Mrs. Tunks replied without taking her beady black eyes from Durgo. "I saw the coming of the master in the crystal, lovey, and told your dear sweetheart of the same. The master brings good luck to you both, so if you tell, it will part you and your deary for ever." "We are parted as it is," said Cyril bitterly. "Perhaps not," replied the old woman. Lister rose from his chair and stared. "What do you mean?" he cried imperiously. Durgo, who had been examining the papers, looked up on hearing this question, and shot forth a long arm in the direction of the door. "Go!" he said to Mrs. Tunks. "Go at once." "And the money, master?" "You shall have it to-morrow, as soon as I have examined these. Go, I say; I am not used to speak twice." "But Durgo," cried Cyril, annoyed by the interruption, "I want to know----" "You shall know what Mrs. Tunks has to say to-morrow," said Durgo, settling down into the chair and still examining the papers. The witch-wife, who had moved slowly towards the door, had not looked at Lister once during her stay in the room. All the time her gaze was fixed almost reverentially upon the negro. In spite of Durgo's prohibition Cyril crossed the room to catch Mrs. Tunks by the arm. But the moment he touched her she seemed to wake up as from a magnetic spell, and opening the door slipped through like a snake. When the door was closed again Cyril, in some anger, faced Durgo. "Why didn't you let me question her?" "She would have said nothing," returned the man dryly, "because she knows nothing." "She hinted that Bella--Miss Huxham, I mean--and myself would not be parted." Durgo shrugged his shoulders. "Hai! The woman is a witch and knows doings of the unseen. She may have been told----" "Oh, rubbish! I don't believe in such things." "Possibly you don't; I do. I have been taught things which would open your eyes if I explained them. In Africa we know much that you don't know." A sudden light flashed into Cyril's brain. "Is that why Mrs. Tunks addressed you as master?" Durgo nodded absently, still reading the papers. But he did not reply in words, as his eyes were travelling over some faded writing and his lips were moving. Before Cyril could ask another question, as he was desirous of doing, the negro started to his feet with a fierce shout, which sounded like a warcry. "As I believed; as I thought!" he shouted. "Hai! the good news." "What is it?" asked Lister, surprised by the savage exultation.