"Hai!" Durgo leaped to his feet. "That is true: that is probable. Perhaps he can say if my master got the jewels." "Perhaps he can, but I am certain that he will not." "Oh, I think he will! I think he will," said Durgo significantly. "Don't hurt him," cried Bella, alarmed, for much as she disliked the preacher she did not wish him to come to harm at the hands of this African semi-savage. As a matter of fact, she was sorry to enlist Durgo's services at all; but, under the circumstances, there seemed to be no help for it. "I shall not hurt him more than is necessary," said Durgo, catching up his bowler hat and placing it on his woolly head; "if he speaks plainly I won't hurt him at all. You have helped me, missy, and you will find that I am not ungrateful. When you marry the son of my master, you will be rich. I, Durgo, the king, will make you rich," he ended arrogantly. "One moment," said Bella, detaining him; "these jewels belong to Captain Huxham. Have you any right to take them?" "Every right, since they never belonged to Captain Huxham," said the negro decisively. "My father, the great chief Kawal, gave them to Maxwell Faith, and from Maxwell Faith they were stolen by Huxham. If Faith were alive I would return the jewels to him, and ask him to help me with my expedition. But he is dead; Huxham murdered him, and stole the jewels. Edwin Lister came to get back what belongs to me, and I think he has them." "Supposing you find Mr. Lister, and learn that he has not the jewels?" Durgo rolled his eyes ferociously. "I shall then enter the Manor-house by force, and learn where they are hidden." "You would only be handed over to the police by Mrs. Vand and her husband, Henry. It will be better for me to search." "How can you, since you are not friendly with Mrs. Vand?" Bella laughed. "I know much more about the Manor-house than Mrs. Vand does, I assure you," she said significantly. "There are all manner of secret passages and unknown chambers in that ancient mansion. If I desired to enter, I could do so in the night-time by a secret door hidden behind the ivy at the back of the house." "Then do so," said Durgo eagerly, "and search for the jewels." "Not yet. Wait until you see Edwin Lister, and learn if he procured the jewels. By the way, where did your father get them?" Durgo reflected for a few minutes. "I have heard much talk of my father's treasure, of which these jewels were part. You know how rich the Northern part of Africa was in the time of the Romans?" "Yes. Cyril made me read Gibbons' History." "Well, when the Arabs swept across Northern Africa, they looted the Roman cities, then possessed more or less by the Goths and Vandals. Many of the Arabs came South to Nigeria, and brought their plunder with them. I think that these jewels, which my father gave to Maxwell Faith, came into his possession from some remote ancestor, who so brought them. But I cannot say. Still, that is my opinion."