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little fishing thrown in in the spring。 As I want to make the most of
myself； I will add that I am supposed to be among the six best shots
in England； and that my ambitionyes； great Heavens！ my ambitionwas
to become better than the other five。 By that sin fell the poor man
who speaks to you。 I was supposed to have abilities； but I neglected
them all to pursue this form of idleness。 I entered no profession； I
did no work； with the result that at thirty…two I am ruined and almost
hopeless。〃
〃Why ruined and hopeless？〃 she asked anxiously； for the way in which
they were spoken grieved her more than the words themselves。
〃Ruined because my old uncle； the Honourable John Seymour Seymour；
whose heir I was； committed the indiscretion of marrying a young lady
who has presented him with thriving twins。 With the appearance of
those twins my prospects disappeared； as did the allowance of ￡1；500 a
year that he was good enough to make me on which to keep up a position
as his next…of…kin。 I had something of my own； but also I had debts；
and at the present moment a draft in my pocket for ￡2；163 14s。 5d。；
and a little loose cash； represents the total of my worldly goods；
just about the sum I have been accustomed to spend per annum。〃
〃I don't call that ruin； I call that riches；〃 said Benita； relieved。
〃With ￡2；000 to begin on you may make a fortune in Africa。 But how
about the hopelessness？〃
〃I am hopeless because I have absolutely nothing to which to look
forward。 Really； when that ￡2；000 is gone I do not know how to earn a
sixpence。 In this dilemma it occurred to me that the only thing I
could do was to turn my shooting to practical account； and become a
hunter of big game。 Therefore I propose to kill elephants until an
elephant kills me。 At least；〃 he added in a changed voice； 〃I did so
propose until half an hour ago。〃
II
THE END OF THE 〃ZANZIBAR。〃
〃Until half an hour ago？ Then why〃 and Benita stopped。
〃Have I changed my very modest scheme of life？ Miss Clifford； as you
are so good as to be sufficiently interested； I will tell you。 It is
because a temptation which hitherto I have been able to resist； has
during the last thirty minutes become too strong for me。 You know
everything has its breaking strain。〃 He puffed nervously at his cigar；
threw it into the sea； paused； then went on： 〃Miss Clifford； I have
dared to fall in love with you。 No； hear me out。 When I have done it
will be quite time enough to give me the answer that I expect。
Meanwhile； for the first time in my life； allow me the luxury of being
in earnest。 To me it is a new sensation； and therefore very priceless。
May I go on？〃
Benita made no answer。 He rose with a certain deliberateness which
characterized all his movementsfor Robert Seymour never seemed to be
in a hurryand stood in front of her so that the moonlight shone upon
her face； while his own remained in shadow。
〃Beyond that ￡2；000 of which I have spoken； and incidentally its
owner； I have nothing whatsoever to offer to you。 I am an indigent and
worthless person。 Even in my prosperous days； when I could look
forward to a large estate； although it was often suggested to me； I
never considered myself justified in asking any lady to sharethe
prospective estate。 I think now that the real reason was that I never
cared sufficiently for any lady； since otherwise my selfishness would
probably have overcome my scruples； as it does to…night。 Benita； for I
will call you so； if for the first and last time； IIlove you。
〃Listen now；〃 he went on； dropping his measured manner； and speaking
hurriedly； like a man with an earnest message and little time in which
to deliver it； 〃it is an odd thing； an incomprehensible thing； but
true； trueI fell in love with you the first time I saw your face。
You remember； you stood there leaning over the bulwark when I came on
board at Southampton； and as I walked up the gangway； I looked and my
eyes met yours。 Then I stopped； and that stout old lady who got off at
Madeira bumped into me； and asked me to be good enough to make up my
mind if I were going backward or forward。 Do you remember？〃
〃Yes；〃 she answered in a low voice。
〃Which things are an allegory；〃 he continued。 〃I felt it so at the
time。 Yes； I had half a mind to answer 'Backward' and give up my berth
in this ship。 Then I looked at you again； and something inside of me
said 'Forward。' So I came up the rest of the gangway and took off my
hat to you； a salutation I had no right to make； but which； I recall；
you acknowledged。〃
He paused； then continued： 〃As it began； so it has gone on。 It is
always like that； is it not？ The beginning is everything； the end must
follow。 And now it has come out； as I was fully determined that it
should not do half an hour ago； when suddenly you developed eyes in
the back of your head； andoh！ dearest； I love you。 No； please be
quiet； I have not done。 I have told you what I am； and really there
isn't much more to say about me； for I have no particular vices except
the worst of them all； idleness； and not the slightest trace of any
virtue that I can discover。 But I have a certain knowledge of the
world acquired in a long course of shooting parties； and as a man of
the world I will venture to give you a bit of advice。 It is possible
that to you my life and death affair is a mere matter of board…ship
amusement。 Yet it is possible also that you might take another view of
the matter。 In that case； as a friend and a man of the world； I
entreat youdon't。 Have nothing to do with me。 Send me about my
business； you will never regret it。〃
〃Are you making fun； or is all this meant； Mr。 Seymour？〃 asked Benita；
still speaking beneath her breath； and looking straight before her。
〃Meant？ Of course it is meant。 How can you ask？〃
〃Because I have always understood that on such occasions people wish
to make the best of themselves。〃
〃Quite so； but I never do what I ought； a fact for which I am grateful
now come to think of it； since otherwise I should not be here
to…night。 I wish to make the worst of myself； the very worst； for
whatever I am not； at least I am honest。 Now having told you that I
am； or was half an hour ago； an idler； a good…for…nothing；
prospectless failure； I ask youif you care to hear any more？〃
She half rose； and； glancing at him for the first time； saw his face
contract itself and turn pale in the moonlight。 It may be that the
sight of it affected her； even to the extent of removing some adverse
impression left by the bitter mocking of his self…blame。 At any rate；
Benita seemed to change her mind； and sat down again； saying：
〃Go on； if you wish。〃
He bowed slightly； and said：
〃I thank you。 I have told you what I /was/ half an hour ago； now；
hoping that you will believe me； I will tell you what I /am/。 I am a
truly repentant man； one upon whom a new light has risen。 I am not
very old； and I think that un