’I do not know,’ answered Orange, sullenly. She was angry with Sampson, and she wanted to get rid of him. It would suit her very well to live with Mirelle. She hated Launceston, and wished to leave it. She trusted that something was going to be done for her by Mirelle in fulfilment of the promise made by John Herring on the wedding day, but she was not certain. At all events it was most convenient for her to live with Mirelle, and, if she were given money, to lay it by. She had indignantly rejected the suggestion of taking Captain Trecarrel, but she loved him still, and she entertained a lingering hope of future reconciliation. If he wanted her, he would come after her. She had sufficient sound sense to know that he could not marry her if she was without private means, because he was poor himself. She was jealous of Mirelle. The Captain had hovered about her; Mirelle had drawn him off from her. She was not at all sure that the Captain would desist from his attentions now that Mirelle was married. She wished, therefore, to be with her rival so as to watch her. ’Orange!’ ’Well, Sampson.’ ’I say. We were always allies.’ ’To what does this introduction lead?’ ’Where does Mirelle keep her diamonds?’ ’I do not know. I have come here to-day for the first time.’ ’I wish you would find out.’ ’I can find out fast enough.’ ’I say, Orange. If I could finger them, you wouldn’t see much of me for many a day, and that is what your sisterly heart desires.’ ’I wish I could be sure of that.’ ’You are not over fond of the Countess Candlesticks, I reckon.’ ’I hate her,’ answered Orange, vehemently. ’You would not mind getting those diamonds for me, would you? She don’t want them. What use can she make of them in a desert like this? She would not miss them.’ ’I tell you, Sampy, I do not know where they are, and what is more, if I did know, I would not give them to you. I am not going to risk my place in the house for you.’ ’Who is to see you take them? Lay the blame on me. Find out where they are and tell me, and if accessible I will work my way into the house and get them.’ ’It won’t do; it won’t do indeed. If I knew where the stones were, I would not mind telling you; and if you could get them without risk of detection, and without in any way involving me, I would not care. But I will not help you to them.’ ’If I had them, I’d be off to America at once.’ ’There—I must go now,’ said Orange, rising. ’I will try to get you something, but you must not expect much.’ She turned to go out. She was flushed and annoyed. The presence of Sampson was vexatious to her, and might prove inconvenient. ’Stay a moment, Orange. Have you any keys about you?’ ’I must go—yes, I have. I brought away the bunch from Dolbeare, in my haste. What will mother do without them?’