a simpleton-第68章
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digging。 There was ten times more money beneath his soil than on
it。
Not he。 He was a farmer： did not believe in diamonds。 Two days
afterwards； another great find。 Seven small diamonds。
Next day； a stone as large as a cob…nut； and with strange and
beautiful streaks。 They carried it home to dinner； and set it on
the table； and told the family it was worth a thousand pounds。
Bulteel scarcely looked at it； but the vrow trembled and all the
young folk glowered at it。
In the middle of dinner； it exploded like a cracker； and went
literally into diamond…dust。
〃Dere goes von tousand pounds；〃 said Bulteel； without moving a
muscle。
Falcon swore。 But Staines showed fortitude。 〃It was laminated；〃
said he； 〃and exposure to the air was fatal。〃
Owing to the invaluable assistance of the Hottentots； they had in
less than a month collected four large stones of pure water； and a
wineglassful of small stones； when； one fine day； going to work
calmly after breakfast； they found some tents pitched； and at least
a score of dirty diggers； bearded like the pard； at work on the
ground。 Staines sent Falcon back to tell Bulteel； and suggest that
he should at once order them off； or； better still； make terms with
them。 The phlegmatic Boer did neither。
In twenty…four hours it was too late。 The place was rushed。 In
other words； diggers swarmed to the spot； with no idea of law but
digger's law。
A thousand tents rose like mushrooms； and poor Bulteel stood
smoking； and staring amazed； at his own door； and saw a veritable
procession of wagons； Cape carts； and powdered travellers file past
him to take possession of his hillocks。 Him； the proprietor； they
simply ignored； they had a committee who were to deal with all
obstructions； landlords and tenants included。 They themselves
measured out Bulteel's farm into thirty…foot claims； and went to
work with shovel and pick。 They held Staines's claim sacredthat
was diggers' law； but they confined it strictly to thirty feet
square。
Had the friends resisted； their brains would have been knocked out。
However； they gained this； that dealers poured in； and the market
not being yet glutted； the price was good。 Staines sold a few of
the small stones for two hundred pounds。 He showed one of the
larger stones。 The dealer's eye glittered； but he offered only
three hundred pounds； and this was so wide of the ascending scale；
on which a stone of that importance is priced； that Staines
reserved it for sale at Cape Town。
Nevertheless； he afterwards doubted whether he had not better have
taken it； for the multitude of diggers turned out such a prodigious
number of diamonds at Bulteel's pan； that a sort of panic fell on
the market。
These dry diggings were a revelation to the world。 Men began to
think the diamond perhaps was a commoner stone than any one had
dreamed it to be。
As to the discovery of stones； Staines and Falcon lost nothing by
being confined to a thirty…foot claim。 Compelled to dig deeper；
they got into a rich strata； where they found garnets by the pint；
and some small diamonds； and at last； one lucky day； their largest
diamond。 It weighed thirty…seven carats； and was a rich yellow。
Now； when a diamond is clouded or off color； it is terribly
depreciated； but a diamond with a positive color is called a fancy
stone； and ranks with the purest stones。
〃I wish I had this in Cape Town；〃 said Staines。
〃Why； I'll take it to Cape Town； if you like；〃 said the changeable
Falcon。
〃You will？〃 said Christopher； surprised。
〃Why not？ I'm not much of a digger。 I can serve our interest
better by selling。 I could get a thousand pounds for this at Cape
Town。〃
〃We will talk of that quietly；〃 said Christopher。
Now； the fact is； Falcon； as a digger； was not worth a pin。 He
could not sort。 His eyes would not bear the blinding glare of a
tropical sun upon lime and dazzling bits of mica； quartz； crystal；
white topaz； etc。； in the midst of which the true glint of the
royal stone had to be caught in a moment。 He could not sort； and
he had not the heart to dig。 The only way to make him earn his
half was to turn him into the travelling and selling partner。
Christopher was too generous to tell him this； but he acted on it；
and said he thought his was an excellent proposal； indeed； he had
better take all the diamonds they had got to Dale's Kloof first；
and show them to his wife； for her consolation： 〃And perhaps；〃 said
he； 〃in a matter of this importance； she will go to Cape Town with
you； and try the market there。〃
〃All right；〃 said Falcon。
He sat and brooded over the matter a long time； and said； 〃Why make
two bites of a cherry？ They will only give us half the value at
Cape Town； why not go by the steamer to England； before the London
market is glutted； and all the world finds out that diamonds are as
common as dirt？〃
〃Go to England！ What！ without your wife？ I'll never be a party to
that。 Me part man and wife！ If you knew my own story〃
〃Why； who wants you？〃 said Reginald。 〃You don't understand。
Phoebe is dying to visit England again； but she has got no excuse。
If you like to give her one； she will be much obliged to you； I can
tell you。〃
〃Oh； that is a very different matter。 If Mrs。 Falcon can leave her
farm〃
〃Oh； that brute of a brother of hers is a very honest fellow； for
that matter。 She can trust the farm to him。 Besides； it is only a
month's voyage by the mail steamer。〃
This suggestion of Falcon's set Christopher's heart bounding； and
his eyes glistening。 But he restrained himself； and said； 〃This
takes me by surprise； let me smoke a pipe over it。〃
He not only did that； but he lay awake all night。
The fact is that for some time past； Christopher had felt sharp
twinges of conscience； and deep misgivings as to the course he had
pursued in leaving his wife a single day in the dark。 Complete
convalescence had cleared his moral sentiments； and perhaps； after
all； the discovery of the diamonds had co…operated； since now the
insurance money was no longer necessary to keep his wife from
starving。
〃Ah！〃 said he； 〃faith is a great quality； and how I have lacked
it！〃
To do him justice； he knew his wife's excitable nature； and was not
without fears of some disaster； should the news be communicated to
her unskilfully。
But this proposal of Falcon's made the way clearer。 Mrs。 Falcon；
though not a lady； had all a lady's delicacy； and all a woman's
tact and tenderness。 He knew no one in the world more fit to be
trusted with the delicate task of breaking to his Rosa that the
grave； for once； was baffled； and her husband lived。 He now became
quite anxious for Falcon's departure； and ardently hoped that
worthy had not deceived himself as to Mrs。 Falcon's desire to visit
England。
In short； it was settled that Falcon should start for Dale's Kloof；
taking with him the diamonds； believed to be worth altogether three
thousand pounds at Cape Town； and nearly as much again in England；
and a long letter to Mrs。 Falcon； in which Staines revealed his
true story； told her where to find his wife； or hear of her； viz。；
at Kent Villa； Gravesend； and sketched an outline of instructions
as to the way； and cunning degrees； by which the joyful news should
be broken to her。 With this he sent a long letter to be given to
Rosa herself； but not till she should know all： and in this letter
he enclosed the ruby ring she had given him。 That ring had never
left his finger； by sea or land； in sickness or health。
The letter to Rosa was sealed。 The two letters made quite a
packet； for； in the letter to his beloved Rosa； he told her
everything that had befallen him。 It was a romance； and a picture
of love； a letter to lift a loving woman to heaven； and almost
reconcile her to all her bereaved heart had suffered。
This letter； written with many tears from the heart that had so
suffered； and was now softened by good fortune and bounding with
joy； Staines entrusted to Falcon； together with the other diamonds；
and with many warm shakings of the hand； started him on his way。
〃But mind； Falcon；〃 said Christopher； 〃I shall expect an answer
from Mrs。 Falcon in
