"
"Oh--much better, thanks. I have got on splendidly the last week,
and better still the last five minutes! The worst of it is that I
shall be getting well too soon and shall have to be off."
"Home?" inquired Maurice significantly.
Jocelyn moved uneasily.
"Yes, home."
"We don't often hear people say that they are sorry to leave
Loango," said Maurice.
"_I_ will oblige you whenever you are taken with the desire,"
answered Jack lightly; "Loango has been a very good friend to me.
But I am afraid there is no choice. The doctor speaks very plain
words about it. Besides, I am bound to go home."
"To sell the Simiacine?" inquired Maurice.
"Yes."
"Have you the second crop with you?"
"Yes."
"And the trees have improved under cultivation?"
"Yes," answered Jack rather wonderingly. "You seem to know a lot
about it."
"Of course I do," replied Maurice boisterously.
"From Durnovo?"
"Yes; he even offered to take me into partnership."
Jack turned on him in a flash.
"Did he indeed? On what conditions?"
And then, when it was too late, Maurice saw his mistake. It was not
the first time that the exuberance of his nature had got him into a
difficulty.
"Oh, I don't know," he replied vaguely. "It's a long story. I'll
tell you about it some day.
Pages:
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312