“Now, my child, you can go; and, before many sunsets, I will have recovered that for which I traveled so many miles.” Ajeeb kissed her lightly on the forehead. It was with a head weighed down with sorrow that Zulima returned to her home. Soon after her departure from the house in Forty-third Street Ajeeb had another visitor. The latter’s appearance and general make-up pronounced him an Englishman. “Well, old man!” he cried, upon meeting the Abyssinian priest; “how does the world wag for you, and what are you doing in New York?” Ajeeb was another man in this person’s presence. Before Zulima and Ashah, he carried a very stern front. Now he unbent his rigid dignity. “I came here on a very serious mission, friend of long ago!” “Can Billy Barry do anything to help you along, old man?” “I sent for you, thinking you could be of great assistance.” “How did you find me out?” “Don’t you know I am something of a magician?” “That be blowed! Honor bright, how did you discover my address?” “I got it from Harry Swinck.” “Do you know that old pirate?” “He is known to me. This is not the first time I visited to New York.” “You wear European clothes much better now than when I first made your acquaintance in London.” “Don’t speak of those days,” said Ajeeb. “I guess I must then have broken about every commandment of my religion.” “Well, you did get in with a pretty stiff crowd after becoming acquainted with me; but I was to blame for all that.” “Yes,” smiled the Abyssinian, “and I rank high as a priest at home.” “You old hypocrite!” Ajeeb’s brow darkened. “No,” he said; “you misjudge me; I but joked when I spoke of breaking commandments of my faith. We take a different view of sin to the outer world, my friend.” “Don’t tell me anything about religion,” said Barry. “What did you come to this country for?” “To run down a man.” “Have you succeeded?” “In running him down, yes,” replied Ajeeb; “but he refuses to return that which he stole from our temple.” “What did he steal?” “A wondrous diamond, larger, perhaps, than any other in the known world.” “The lucky devil!” “Barry,” said Ajeeb, “I would rather part with ten thousand pounds than you were in that man’s position.” “Do you value the diamond so very much?” asked the Englishman. “It is not that.” “What then?” “He desecrated our temple, and his life has been forfeited.” “Mean to kill the rooster, eh?” “Yes.” “I don’t suppose he is a common thief,” remarked Barry. “Neither is he. The man has great learning, and bears a high name among the people here and in Europe.” “What’s his name?” “Henry Stolburst.” “The African explorer?” “The same.” “Ajeeb, my friend,” said Barry, “I think you have undertaken to crack a very hard nut.” “No,” smiled the Abyssinian. “I shall not fail in this matter.” “Does Stolburst suspect your purpose?” “I told him all about it.” “That was foolish; he has probably told some one else of your threat.”