"Where's the butler to-night?" he abruptly demanded, as he entered and closed the door. "Gone," said Cervera, curtly. "Gone?" "I've sacked him along with all the rest." "Not discharged all of your servants?" "Nothing less." "But why?" demanded Venner, with a frown settling about his dark eyes. "You cannot remain here alone." "I don't intend to." "But what are you going to do? When are you going?" While thus speaking they had repaired to the library at the rear of the house, the room in which Nick had encountered the gang nearly a fortnight before. It was the only room then lighted. Even the hall through which they had passed was in darkness. Yet Cervera was dressed in an elaborate evening gown, fitted close to her lithe, nervous figure, and augmenting in a marked degree her dangerous, dark beauty. "You know where I am going--or should!" she replied, facing Venner, with an odd smile on her red lips. "Not to the diamond plant?" cried he, with a start. "To the diamond plant--yes!" "Impossible!" "You will find it's not impossible, Rufe," she retorted. "I generally go where I wish, and do what I undertake. I have already sent my own jewels and other valuables there by Pylotte. He was here this morning." "But consider, Sanetta," protested Venner, with a darker frown. "Think of what chances you are taking." "Of what?" "Suppose Nick Carter suspects you, and has a shadow on your movements--" "Bah!" interrupted Cervera, with a snap and flash of her black eyes. "I care nothing for Nick Carter. _Caramba!_ do you think I fear him? I will fool and foil Nick Carter as I have fooled and foiled his betters. I shall go to the plant to-morrow, and that settles it." "Stop a bit," insisted Venner, almost angrily. "Do you forget that Kilgore and all his gang are there? Do you forget that we are just about launching our gigantic enterprise? We now have nearly a million dollars' worth of diamonds manufactured, or in the process of making, and I already have begun to distribute them on the market at a fabulous profit." "Well, I know all that. What has it to do with my going there?" "Such a move on your part may give Carter a clew to our location," declared Venner. "Oh, no, it won't," sneered Cervera, scornfully. "I'll look out for that." "Discovery would ruin all, and possibly land the whole gang behind prison bars." "Faugh! I'm as well at the plant as here, and there I am going. You let me alone to evade the Carters." "But why in thunder are you so determined to make this change?" demanded Venner. An amorous fire came stealing into the woman's resolute eyes, and she shrugged her shapely shoulders significantly. "You should know why without asking," she slowly answered, with her gaze fixed upon his changing countenance. "It is because I love you, Rufe, and wish to be where you spend so much of your time." "So much of my time?" echoed Venner, inquiringly. "So at least you tell me." "Do you doubt it?"