Part 7 (2/2)
”And of course he will not be believed,” replied West thoughtfully; ”for it is next door to high treason for anyone to be found buying diamonds illicitly from the natives.”
”High treason?” cried Ingleborough, laughing. ”Why, my dear boy, it's much worse than regicide. The authorities in Kimberley look upon diamond-smuggling or stealing as the blackest crime in the calendar.”
”Hallo!” cried West just then. ”So soon?”
For there was a sharp rap at the door, and a man entered to announce that the princ.i.p.als of the great company desired the presence of Ingleborough and West directly.
”I don't see why they want me!” said West. ”I know nothing about the matter.”
”You'll have to go all the same,” said Ingleborough. ”He has dragged your name into the case, and he trusts to you to speak in his behalf.”
”And of course I shall,” said West; ”for I'm horribly sorry for the poor fellow. He couldn't withstand the temptation to buy the diamonds for a mere nothing and sell them at a heavy price.”
”I don't want to be malicious, Noll,” said Ingleborough; ”but I've for some time been under the impression that Master Anson was a humbug.
There, come along! Of course I don't like a piece of business like this; but we must make rogues go to the wall. You're too soft-hearted, Noll, my boy.”
”Perhaps so,” replied the lad; ”but I'd rather be so than too hard-hearted.”
CHAPTER SIX.
A VAIN SEARCH.
West saw at once upon entering the presence of the princ.i.p.als that things appeared bad for Anson, who stood facing a table at which three of the directors of the great company were seated, all looking very stern. They signed to Ingleborough and West to stand upon their right-- Anson was facing them to the left.
Then there was a brief colloquy in a low tone between the three directors, ending in one of them saying aloud: ”You speak.”
The gentleman thus addressed turned to Ingleborough.
”Mr Anson has sought this interview with the directors, Mr Ingleborough, to inform us that you have made up a malicious tale about his having been engaged in illicit-diamond-buying. Of course, if you could prove such a charge, it was your duty to inform us.”
”Of course, sir,” replied Ingleborough; ”but, though I have for some time suspected him, this affair only occurred during our tiffin-time this morning, and as soon as we returned to the office I felt bound to accuse him as my fellow-clerk, and tell him what I intended to do.”
”So as to give him, if guilty, a good chance to conceal the diamonds or escape?”
”Oh no, sir,” said Ingleborough quietly. ”I took proper precautions against that.”
”Indeed?” said the director. ”What did you do?”
”Mr Superintendent Norton is a friend of mine, sir, and I went to him at once. He and two of his keenest men have been carefully watching Anson ever since.”
”Humph! Quite right,” said the director, and he glanced at Anson, who was smiling contemptuously then; but West had seen him wince sharply when Ingleborough mentioned the superintendent's name. ”Well,”
continued the director, ”let us hear your version of this business.”
”Really, gentlemen,” cried Anson, ”I ought to have the a.s.sistance of a law officer and--”
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