His subordinate shifted uneasily; he was on a delicate topic. Lambaire trusted him to a point; it was safe that he should confess his knowledge of Lambaire’s affairs--up to that point. “It is this African affair,” said the clerk. Lambaire stood by the door, his head sunk in thought. “I suppose you told them----?” “I told them the usual yarn--that our surveyor was visiting the property, and that we expected to hear from him soon. One chap--Buxteds’ clerk--got a bit cheeky, and I----” he hesitated. “Yes, and----?” “He said he didn’t believe we knew where the mine was ourselves.” Lambaire’s smile was a trifle forced. “Ridiculous,” he said, without any great heartiness. “As if one could float a diamond mining company without knowing where the property is--absurd, isn’t it, Grene?” “Very, sir,” said the secretary politely. Lambaire still stood by the door. “The map was in the prospectus, the mine is just on the edge--Etruri Forest--isn’t that the name?” The secretary nodded, watching him. “Buxteds’ man, eh?” Lambaire was perturbed, for Buxteds are the shadiest and the sharpest solicitors in London, and they did not love him. “If Buxteds get to know,” he stopped--“what I mean is that if Buxteds thought they could blackmail me----” He went out, thinking deeply. There is nothing quite as foolish as floating a company, and by specious advertising to attract the money of the speculating public, when the very _raison d’être_ of the company is non-existent. If there is one thing in the world that is necessary for the prosperity of a diamond mining company it is a diamond mine, and there were reasons why that couldn’t be included in the assets of the company. The first reason was that Lambaire did not know within a hundred leagues where the property was situated; the second--and one not without importance--he possessed no certain knowledge that he had the right to dispose of the property, even if he knew where it was. Yet Lambaire was not the type of enthusiast who floats diamond mines on no more solid basis than his optimism. To be perfectly candid, the Great Forest Diamond Mining Company had come into existence at a period when his cash balance was extremely low; for all the multiplicity of his interests, such periods of depression came to him. It may be said of him, as it was said, that he did not go to allotment until he realized that there was some doubt about the possibility of ever discovering this mine of his.