As he spoke, Wilbur Steell passed on his way to join the ladies in the drawing-room. The president called out to him: "Hello, Steell. What are you so busy about? Entertaining the women, eh? Always thought you were a lady killer. Suppose you come and smoke a cigar with me and let our friend here go and have a chat with his wife. You've no right to monopolize the fair sex in that fashion, even if you are a trust lawyer. Anyhow, I want to talk to you--just a little matter of business--that's all!" Steell laughed, and, dropping into a chair, took the cigar which Mr. Parker held out. Turning to his host, and clapping him genially on the back the president exclaimed: "Go and talk to your wife, old man. You've left her alone long enough." "All right--I will," replied the gambler, not sorry of any excuse to get away. Mr. Parker waited till he was out of hearing, then, leaning quickly over to his companion, he exclaimed in a tense whisper: "Steell, I need your help." The lawyer looked at him in surprise. Removing his cigar from his mouth he said: "My help? By all means. What can I do for you?" Mr. Parker gave a quick glance behind him to see if they were observed, and then he said: "My God, Steell, something terrible has happened! At any cost, we mustn't let the wife know----" The lawyer stared at his companion in amazement. "What is it, for Heaven's sake?" he demanded, looking anxiously at his _vis-a-vis_. "The diamonds are lost!" replied Parker hoarsely. "The diamonds lost!" "Yes--lost--he has returned without them. They went down in the _Abyssinia_. At least, that's what he says----" The lawyer started. "You think----" "I think nothing," replied the president cautiously. "I want to know. That's why I want you to help me--to find out--you understand?" The lawyer nodded: "Some detective work, eh?" "Precisely. The stones may have gone down to the bottom of the ocean, or they may not. For all we know the ship may have been set on fire purposely, in order to create such a panic----" The lawyer protested. "Surely you don't think Kenneth----" The president shook his head. "I accuse nobody. I want to find out." He was silent for a moment, and then after a pause he went on: "I suppose you've heard, as well as everybody else, how Traynor has been plunging in Wall Street recently." The lawyer nodded. Hesitatingly he replied: "Yes--I have. Unfortunately, the reports are true. Investigations I have conducted privately on my own account have convinced me that Kenneth has been a big plunger for some time. But as far as I know, he has operated only within his means. I have often remonstrated with him about the folly of it, but he enjoys the excitement of the speculation game, and as long as he kept within bounds and gambled with his own money I didn't see that anyone had any right to interfere."