"Of course I do, and, what's more, I mean to get it." Changing his free, careless tone to one tense with significance and menace he went on: "Don't be a fool, Monsieur Handsome. Who put you up to this snap, but me? Who knows what you did to monsieur out there on ze veldt, better than me? Dead men tell no tales, but live ones do. Don't forget that! If you want to keep clear of ze electric chair, you'll keep your mouth shut, and play fair."
The gambler listened, his mouth twitching nervously, his eyes glowing with sullen hatred.
"What do you and Keralio want? I gave you the diamonds—what more do you expect?"
The valet laughed scoffingly.
"You gave him ze diamonds. Why? You were d——d glad to be rid of zem. We can't do anything with zem now. We may have to wait months or years before we can venture to cut zem up and dispose of zem. Non, monsieur! If zey appeared on ze market now, ze news would be flashed immédiatement to every corner of ze globe, and your career and mine would come to a quick end. Voila!"
"Don't forget Keralio!" said Handsome, with a sneer.
"Eh, bien? Has he not earned it, Signor Keralio? Is it not because of his courage and daring that you are here—ze master in this house? Who but Keralio would have had ze nerve to carry ze thing through?"
Handsome shrugged his shoulders. Cynically he said:
"Oh, I don't know. It seems to me that Keralio is safe under cover, while here I am, disporting myself in the limelight, with every eye turned on me. I guess I prefer Keralio's job to mine——"
The valet's eyes flashed vindictively as he retorted: