And while
Kelly tramped impotently about the room, he leaned his shoulders
against the wall and stared into space.
"I am really rather glad to have met you," he remarked presently.
"Can you give me any tip regarding this diamond of Wilbraham's?
You know its value to the tenth part of a farthing, I have no
doubt."
Kelly paused to glare at him distractedly, "Oh, curse the diamond!"
he said, "It's Mrs. Burke I'm thinking of."
Kieff's thin lips curled contemptuously. "A woman!" he said, and
snapped his fingers. "A woman who can be bought and sold
again--for far less than half its cost! My good Kelly! Are you
serious?"
Kelly stamped an indignant foot. "You infernal, cold-blooded
Kaffir!" he roared. "I'm human anyway, which is more than you are!"
Kieff's sneer deepened. It was Kelly's privilege always to speak
his mind, and no one took offence however extravagantly he
expressed himself. "Can't we have a drink?" he suggested, in the
indulgent tone of one humouring a fractious child.
"Drink--with you!" fumed Kelly.
Kieff smiled again. "Of course you will drink with me! It's too
good an excuse to miss. What is troubling you? Surely there is
nothing very unusual in the fact that Mrs. Burke finds herself in
need of a little change!"
Kelly groaned aloud. "I've got to go and tell Burke. That's the
hell of it.
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