. That was Minks you saw downstairs. Oh, really, I said feebly. And now, said Sir Eustace cheerfully, lets get down to facts. How long have you known that I was the Colonel? Ever since Mr. Pagett told me that he had seen you in Marlow when you were supposed to be in Cannes. Sir Eustace nodded ruefully. Yes, I told the fool hed blinking well torn it. He didnt understand of course. His whole mind was set on whether Id recognized him. It never occurred to him to wonder what I was doing down there. A piece of sheer bad luck that was. I arranged it all so carefully too, sending him off to Florence, telling the hotel I was going over to Nice for one night or possibly two. Then, by the time the murder was discovered, I was back again in Cannes, with nobody dreaming that Id ever left the Riviera. He still spoke quite naturally and unaffectedly. I had to pinch myself to understand that this was all realthat the man in front of me was really that deepdyed criminal, the Colonel. I followed things out in my mind. Then it was you who tried to throw me overboard on the Kilmorden, I said slowly. It was you that Pagett followed up on deck that night? He shrugged his shoulders. I apologize, my dear child, I really do. I always liked youbut you were so confoundedly interfering. I couldnt have all my plans brought to naught by a chit of a girl. I think your plan at the falls was really the cleverest, I said, endeavouring to look at the thing in a detached fashion. I would have been ready to swear anywhere that you were in the hotel when I went out. Seeing is believing in future. Yes, Minks had one of his greatest successes as Miss Pettigrew, and he can imitate my voice quite creditably. There is one thing I should like to know. Yes? How did you induce Pagett to engage her? Oh, that was quite simple. She met Pagett in the doorway of the Trade Commissioners office or the Chamber of Mines, or wherever it was he wenttold him I had phoned down in a hurry, and that she had been selected by the government department in question. Pagett swallowed it like a lamb. Youre very frank, I said, studying him. Theres no earthly reason why I shouldnt be. I didnt quite like the sound of that. I hastened to put my own interpretation on it. You believe in the success of this revolution? Youve burnt your boats. For an otherwise intelligent young woman, thats a singularly unintelligent remark. No, my dear child, I do not believe in this revolution. I give it a couple of days longer and it will fizzle out ignominiously. Not one of your successes, in fact? I said nastily. Like all women, youve no idea of business. The job I took on was to supply certain explosives and armsheavily paid forto foment feeling generally, and to incriminate certain people up to the hilt. Ive carried out my contract with complete success, and I was careful to be paid in advance. I took special care over the whole thing, as I intended it to be my last contract before retiring from business. As for burning my boats, as you call it, I simply dont know what you mean. Im not the rebel chief, or anything of that kindIm a distinguished English visitor, who had the misfortune to go nosing into a certain curio shopand saw a little more than he was meant to, and so the poor fellow was kidnapped. Tomorrow, or the day after, when circumstances permit, I shall be found tied up somewhere in a pitiable state of terror and starvation. Ah! I said slowly. But what about me? Thats just it, said Sir Eustace softly. What about you? Ive got you hereI dont want to rub it in in any waybut Ive got you here very neatly.


The question is, what am I going to do with you? The simplest way of disposing of youand, I may add, the pleasantest to myselfis the way of marriage. Wives cant accuse their husbands, you know, and Id rather like a pretty young wife to hold my hand and glance at me out of liquid eyesdont flash them at me so! You quite frighten me. I see that the plan does not commend itself to you? It does not. Sir Eustace sighed. A pity! But I am no Adelphi villain. The usual trouble, I suppose. You love another, as the books say. I love another. I thought as muchfirst I thought it was that longlegged, pompous ass, Race, but I suppose its the young hero who fished you out of the falls that night. Women have no taste. Neither of those two have half the brains that I have. Im such an easy person to underestimate. I think he was right about that. Although I knew well enough the kind of man he was and must be, I could not bring myself to realize it. He had tried to kill me on more than one occasion, he had actually killed another woman, and he was responsible for endless other deeds of which I knew nothing, and yet I was quite unable to bring myself into the frame of mind for appreciating his deeds as they deserved. I could not think of him as other than our amusing, genial travelling companion. I could not even feel frightened of himand yet I knew he was capable of having me murdered in cold blood if it struck him as necessary. The only parallel I can think of is the case of Stevensons Long John Silver. He must have been much the same kind of man. Well, well, said this extraordinary person, leaning back in his chair. Its a pity that the idea of being Lady Pedler doesnt appeal to you. The other alternatives are rather crude. I felt a nasty feeling going up and down my spine. Of course I had known all along that I was taking a big risk, but the prize had seemed worth it. Would things turn out as I had calculated, or would they not? The fact of the matter is, Sir Eustace was continuing, Ive a weakness for you. I really dont want to proceed to extremes. Suppose you tell me the whole story, from the very beginning, and lets see what we can make of it. But no romancing, mindI want the truth. I was not going to make any mistake over that. I had a great deal of respect for Sir Eustaces shrewdness. It was a moment for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I told him the whole story, omitting nothing, up to the moment of my rescue by Harry. When I had finished, he nodded his head in approval. Wise girl. Youve made a clean breast of the thing. And let me tell you I should soon have caught you out if you hadnt. A lot of people wouldnt believe your story, anyway, especially the beginning part, but I do. Youre the kind of girl who would start off like thatat a moments notice, on the slenderest of motives. Youve had amazing luck, of course, but sooner or later the amateur runs up against the professional and then the result is a foregone conclusion. I am the professional. I started on this business when I was quite a youngster. All things considered, it seemed to me a good way of getting rich quickly. I always could think things out, and devise ingenious schemesand I never made the mistake of trying to carry out my schemes myself. Always employ the expertthat has been my motto. The one time I departed from it I came to griefbut I couldnt trust anyone to do that job for me. Nadina knew too much. Im an easygoing man, kindhearted and good tempered so long as Im not thwarted. Nadina both thwarted me and threatened mejust as I was at the apex of a successful career. Once she was dead and the diamonds were in my possession, I was safe. Ive come to the conclusion now that I bungled the job. That idiot Pagett, with his wife and family! My faultit tickled my sense of humour to employ the fellow, with his Cinquecento poisoners face and his midVictorian soul. A maxim for you, my dear Anne. Dont let your sense of humour carry you away. For years Ive had an instinct that it would be wise to get rid of Pagett, but the fellow was so hardworking and conscientious that I honestly couldnt find an excuse for sacking him. So I left things drift. But were wandering from the point. The question is what to do with you. Your narrative was admirably clear, but there is one thing that still escapes me. Where are the diamonds now? Harry Rayburn has them, I said, watching him. His face did not change, it retained its expression of sardonic good humour. Hm. I want those diamonds. I dont see much chance of your getting them, I replied. Dont you? Now I do. I dont want to be unpleasant, but I should like you to reflect that a dead girl or so found in this quarter of the city will occasion no surprise. Theres a man downstairs who does those sort of jobs very neatly. Now, youre a sensible young woman. What I propose is this you will sit down and write to Harry Rayburn, telling him to join you here and bring the diamonds with him I wont do anything of the kind. Dont interrupt your elders. I propose to make a bargain with you. The diamonds in exchange for your life. And dont make any mistake about it, your life is absolutely in my power. And Harry? Im far too tenderhearted to part two young lovers. He shall go free tooon the understanding, of course, that neither of you will interfere with me in future. And what guarantee have I that you will keep your side of the bargain? None whatever, my dear girl. Youll have to trust me and hope for the best. Of course, if youre in an heroic mood and prefer annihilation, thats another matter. This was what I had been playing for. I was careful not to jump at the bait. Gradually I allowed myself to be bullied and cajoled into yielding. I wrote at Sir Eustaces dictation Dear Harry, I think I see a chance of establishing your innocence beyond any possible doubt. Please follow my instructions minutely. Go to Agrasatos curio shop. Ask to see something out of the ordinary, for a special occasion. The man will then ask you to come into the back room. Go with him. You will find a messenger who will bring you to me. Do exactly as he tells you. Be sure and bring the diamonds with you. Not a word to anyone. Sir Eustace stopped. I leave the fancy touches to your own imagination, he remarked. But be careful to make no mistakes.  Yours forever and ever, Anne, will be sufficient, I remarked. I wrote in the words. Sir Eustace stretched out his hand for the letter and read it through. That seems all right. Now the address. I gave it him. It was that of a small shop which received letters and telegrams for a consideration. He struck the bell upon the table with his hand. ChichesterPettigrew, alias Minks, answered the summons. This letter is to go immediatelythe usual route. Very well, Colonel. He looked at the name on the envelope. Sir Eustace was watching him keenly. A friend of yours, I think? Of mine? The man seemed startled. You had a prolonged conversation with him in Johannesburg yesterday. A man came up and questioned me about your movements and those of Colonel Race. I gave him misleading information. Excellent, my dear fellow, excellent, said Sir Eustace genially. My mistake. I chanced to look at ChichesterPettigrew as he left the room. He was white to the lips, as though in deadly terror. No sooner was he outside than Sir Eustace picked up a speaking tube that rested by his elbow and spoke down it. That you, Schwart? Watch Minks. Hes not to leave the house without orders. He put the speaking tube down again and frowned, slightly tapping the table with his hand. May I ask you a few questions, Sir Eustace, I said, after a minute or two of silence. Certainly. What excellent nerves you have, Anne. You are capable of taking an intelligent interest in things when most girls would be sniffling and wringing their hands. Why did you take Harry as your secretary instead of giving him up to the police? I wanted those cursed diamonds. Nadina, the little devil, was playing off your Harry against me. Unless I gave her the price she wanted, she threatened to sell them back to him. That was another mistake I madeI thought shed have them with her that day. But she was too clever for that. Carton, her husband, was dead tooId no clue whatsoever as to where the diamonds were hidden. Then I managed to get a copy of a wireless message sent to Nadina by someone on board the Kilmordeneither Carton or Rayburn, I didnt know which. It was a duplicate of that piece of paper you picked up. Seventeen one twenty two, it ran. I took it to be an appointment with Rayburn, and when he was so desperate to get aboard the Kilmorden I was convinced that I was right. So I pretended to swallow his statements, and let him come. I kept a pretty sharp watch upon him and hoped that I should learn more. Then I found Minks trying to play a lone hand and interfering with me. I soon stopped that. He came to heel all right. It was annoying not getting cabin 17, and it worried me not being able to place you. Were you the innocent young girl you seemed, or were you not? When Rayburn set out to keep the appointment that night, Minks was told off to intercept him. Minks muffed it of course. But why did the wireless message say seventeen instead of seventyone? Ive thought that out. Carton must have given that wireless operator his own memorandum to copy off on to a form, and he never read the copy through. The operator made the same mistake we all did, and read it as 17.1.22 instead of 1.71.22. The thing I dont know is how Minks got on to cabin 17. It must have been sheer instinct. And the dispatch to General Smuts? Who tampered with that? My dear Anne, you dont suppose I was going to have a lot of my plans given away, without making an effort to save them? With an escaped murderer as a secretary, I had no hesitation whatever in substituting blanks. Nobody would think of suspecting poor old Pedler. What about Colonel Race? Yes, that was a nasty jar. When Pagett told me he was a secret service fellow, I had an unpleasant feeling down the spine. I remembered that hed been nosing around Nadina in Paris during the Warand I had a horrible suspicion that he was out after me! I dont like the way hes stuck to me ever since. Hes one of those strong, silent men who have always got something up their sleeve. A whistle sounded. Sir Eustace picked up the tube, listened for a minute or two, then answered Very well, Ill see him now. Business, he remarked. Miss Anne, let me show you your room. He ushered me into a small shabby apartment, a Kafir boy brought up my small suitcase, and Sir Eustace, urging me to ask for anything I wanted, withdrew, the picture of a courteous host. A can of hot water was on the washstand, and I proceeded to unpack a few necessaries. Something hard and unfamiliar in my sponge bag puzzled me greatly. I untied the string and looked inside. To my utter amazement I drew out a small pearlhandled revolver. It hadnt been there when I started from Kimberley. I examined the thing gingerly. It appeared to be loaded. I handled it with a comfortable feeling. It was a useful thing to have in a house such as this. But modern clothes are quite unsuited to the carrying of firearms. In the end I pushed it gingerly into the top of my stocking. It made a terrible bulge, and I expected every minute that it would go off and shoot me in the leg, but it really seemed the only place. XXXIII I was not summoned to Sir Eustaces presence until late in the afternoon. Eleven oclock tea and a substantial lunch had been served to me in my own apartment, and I felt fortified for further conflict. Sir Eustace was alone. He was walking up and down the room, and there was a gleam in his eye and a restlessness in his manner which did not escape me. He was exultant about something. There was a subtle change in his manner towards me. I have news for you. Your young man is on his way. He will be here in a few minutes. Moderate your transportsI have something more to say. You attempted to deceive me this morning. I warned you that you would be wise to stick to the truth, and up to a certain point you obeyed me. Then you ran off the rails. You attempted to make me believe that the diamonds were in Harry Rayburns possession. At the time, I accepted your statement because it facilitated my taskthe task of inducing you to decoy Harry Rayburn here. But, my dear Anne, the diamonds have been in my possession ever since I left the fallsthough I only discovered the fact yesterday. You know! I gasped. It may interest you to hear that it was Pagett who gave the show away. He insisted on boring me with a long pointless story about a wager and a tin of films. It didnt take me long to put two and two togetherMrs. Blairs distrust of Colonel Race, her agitation, her entreaty that I would take care of her souvenirs for her. The excellent Pagett had already unfastened the cases through an excess of zeal. Before leaving the hotel, I simply transferred all the rolls of films to my own pocket. They are in the corner there. I admit that I havent had time to examine them yet, but I notice that one is of a totally different weight to the others, rattles in a peculiar fashion, and has evidently been stuck down with seccotine, which will necessitate the use of a tin opener. The case seems clear, does it not? And now, you see, I have you both nicely in the trap.  Its a pity that you didnt take kindly to the idea of becoming Lady Pedler. I did not answer. I stood looking at him. There was the sound of feet on the stairs, the door was flung open, and Harry Rayburn was hustled into the room between two men. Sir Eustace flung me a look of triumph. According to plan, he said softly. You amateurs will pit yourselves against professionals. Whats the meaning of this? cried Harry hoarsely. It means that you have walked into my parloursaid the spider to the fly, remarked Sir Eustace facetiously. My dear Rayburn, you are extraordinarily unlucky. You said I could come safely, Anne? Do not reproach her, my dear fellow. That note was written at my dictation, and the lady could not help herself. She would have been wiser not to write it, but I did not tell her so at the time. You followed her instructions, went to the curio shop, were taken through the secret passage from the back roomand found yourself in the hands of your enemies! Harry looked at me. I understood his glance and edged nearer to Sir Eustace. Yes, murmured the latter, decidedly you are not lucky! This islet me see, the third encounter. You are right, said Harry. This is the third encounter. Twice you have worsted mehave you never heard that the third time the luck changes? This is my roundcover him, Anne. I was all ready. In a flash I had whipped the pistol out of my stocking and was holding it to his head. The two men guarding Harry sprang forward, but his voice stopped them. Another stepand he dies! If they come any nearer, Anne, pull the triggerdont hesitate. I shant, I replied cheerfully. Im rather afraid of pulling it, anyway. I think Sir Eustace shared my fears. He was certainly shaking like a jelly. Stay where you are, he commanded, and the men stopped obediently. Tell them to leave the room, said Harry. Sir Eustace gave the order. The men filed out, and Harry shot the bolt across the door behind them. Now we can talk, he observed grimly, and coming across the room, he took the revolver out of my hand. Sir Eustace uttered a sigh of relief and wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. Im shockingly out of condition, he observed. I think I must have a weak heart. I am glad that revolver is in competent hands. I didnt trust Miss Anne with it. Well, my young friend, as you say, now we can talk. Im willing to admit that you stole a march upon me. Where the devil that revolver came from I dont know. I had the girls luggage searched when she arrived. And where did you produce it from now? You hadnt got it on you a minute ago? Yes, I had, I replied. It was in my stocking. I dont know enough about women. I ought to have studied them more, said Sir Eustace sadly. I wonder if Pagett would have known that? Harry rapped sharply on the table. Dont play the fool. If it werent for your grey hairs, Id throw you out of the window. You damned scoundrel! Grey hairs, or no grey hairs, I  He advanced a step or two, and Sir Eustace skipped nimbly behind the table. The young are always so violent, he said reproachfully. Unable to use their brains, they rely solely on their muscles. Let us talk sense. For the moment you have the upper hand. But that state of affairs cannot continue. The house is full of my men. You are hopelessly outnumbered. Your momentary ascendency has been gained by an accident Has it? Something in Harrys voice, a grim raillery, seemed to attract Sir Eustaces attention. He stared at him. Has it? said Harry again. Sit down, Sir Eustace, and listen to what I have to say. Still covering him with the revolver, he went on The cards are against you this time. To begin with, listen to that! That was a dull banging at the door below. There were shouts, oaths, and then a sound of firing. Sir Eustace paled. Whats that? Raceand his people. You didnt know, did you, Sir Eustace, that Anne had an arrangement with me by which we should know whether communications from one to the other were genuine? Telegrams were to be signed Andy, letters were to have the word and crossed out somewhere in them. Anne knew that your telegram was a fake. She came here of her own free will, walked deliberately into the snare, in the hope that she might catch you in your own trap. Before leaving Kimberley she wired both to me and to Race. Mrs. Blair has been in communication with us ever since. I received the letter written at your dictation, which was just what I expected. I had already discussed the probabilities of a secret passage leading out of the curio shop with Race, and he had discovered the place where the exit was situated. There was a screaming, tearing sound, and a heavy explosion which shook the room. Theyre shelling this part of the town. I must get you out of here, Anne. A bright light flared up. The house opposite was on fire. Sir Eustace had risen and was passing up and down. Harry kept him covered with the revolver. So you see, Sir Eustace, the game is up. It was you yourself who very kindly provided us with the clue of your whereabouts. Races men were watching the exit of the secret passage. In spite of the precautions you took, they were successful in following me here. Sir Eustace turned suddenly. Very clever. Very creditable. But Ive still a word to say. If Ive lost the trick, so have you. Youll never be able to bring the murder of Nadina home to me. I was in Marlow on that day, thats all youve got against me. No one can prove that I even knew the woman. But you knew her, you had a motive for killing herand your records against you. Youre a thief, remember, a thief. Theres one thing you dont know, perhaps. Ive got the diamonds. And here goes  With an incredibly swift movement, he stooped, swung up his arm and threw. There was a tinkle of breaking glass, as the object went through the window and disappeared into the blazing mass opposite. There goes your only hope of establishing your innocence over the Kimberley affair. And now well talk. Ill drive a bargain with you. Youve got me cornered. Race will find all he needs in this house. Theres a chance for me if I can get away. Im done for if I stay, but so are you, young man! Theres a skylight in the next room. A couple of minutes start and I shall be all right. Ive got one or two little arrangements all ready made. You let me out that way, and give me a startand I leave you a signed confession that I killed Nadina. Yes, Harry, I cried. Yes, yes, yes! He turned a stern face on me. No, Anne, a thousand times, no. You dont know what youre saying. I do. It solves everything. Id never be able to look Race in the face again. Ill take my chance, but Im damned if Ill let this slippery old fox get away. Its no good, Anne. I wont do it. Sir Eustace chuckled. He accepted defeat without the least emotion. Well, well, he remarked. You seem to have met your master, Anne. But I can assure you both that moral rectitude does not always pay. There was a crash of rending wood, and footsteps surged up the stairs. Harry drew back the bolt. Colonel Race was the first to enter the room. His face lit at the sight of us. Youre safe, Anne. I was afraid He turned to Sir Eustace. Ive been after you for a long time, Pedlerand at last Ive got you. Everybody seems to have gone completely mad, declared Sir Eustace airily. These young people have been threatening me with revolvers and accusing me of the most shocking things. I dont know what its all about. Dont you? It means that Ive found the Colonel. It means that on January 8th last you were not at Cannes, but at Marlow. It means that when your tool, Madame Nadina, turned against you, you planned to do away with herand at last we shall be able to bring the crime home to you. Indeed? And from whom did you get all this interesting information? From the man who is even now being looked for by the police? His evidence will be very valuable. We have other evidence. There is someone else who knew that Nadina was going to meet you at the Mill House. Sir Eustace looked surprised. Colonel Race made a gesture with his hand. Arthur Minks alias the Rev. Edward Chichester alias Miss Pettigrew stepped forward. He was pale and nervous, but he spoke clearly enough I saw Nadina in Paris the night before she went over to England. I was posing at the time as a Russian count. She told me of her purpose. I warned her, knowing what kind of man she had to deal with, but she did not take my advice. There was a wireless message on the table. I read it. Afterwards I thought I would have a try for the diamonds myself. In Johannesburg, Mr. Rayburn accosted me. He persuaded me to come over to his side. Sir Eustace looked at him. He said nothing, but Minks seemed visibly to wilt. Rats always leaving a sinking ship, observed Sir Eustace. I dont care for rats. Sooner or later, I destroy vermin. Theres just one thing Id like to tell you, Sir Eustace, I remarked. That tin you threw out of the window didnt contain the diamonds. It had common pebbles in it. The diamonds are in a perfectly safe place. As a matter of fact, theyre in the big giraffes stomach. Suzanne hollowed it out, put the diamonds in with cotton wool, so that they wouldnt rattle, and plugged it up again. Sir Eustace looked at me for some time. His reply was characteristic I always did hate that blinking giraffe, he said. It must have been instinct. XXXIV We were not able to return to Johannesburg that night. The shells were coming over pretty fast, and I gathered that we were now more or less cut off, owing to the rebels having obtained possession of a new part of the suburbs. Our place of refuge was a farm some twenty miles or so from Johannesburgright out on the veld. I was dropping with fatigue. All the excitement and anxiety of the last two days had left me little better than a limp rag. I kept repeating to myself, without being able to believe it, that our troubles were really over. Harry and I were together and we should never be separated again. Yet all through I was conscious of some barrier between usa constraint on his part, the reason of which I could not fathom. Sir Eustace had been driven off in an opposite direction accompanied by a strong guard. He waved his hand airily to us on departing. I came out on to the stoep early on the following morning and looked across the veld in the direction of Johannesburg. I could see the great dumps glistening in the pale morning sunshine, and I could hear the low rumbling mutter of the guns. The revolution was not over yet. The farmers wife came out and called me in to breakfast. She was a kind, motherly soul, and I was already very fond of her. Harry had gone out at dawn and had not yet returned, so she informed me. Again I felt a stir of uneasiness pass over me. What was this shadow of which I was so conscious between us? After breakfast I sat out on the stoep, a book in my hand which I did not read. I was so lost in my own thoughts that I never saw Colonel Race ride up and dismount from his horse. It was not until he said Good morning, Anne, that I became aware of his presence. Oh, I said, with a flush, its you. Yes. May I sit down? He drew a chair up beside me. It was the first time we had been alone together since that day at the Matoppos. As always, I felt that curious mixture of fascination and fear that he never failed to inspire in me. What is the news? I asked. Smuts will be in Johannesburg tomorrow. I give this outbreak three days more before it collapses utterly. In the meantime the fighting goes on. I wish, I said, that one could be sure that the right people were the ones to get killed. I mean the ones who wanted to fightnot just all the poor people who happen to live in the parts where the fighting is going on. He nodded. I know what you mean, Anne. Thats the unfairness of war. But Ive other news for you. Yes? A confession of incompetency on my part. Pedler has managed to escape. What? Yes. No one knows how he managed it. He was securely locked up for the nightin an upperstory room of one of the farms roundabouts which the military have taken over, but this morning the room was empty and the bird had flown. Secretly I was rather pleased. Never, to this day, have I been able to rid myself of a sneaking fondness for Sir Eustace. I dare say its reprehensible, but there it is. I admired him. He was a thoroughgoing villain, I dare saybut he was a pleasant one. Ive never met anyone half so amusing since. I concealed my feelings, of course. Naturally Colonel Race would feel quite differently about it. He wanted Sir Eustace brought to justice. There was nothing very surprising in his escape when one came to think of it. All round Joburg he must have innumerable spies and agents. And, whatever Colonel Race might think, I was exceedingly doubtful that they would ever catch him. He probably had a wellplanned line of retreat. Indeed, he had said as much to us. I expressed myself suitably, though in a rather lukewarm manner, and the conversation languished. Then Colonel Race asked suddenly for Harry. I told him that he had gone off at dawn and that I hadnt seen him this morning. You understand, dont you, Anne, that apart from formalities, he is completely cleared? There are technicalities, of course, but Sir Eustaces guilt is well assured. There is nothing now to keep you apart. He said this without looking at me, in a slow, jerky voice. I understand, I said gratefully. And there is no reason why he should not at once resume his real name. No, of course not. You know his real name? The question surprised me. Of course I do. Harry Lucas. He did not answer, and something in the quality of his silence struck me as peculiar. Anne, do you remember that, as we drove home from the Matoppos that day, I told you that I knew what I had to do? Of course I remember. I think that I may fairly say I have done it. The man you love is cleared of suspicion. Was that what you meant? Of course. I hung my head, ashamed of the baseless suspicion I had entertained. He spoke again in a thoughtful voice When I was a mere youngster, I was in love with a girl who jilted me. After that I thought only of my work. My career meant everything to me. Then I met you, Anneand all that seemed worth nothing. But youths call to youth.  Ive still got my work. I was silent. I suppose one cant really love two men at oncebut you can feel like it. The magnetism of this man was very great. I looked up at him suddenly. I think that youll go very far, I said dreamily. I think that youve got a great career ahead of you. Youll be one of the worlds big men. I felt as though I was uttering a prophecy. I shall be alone, though. All the people who do really big things are. You think so? Im sure of it. He took my hand and said in a low voice Id rather have hadthe other. Then Harry came striding round the corner of the house. Colonel Race rose. Good morningLucas, he said. For some reason Harry flushed up to the roots of his hair. Yes, I said gaily, you must be known by your real name now. But Harry was still staring at Colonel Race. So you know, sir, he said at last. I never forget a face. I saw you once as a boy. Whats all this about? I asked, puzzled, looking from one to the other. It seemed a conflict of wills between them. Race won. Harry turned slightly away. I suppose youre right, sir. Tell her my real name. Anne, this isnt Harry Lucas. Harry Lucas was killed in the war. This is John Harold Eardsley. XXXV With his last words Colonel Race had swung away and left us. I stood staring after him. Harrys voice recalled me to myself. Anne, forgive me, say you forgive me. He took my hand in his and almost mechanically I drew it away. Why did you deceive me? I dont know that I can make you understand. I was afraid of all that sort of thingthe power and fascination of wealth. I wanted you to care for me just for myselffor the man I waswithout ornaments and trappings. You mean you didnt trust me? You can put it that way if you like, but it isnt quite true. Id become embittered, suspiciousalways prone to look for ulterior motivesand it was so wonderful to be cared for in the way you cared for me. I see, I said slowly. I was going over in my own mind the story he had told me. For the first time I noted discrepancies in it which I had disregardedan assurance of money, the power to buy back the diamonds of Nadina, the way in which he had preferred to speak of both men from the point of view of an outsider. And when he had said my friend he had meant, not Eardsley, but Lucas. It was Lucas, the quiet fellow, who had loved Nadina so deeply. How did it come about? I asked. We were both recklessanxious to get killed. One night we exchanged identification discsfor luck! Lucas was killed the next dayblown to pieces. I shuddered. But why didnt you tell me now? This morning? You couldnt have doubted my caring for you by this time? Anne, I didnt want to spoil it all. I wanted to take you back to the island. Whats the good of money? It cant buy happiness. Wed have been happy on the island. I tell you Im afraid of that other lifeit nearly rotted me through once. Did Sir Eustace know who you really were? Oh, yes. And Carton? No. He saw us both with Nadina at Kimberley one night, but he didnt know which was which. He accepted my statement that I was Lucas, and Nadina was deceived by his cable. She was never afraid of Lucas. He was a quiet chapvery deep. But I always had the devils own temper. Shed have been scared out of her life if shed known that Id come to life again. Harry, if Colonel Race hadnt told me, what did you mean to do? Say nothing. Go on as Lucas. And your fathers millions? Race was welcome to them. Anyway, he would make a better use of them than I ever shall. Anne, what are you thinking about? Youre frowning so. Im thinking, I said slowly, that I almost wish Colonel Race hadnt made you tell me. No. He was right. I owed you the truth. He paused, then said suddenly You know, Anne, Im jealous of Race. He loves you tooand hes a bigger man than I am or ever shall be. I turned to him, laughing. Harry, you idiot. Its you I wantand thats all that matters. As soon as possible we started for Cape Town. There Suzanne was waiting to greet me, and we disembowelled the big giraffe together. When the revolution was finally quelled, Colonel Race came down to Cape Town and at his suggestion the big villa at Muizenberg that had belonged to Sir Lawrence Eardsley was reopened and we all took up our abode in it. There we made our plans. I was to return to England with Suzanne and to be married from her house in London.