"Yes, really. Diamonds as big as apples. They're found every day. When I come back I'll have all sorts of adventures to tell you about. Who knows? I might even run across this twin-brother of mine. Stranger things have happened."
"Diamonds as big as apples," she echoed. "Do you mean that, Mr. Kenneth?"
He laughed.
"Indeed I do! Some of the gems are as big as cocoanuts. Didn't you hear of that wonderful diamond we found the other day? It's worth a million dollars."
The old woman opened her eyes and gaped with astonishment.
"A million dollars, Mr. Kenneth!"
"Yes, a million dollars. What's more, I'll soon be able to show it to you, Mary. My trip out to South Africa is ostensibly for the purpose of negotiating for more land. The real purpose of my journey is to bring home this astonishing stone."
"But how will you carry it, Mr. Kenneth? A stone worth a million dollars must be big as a house."
Kenneth laughed.
"No—no, Mary. It can easily go in my waistcoat pocket. But for safety's sake it won't. I don't mind letting you into my confidence. I'm to have a secret bottom made in——"