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"Easily enough, you felon," shouted Marnham. "So," and thrusting his hand into his pocket he pulled out a number of diamonds which he threw upon the table, adding, "there's what will cover it twice over, and there are more where they came from, as you know well enough, my medical jailbird."
"Another of those cursed baboons robbing the garden," remarked Marnham reflectively. "I think he is going to rob the house also," I replied, turning to point to something dark that seemed to be leaping up on to the verandah. Next moment we heard Heda utter a little cry of alarm, and a man say in a low fierce voice "So I have caught you at last, have I!"
To tell the truth I felt as though I had seen enough of the unhappy Marnham, and not for #50 would I have entered that room again. As I passed the door of the hospital, leading my horse, I heard the old Kaffir screaming within and sent the boy who was with me to find out what was the matter with him. That was the last I saw of either of them, or ever shall see this side of kingdom come.
Presently Marnham returned and informed me that a native had just brought him word that the Basutos had made off homeward with our cattle, but had left the wagon and its contents quite untouched, not even stealing the spare guns and ammunition. "That's luck," I said, astonished, "but extremely strange. How do you explain it, Mr. Marnham?" He shrugged his shoulders and answered
Moreover, at dinner both Marnham and Rodd wore dress clothes with short jackets, a circumstance that put Anscombe and myself to shame since we had none. It was curious to see how with those dress clothes, which doubtless awoke old associations within him, Marnham changed his colour like a chameleon.
"I'm not sure that my addition is quite right; we'll check that in the morning, but I make out that you two gentlemen owe Quatermain and myself #749 10s." Then the doctor broke out. "You accursed old fool," he hissed there is no other word for it at Marnham. "How are you going to pay all this money that you have gambled away, drunken beast that you are!"
"Because as it happens, although I have only just recalled it, my father used to tell some story about a man named Marnham in his regiment. I can't remember the details, but it had to do with cards when high stakes were being played for, and with the striking of a superior officer in the quarrel that ensued, as a result of which the striker was requested to send in his papers."
So we went on up the long slope, I relating our adventures, to which Mr. Marnham listened without comment. "I expect that the Kaffirs will have looted the wagon and be on the way home with your oxen by now," he said when I had finished. "Are you not afraid that they will follow us here?" I asked. "Oh no, Mr. Quatermain.
"I am glad you have heard something about him that is true," said Dorothy, a trifle quickly. "Usually they say that princes are all that is detestable and unmanly. I am sure you will like him, Phil." Mrs. Garrison came up at this moment with Lady Marnham, and Quentin arose to greet the former as warmly as he could under the smooth veil of hypocrisy.
Remembering the very ugly name that I had heard Rodd call Marnham on the night of the card party, I reflected that I could understand well enough, but I only said "After all marriage is a matter that concerns a woman even more than it does her father, one, in short, of which she must be the judge."
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