"
"But I know a little about Africa, and I know something about
Durnovo. That man has got a mania, and it is called Simiacine. He
is quite straight upon that point, whatever he may be upon others.
He knows this country, and he is not making any mistake about the
Simiacine, whatever--"
"His powers of sick-nursing may be," suggested Jack.
"Yes, that's it. We'll put it that way if you like."
"Thanks, I do prefer it. Any fool could call a spade a spade. The
natural ambition would be to find something more flowery and yet
equally descriptive."
Guy Oscard subsided into a monosyllabic sound.
"I believe implicitly in this scheme," he went on, after a pause.
"It is a certain fact that the men who can supply pure Simiacine
have only to name their price for it. They will make a fortune, and
I believe that Durnovo knows where it is growing in quantities."
"I cannot see how it would pay him to deceive us in the matter.
That is the best way of looking at it," murmured Jack reflectively.
"When I first met him, the man thought he was dying, and for the
time I really believe that he was honest. Some men are honest when
they feel unwell. There was so little doubt in my mind that I went
into the thing at once."
"If you will go on with it I will stand by you," said Oscard
shortly.
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