The Datchet Diamonds

and, rising to her feet, went quickly across the room. Admission had already been given to the

klyn! I t

, as if desirous not to allow her self-betrayal to go too far. She

en mouth and chin, and a pair of penetrating grey-black eyes, with which he had a trick of looking every one whom he addressed squarely in the face. His ma

ou thoug

ou--you know I am; but

expecti

him, but--it seem

she offered him her hand a humorous twinkle beamed through her glasses, a

u heard

t ne

Cyril to

eally couldn't tell you quite what it was

in Br

ormed that he was

informed

ce, who said that

ing eyes seemed to be studying the lady's face. Probabl

he was in Brighton. I have come from town speciall

't kept his promise. I don't understand why.

ised to

most fai

timation from him to the eff

ord--not

aware that had anything occurred to cause him to alter his plans, he would immediately have let you know. Your informant was w

ws of which you

ing to you about the

before last in his usual strain, as ha

d it. It is so unlike Cyril to have communicated neither wi

ot a word. What was there, what

ght not have agreed with such a statement, it suited her when it was slightly disarranged. Her cheeks were flushed. She held herself very straight. Perhaps it was her tears which had lent brightness to her eyes; t

hat gold has been found at last in considerable quantities. The shares have gone up with a rush. When the Stock Exchange

Franklyn! And has C

them--Cyril is one of the largest holders, if he is not the largest; a

natural triumph towards her friend. "What did I tell you? Now aren't you sorry for what you sa

so excited as the lady who was principally concer

id, there can be no sort of doubt whatever that I said everything which I ought to have left unsaid. But

pper against the floor. "He wasn't compelled

th shrugged

ou also all the world? From what I gathered

vement in the direction of Miss Wentworth's chair. She placed her hand upon that lady's shoulders. And s

the occasion required. She surveyed he

ery much ind

t the room, passing, as it seemed

ut it! And now not coming after all!" She turned to Mr. Franklyn. "I suppose that it is al

on of affairs when prices were made up for the day, as you m

trong pushed back her

e had lost i

n interpose

Did he lose

in spite of that, on the same day, to

ion! Did he mention

did. Charlie, didn't you hear him

arding the two almost as if they had been studies of interesting,

a passing and, as it seemed to me, a myst

e, he may get nothing. Indeed, it is an almost vital necessity of the situation that I should see him at once. The shares are in my keeping. Without his direct authority I can do nothing with them. After all, the boom may be but a bubble; it may already have been blown to a bursting-point; in the morning it may have been pricked. Such things are the commonplaces of the Stock Excha

arly always does stay the

now; or, at any rate, that they have new

quick movement to

, mayn't I co

esit

is there I will bring him back with me; if he

pro

-certa

don't know what all this means to me. All day long I have been conscious of something hanging over me, as it were, a cloud of catastrophe. That something very strange either h

xcitement to almost preternatural coldness. One had only to look at her to perceive that her mind was not at ease;

hat, in fact, we are chasing each other. Anyhow, you shall have news when I have news, and that without a second's delay. I ought to find a cab upon the near