“Well,” he said; “what have you to say to this?”
“It’s abominable, sir—it’s atrocious—it’s cruel!”
“Then you have no smuggled diamonds with you?”
“No, sir,” cried Anson excitedly. “They charged me once before, and had my wagon searched by the police.”
“And did the police find any?”
“No, sir, not one! It was a blind, sir, so that they might carry off theirs by throwing the police off the scent. I’ll be bound to say they have a lot with them now!”
“Well, I doubt that!” said the General, smiling. “Where would they carry them?”
“Oh, sir, you don’t know what artful tricks are played!” said Anson eagerly.
“Oh, I’ve heard of a few since I came to South Africa; but I don’t think it likely that a couple of despatch-riders would carry many illicit-diamonds with them!”
“Have the butts of their revolvers examined, sir, and the stuffing of their saddles,” cried Anson. “I have heard of the butts of rifles being bored to hold a lot.”