Zillah started and glanced at Lauriston.
"What makes you think of South Africa—and of diamonds?" she asked.
"Oh, well—but that comes into my tale," answered Guyler. "You'll see in due course. But—had it?"
"I hadn't thought of diamonds, but I certainly had of South Africa," admitted Zillah.
"Seems to be working in both directions," said Guyler, meditatively. "But you'll see that when I tell you what I know."
Purdie and Melky Rubinstein entered the room within the twenty minutes which Zillah had predicted—full of wonder to find her and Lauriston in company with a total stranger. But Zillah explained matters in a few words, and forbade any questioning until Mr. Stuyvesant Guyler had told his story.
"And before I get on to that," said Guyler, who had been quietly scrutinizing his two new visitors while Zillah explained the situation, "I'd just like to see that platinum solitaire that Mr. Rubinstein picked up—if he's got it about him?"
Melky thrust a hand into a pocket.
"It ain't never been off me, mister, since I found it!" he said, producing a little packet wrapped in tissue paper. "There you are!"
Guyler took the stud which Melky handed to him and laid it on the table around which they were all sitting. After glancing at it for a moment, he withdrew the studs from his own wrist-bands and laid them by its side.
"Yes, that's sure one of the lot!" he observed mus-
