"What do you think he deals in ?" "I believe he deals in diamonds, sir," replied West.
"Why ?" said the General.
"For one reason, sir, because my friend, in whom I have perfect faith, caught him in the act." "Yes: anything more ?" "I know him to be a cowardly liar, sir, and--" "Oh!" groaned Anson.

"I never heard anything like it." "Go on," said the General.
"Lastly, sir, because he set it about that I had volunteered to carry a despatch to Mafeking so as to get away with the diamonds I had smuggled." "And did you ?" said the General.
"I got away to Mafeking with the despatch!" said West, smiling.
"And where are the diamonds in question ?" "My friend and I believe that they are in James Anson's wagon," said West bitterly, for he felt bitter then against the traitor, whose proceedings he recalled when they were prisoners.

Later on he felt a little sorry for his words.
"Oh!" cried Anson, throwing up his hands and looking appealingly at the General, who fixed him with his eyes.
"Well," he said; "what have you to say to this ?" "It's abominable, sir--it's atrocious--it's cruel!" "Then you have no smuggled diamonds with you ?" "No, sir," cried Anson excitedly.

"They charged me once before, and had my wagon searched by the police." "And did the police find any ?" "No, sir, not one! It was a blind, sir, so that they might carry off theirs by throwing the police off the scent.

I'll be bound to say they have a lot with them now!" "Well, I doubt that!" said the General, smiling.