"It's very kind
of you to take so much trouble!"
The American drew an easy chair to the fire, and pointed Zillah to it.
"Well," he remarked, "I guess that in a fix of this sort, you can't take
too much trouble! I'm interested in this case--and a good deal more than
interested now that you tell me about these platinum studs. I reckon I can
throw some light on that, anyway! But we'll keep it till your friends
come. And I haven't introduced myself--my name's Stuyvesant Guyler. I'm a
New York man--but I've knocked around some--pretty considerable, in fact.
Say!--have you got any idea that this mystery of yours is at all connected
with South Africa? And--incidentally--with diamonds?"
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.
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