They
were up and drinking from midnight, when they came in, to broad
daylight, when I cleared out. Even then I left them sober enough
to slang each other. By the way, they very nearly came to blows
in the garden, within a few yards of me, and I heard something
that might come in useful and make Rosenthall shoot crooked at a
critical moment. You know what an I. D. B. is?"
"Illicit Diamond Buyer?"
"Exactly. Well, it seems that Rosenthall was one. He must have
let it out to Purvis in his cups. Anyhow, I heard Purvis taunting
him with it, and threatening him with the breakwater at Capetown;
and I begin to think our friends are friend and foe. But about
to-morrow night: there's nothing subtle in my plan. It's simply
to get in while these fellows are out on the loose, and to lie
low till they come back, and longer. If possible, we must doctor
the whiskey. That would simplify the whole thing, though it's
not a very sporting game to play; still, we must remember
Rosenthall's revolver; we don't want him to sign his name on US.
With all those Kaffirs about, however, it's ten to one on the
whiskey, and a hundred to one against us if we go looking for it.
A brush with the heathen would spoil everything, if it did no
more. Besides, there are the ladies--"
"The deuce there are!"
"Ladies with an _I_, and the very voices for raising Cain.
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