“He was a very kind friend of mine,” said the princess.
“Mr. Stolburst has disappeared, under very suspicious circumstances.”
Burt made up his mind the girl knew something about the explorer’s disappearance.
“His life has been threatened by one of your countrymen.”
“Did Monsieur Stolburst ever speak to you of me?”
“That is part of my trade, to find people. Now, you know the man called Ajeeb?”
“Do you know that Ajeeb came to this country especially to kill Henry Stolburst?”
“You had better answer my question,” said the detective, with a pleasant smile.
“This Ajeeb is a high priest, and does not shed human blood,” she said finally.
Burt had his doubts on the subject, but did not give them expression.
“He came to this country to recover a diamond that had once formed the eye of an idol,” remarked Burt.
The Abyssinian beauty looked hard at her visitor.
“Mr. Stolburst has confessed to you, I see,” she said.
“You are not so deep in the gentleman’s confidence, I see, as I had at first supposed,” remarked Zulima.
“He forgot to tell you that he is a thief.”
The woman’s splendid eyes flashed angrily.
“I understand. You refer to his having purchased the Eye of Jobu.”
“He either stole it himself, or had it stolen,” maintained Zulima.
“I hardly think Mr. Stolburst would descend so low.”
The girl felt a keen pain at the heart. Up to within a few days she had also believed Henry Stolburst was all that was good and noble. Had his crime been that of killing her Uncle Ajeeb, high priest though the latter was, she could have forgiven him. But the insult to the god of her people, that could not be overlooked.
“Now,” continued the detective, “I know positively that this famous green diamond is not in the possession of Mr. Stolburst.”
Zulima gave a great start. Then she turned her wonderful eyes upon her visitor.
Could it be, after all, that her protector and friend had told her the truth in declaring he did not possess the stone?
He had not parted with it for a money consideration, she felt quite sure. Zulima knew the explorer was very wealthy.
What had become of the Eye of Jobu, then?
Ajeeb would not return to Africa without it.
“Mr. Stolburst did have the stone in his possession,” she said.
“Quite true; it was stolen from him,” returned the detective.