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murdered in this room for the Black Diamond?”
    Heyden’s mouth slipped open. He stared at Rogan. “Murdered—you cannot be serious! I surely would not dare say such a thing. Lizzie says he killed himself.”
    â€œAnd we can count on everything Lizzie tells us.”
    â€œWell, Sir Julien says the same. It’s no secret in Capetown that Henry Chantry took his own life.”
    â€œNo, I don’t suppose it is.”
    Heyden gave him a sudden searching look. Rogan stared back evenly.
    â€œThe Kimberly Diamond was never returned to South Africa.”
    â€œNo, and through the years, I’d say just about everyone in the family has made their pilgrimage here to Rookswood to Henry’s room hoping to find it tucked away in a cobwebbed corner. This appears to be your pilgrimage, van Buren. Am I assuming too much? But you’ll also leave empty-handed because Henry left no clue as to where he hid it. It’s likely not at Rookswood at all.”
    â€œMe?… Looking for it? You misunderstand, Rogan. It was a lark I came here at all. Shouldn’t have, I suppose.”
    â€œMaybe not. But you’re not the only one who still believes it’s hidden somewhere here. Julien thinks so too. He’s been coming here searching every year since Henry died. Not that he’ll admit it.”
    â€œI don’t know what Julien thinks. I doubt the Black Diamond was his discovery to begin with. But I don’t think your uncle was murdered for it. That’s a serious charge to make, and very macabre.”
    â€œBy all accounts.”
    Heyden measured him. “Who are you suggesting would do such a thing?”
    Rogan shrugged. “Your guess may be as good as mine.”
    â€œI don’t know why. I’m not in the inner circles of the diamond family. I spent my whole life growing up in the Transvaal. But I’ll give you my best guess. I doubt he was murdered for the diamond, even if he did steal it from Cape House. He took his own life, perhaps out of guilt. Because of his wife, Lady Caroline Brewster. She was your mother’s sister, I believe? She died of African fever on one of his treks into Mashonaland.And wasn’t she with child? It must have been hard on him. Especially in his later years. Not an easy burden for a man to carry. It’s likely it got to the poor devil in the end. That, plus the theft of the Kimberly Diamond. The Africans say it belongs to them, and they believe in curses, you know. The Zulu and the Ndebele tribes are cousins.”
    Rogan considered Heyden’s words, then laughed. “Curses and witch doctors? Henry scoffed at such things. Are you now suggesting he wasn’t murdered through malice, but rather a nameless curse walked into his bedroom and shot him?”
    â€œMock if you will. I am an Afrikaner. Born and raised in South Africa, as my parents and grandparents were. We know the ways of the tribes there. They set great store by such beliefs.” Then, suddenly, Heyden spread his hands. “But as you say, if he hid it somewhere here at Rookswood, it’s not likely to ever be found.”
    â€œIn a mansion this size, it could be anywhere. We could tear it apart stone by stone and still not find it. It looks as if the diamond is forever lost.”
    â€œYes…” Heyden looked about soberly, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets. “Yes, anywhere, including the estate grounds.”
    â€œA man could spend his entire life just searching.” Rogan gave him a sharp look as, unexpectedly, something dawned on him. He stared at Heyden, but Heyden didn’t appear to notice.
    â€œI suppose you’ve checked in here already?” Heyden asked, looking about.
    Rogan forced a forbearing smile; his silence was answer enough.
    Heyden grinned and shrugged. “Yes, as you say, this room would be the first place people would look. But they could all be wrong, you know. The crypt might be the