Part 1 (2/2)

Pa.s.sionately she cried: ”Oh, Kenneth, don't go! Don't go! I feel that something will happen.”

He laughed carelessly as he fondled her. More seriously he replied:

”I hope something does happen. That's what I'm going out there for.

Why, Helen dear, I don't think you quite realize what this trip means to us. If the deal goes through, and we get full control of all that property, we'll all be as rich as Croesus. Just think, dear, 300,000 square miles of the most wonderful diamond producing country. In ten days they found 400 beautifully clear stones, some of them weighing over a hundred carats. If the reports are true, we shall have a group of mines as valuable as the famous De Beers group. Do you know what they have produced to date in actual money?”

The young woman shook her head. Usually she was glad enough to listen to her husband's business plans, but to-day they wearied her. Her mind was too much preoccupied with something that concerned her far more.

The idea of this coming separation, the knowledge that he was running a risk, had left her singularly depressed. She had tried to remain calm and control her emotion, but the effort was beyond her. The prospect of this separation, with its vague, undefined forebodings of disaster, was simply intolerable. The tears she was unable to restrain rolled silently down her cheeks.

He looked at her in surprise. Never had he seen her in this mood.

Approaching her more closely, he said kindly:

”That can't be the only reason, dear, what's the matter?”

She hesitated a moment before she answered:

”I'm very nervous to-day. I was dreadfully irritated last night at the dinner. I wish I hadn't gone----”

”Who irritated you?”

”That man Signor Keralio. I simply can't tolerate the man. How I hate him!”

”Why--what did he do?”

”He did nothing. He wouldn't dare--there. But I wouldn't care to be alone with him. His eyes were enough. He imagines he is irresistible, and that every woman is immoral. That is the kind of man he is. He annoyed me all evening. There was no getting away from him.”

Kenneth laughed and went back to finish his breakfast, quite indifferent to what he had just heard. He knew his wife too well to be afraid of any number of Signor Keralios. Humming a tune, he said carelessly:

”Why didn't you call me?”

”What? Create a scandal? That would only make me ridiculous. He wouldn't care. I can't bear the sight of the man, yet I have to be polite to him.”

Kenneth nodded.

”Yes--I have reasons for not caring to quarrel with Keralio just now.”

She looked up quickly.

”Why? What is that man to you? He's your fencing master, I know, but that's no reason for making a friend of him. I never understood why you a.s.sociated with him. He is so different to you.”

Her husband smiled. He adored his wife and admired the s.e.x in general, but, like most men, he had never had much respect for women's judgment.

Women were made to be loved; not to discuss business with. Indulgently he said:

”My dear, you don't understand. I have important financial relations with Keralio. I don't care for him myself, but one can't choose one's business a.s.sociates. He and I are interested in a silver mine in Mexico. Thanks to him, I got in on the ground floor. One of these days the investment will bring me a big return.”

His wife shrugged her shoulders. Incredulously she retorted:

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