you or Miss Leslie was aboard her until after I learned you'd thrown
up the management of that Rand mine. Traced you to Cape Town. Odd that
you and she and Hawkins should all have booked on the same steamer!"

"Think so?" said Blake. "I don't. Winthrope--Hawkins, that is--was
smooth enough to know he'd not be suspected if travelling as a member
of Lady Bayrose's party. He had already wormed himself into her favor.
As for me--well, they had come to look at the mine, and I had shown
Jenny through the workings. Does that make it clear why I threw up the
job and followed them to Cape Town?"

"She had not given you any reason to--surely, not any encouragement?
No, I can't believe it!"

"Course not, you British doughhead! It was all the other way 'round.
Think I didn't realize? She, a lady, and me--what I am! But I couldn't
help it--I just couldn't help myself, Jimmy. Knew her father, too--all
about his millions and how he made them! He did me--twice. You'd think
the very name would have turned me. Yet the minute I set eyes on her--
say!"

"You're certainly hard hit!" murmured the young earl. He flushed, bit
his lip, hesitated, and burst out with impulsive generosity: "Gad, old
man! If it's true--if she really--er--has come to love you, I own that
you've won her fair and square--all this, y'know." He waved his hand
around in a sweeping gesture. "Saved her from all this. Yes--if it's
really true!"

Blake looked away, and spoke in a hushed voice: "It's--it's true,
Jimmy! Only a little while ago, there on the cliff edge when we saw