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〃I did not answer him； or even remark upon the withdrawal of the
curtain； as to which indeed I never made an inquiry。 I suppose that it
was done by some zealous servant while I was pretending to eat my
dinnerthere were one or two new ones in the house whose names and
appearance I did not know。 What impressed itself upon my mind was that
the face which I had never expected to see again on the earth； even in
a picture； was once more given to my eyes； it mattered not how。 This；
in my excited state； for laudanum waiting to be swallowed and a pistol
at full cock for firing do not induce calmness in a man already almost
mad； at any rate until they have fulfilled their offices； did in truth
appear to me to be something of the nature of a sign such as that
spoken of in Savage's idiotic dream； which I was to find if 'I looked
round the study。'
〃'Savage；' I said； 'I don't think much of your dreams about snakes
that talk to you； but I do think that it might be well to see Mr。
Quatermain。 To…day is Sunday and I believe that the African mail sails
on Friday。 Go to town early to…morrow and book passages。'
〃Also I told him to see various gunsmiths and bid them send down a
selection of rifles and other weapons for me to choose from； as I did
not know whither we might wander in Africa； and to make further
necessary arrangements。 All of these things he did； andhere we are。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered reflectively； 〃here you are。 What is more； here is
your luggage of which there seems to be enough for a regiment；〃 and I
pointed to a Scotch cart piled up with baggage and followed by a long
line of Kafirs carrying sundry packages upon their heads that；
marshalled by Savage； had halted at my gate。
CHAPTER VIII
THE START
That evening when the baggage had been disposed of and locked up in my
little stable and arrangements were made for the delivery of some
cases containing tinned foods； etc。； which had proved too heavy for
the Scotch cart； Lord Ragnall and I continued our conversation。 First；
however； we unpacked the guns and checked the ammunition； of which
there was a large supply； with more to follow。
A beautiful battery they were of all sorts from elephant guns down；
the most costly and best finished that money could buy at the time。 It
made me shiver to think what the bill for them must have been； while
their appearance when they were put together and stood in a long line
against the wall of my sitting…room； moved old Hans to a kind of
ecstasy。 For a long while he contemplated them； patting the stocks one
after the other and giving to each a name as though they were all
alive； then exclaimed：
〃With such weapons as these the Baas could kill the devil himself。
Still； let the Baas bring Intombi with him〃a favourite old rifle of
mine and a mere toy in size； that had however done me good service in
the past； as those who have read what I have written in 〃Marie〃 and
〃The Holy Flower〃 may remember。 〃For； Baas； after all； the wife of
one's youth often proves more to be trusted than the fine young ones a
man buys in his age。 Also one knows all her faults； but who can say
how many there may be hidden up in new women however beautifully they
are tattooed？〃 and he pointed to the elaborate engraving upon the
guns。
I translated this speech to Lord Ragnall。 It made him laugh； at which
I was glad for up till then I had not seen him even smile。 I should
add that in addition to these sporting weapons there were no fewer
than fifty military rifles of the best make； they were large…bore
Sniders that had just then been put upon the market； and with them；
packed in tin cases； a great quantity of ammunition。 Although the
regulations were not so strict then as they are now； I met with a
great deal of difficulty in getting all this armament through the
Customs。 Lord Ragnall however had letters from the Colonial Office to
such authorities as ruled in Natal； and on our giving a joint
undertaking that they were for defensive purposes only in unexplored
territory and not for sale； they were allowed through。 Fortunate did
it prove for us in after days that this matter was arranged。
That night before we went to bed I narrated to Lord Ragnall all the
history of our search for the Holy Flower； which he seemed to find
very entertaining。 Also I told him of my adventures； to me far more
terrible； as chairman of the Bona Fide Gold Mine and of their
melancholy end。
〃The lesson of which is；〃 he remarked when I had finished； 〃that
because a man is master of one trade； it does not follow that he is
master of another。 You are； I should judge； one of the finest shots in
the world； you are also a great hunter and explorer。 But when it comes
to companies； Quatermain！ Still；〃 he went on； 〃I ought to be
grateful to that Bona Fide Gold Mine； since I gather that had it not
been for it and for your rascally friend； Mr。 Jacob； I should not have
found you here。〃
〃No；〃 I answered； 〃it is probable that you would not； as by this time
I might have been far in the interior where a man cannot be traced and
letters do not reach him。〃
Then he made a few pointed inquiries about the affairs of the mine；
noting my answers down in his pocket…book。 I thought this odd but
concluded that he wished to verify my statements before entering into
a close companionship with me； since for aught he knew I might be the
largest liar in the world and a swindler to boot。 So I said nothing；
even when I heard through a roundabout channel on the morrow that he
had sought an interview with the late secretary of the defunct
company。
A few days later； for I may as well finish with this matter at once；
the astonishing object of these inquiries was made clear to me。 One
morning I found upon my table a whole pile of correspondence； at the
sight of which I groaned； feeling sure that it must come from duns and
be connected with that infernal mine。 Curiosity and a desire to face
the worst； however； led me to open the first letter which as it
happened proved to be from that very shareholder who had proposed a
vote of confidence in me at the winding…up meeting。 By the time that
it was finished my eyes were swimming and really I felt quite faint。
It ran：
〃Honoured Sir；I knew that I was putting my money on the right
horse when I said the other day that you were one of the
straightest that ever ran。 Well； I have got the cheque sent me by
the lawyer on your account； being payment in full for every
farthing I invested in the Bona Fide Gold Mine； and I can only say
that it is uncommonly useful； for that business had pretty well
cleaned me out。 God bless you； Mr。 Quatermain。〃
I opened another letter； and another； and another。 They were all to
the same effect。 Bewildered I went on to the stoep； where I found Hans
with an epistle in his hand which he requested me to be good enough to
read。 I read it。 It was from a well…known firm of local lawyers a