As if we were not all servants!"
He was thirsting for details. There were a thousand questions in
his heart, but not one on his lips.
"Will you have the kindness to remember my desire," he went on
suavely, "when you are settling up with your man?"
"Thank you," replied Jack; "I am much obliged to you."
"And in the meantime as you are without a servant you may as well
make use of mine. One of my men--Henry--who is too stupid to get
into mischief--a great recommendation by the way--understands his
business. I will ring and have him sent over to your rooms at
once."
He did so, and they sat in silence until the butler had come and
gone.
"We have been very successful with the Simiacine--our scheme," said
Jack suddenly.
"Ah!"
"I have brought home a consignment valued at seventy thousand
pounds."
Sir John's face never changed.
"And," he asked, with veiled sarcasm, "do you carry out the--er--
commercial part of the scheme?"
"I shall begin to arrange for the sale of the consignment to-morrow.
I shall have no difficulty--at least, I anticipate none. Yes, I do
the commercial part--as well as the other. I held the Plateau
against two thousand natives for three months, with fifty-five men.
But I do the commercial part as well."
As he was looking into the fire still, Sir John stole a long
comprehensive glance at his son's face.
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