There was not an atom of valid evidence on which to raise the accusation. On this side of the Atlantic it was never remotely charged in any responsible paper, to my knowledge. The conclusion seemed to be reached very much because of the largeness of my business undertakings and my well-known spirit of venture in commercial lines. Therefore, not a few assumed that because I was always willing to take what might be called by some a long chance, therefore, I must have been the power behind the scenes with Arnold and Slack. Not arguing the case, this conclusion had to put aside many well known facts, as I said before. I was a man of large wealth, making money as rapidly as was good for anyone, so that the financial inducement was not there. I was young, only 32, had a family of which I was proud, had the best possible standing with business men, both in San Francisco and abroad. Honor bright, does it not seem incredible that a man situated like myself, full of ambition and with everything to live for, would have engaged in an ignoble plot to fleece his friends and the public, a plot absolutely certain to drag him and all belonging to him through the dust? The story would have died a natural death beyond any question just as it did in the case of my fellow victims, had not the London Times made a direct accusation of complicity in the diamond fraud against Alfred Rubery and myself, which became the basis of a famous libel suit. CHAPTER XXXV. BARON GRANT BOBS UP AGAIN; TRIES TO GET EVEN ON MAN WHO EXPOSED ONE OF HIS BIG STOCK SWINDLES. _Alfred Rubery Brings Suit Against London Times for Libel and Is Awarded £10,000 as Damages._ In the charges made by the London Times, it was not difficult to recognize the handiwork of my old enemies, Baron Grant and the financial editor, Samson. The accusation seemed to be an echo of the old Emma Mine fight, when I warned the public against the exploitation of a worthless property. That bubble had burst, carrying ruin to investors, disgrace to the promoters and more than a decade of distrust for every American security in European markets. But the sting of defeat remained and the opportunity to retaliate was one not to be overlooked.