He didn't propose to exterminate the
natives----"
John Jacks interrupted with hilarity, which his son affected to
resent: the look exchanged by the two making pleasant proof of how
little their natural affection was disturbed by political and other
differences. At the name of Hannaford, Otway had looked keenly
towards the speaker.
"Is that Lee Hannaford?" he asked. "Oh, I know him. In fact, I'm
living in his house just now."
Arnold was interested. He had only the slightest acquaintance with
Hannaford, and would like to hear more of him.
"Not long ago," Piers responded, "he was a teacher of chemistry at
Geneva--I got to know him there. He seems to speak half a dozen
languages in perfection; I believe he was born in Switzerland. His
house down in Surrey is a museum of modern weapons--a regular
armoury. He has invented some new gun."
"So I gathered. And a new explosive, I'm told."
"I hope he doesn't store it in his house?" said Mr. Jacks, looking
with concern at Piers.
"I've had a moment's uneasiness about that, now and then," Otway
replied, laughing, "especially after hearing him talk."
"A tremendous fellow!" Arnold exclaimed admiringly. "He showed me,
by sketch diagrams, how many men he could kill within a given
space."
"If this gentleman were not your friend, Mr. Otway," began the host,
"I should say----"
"Oh, pray say whatever you like! He isn't my friend at all, and I
detest his inventions.
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