Копи царя Соломона
I Meet Sir Henry Curtis
SirHenrywassittingoppositetomeinaMadeirachair,hisarmsleaningonthetable. Henowlookedup,fixinghislargegreyeyesfulluponmyface. Therewasacuriousanxietyinthem,Ithought.
"DidyouhappentomeetamancalledNevillethere?"
"Oh,yes; heoutspannedalongsideofmeforafortnighttoresthisoxenbeforegoingontotheinterior. Ihadaletterfromalawyerafewmonthsback,askingmeifIknewwhathadbecomeofhim,whichIansweredtothebestofmyabilityatthetime."
"Yes,"saidSirHenry,"yourletterwasforwardedtome. YousaidinitthatthegentlemancalledNevilleleftBamangwatoatthebeginningofMayinawagonwithadriver,avoorlooper,andaKafirhuntercalledJim, announcinghisintentionoftrekkingifpossibleasfarasInyati,theextremetradingpostintheMatabelecountry,wherehewouldsellhiswagonandproceedonfoot. Youalsosaidthathedidsellhiswagon,forsixmonthsafterwardsyousawthewagoninthepossessionofaPortuguesetrader, whotoldyouthathehadboughtitatInyatifromawhitemanwhosenamehehadforgotten,andthathebelievedthewhitemanwiththenativeservanthadstartedofffortheinterioronashootingtrip."
"Yes."
Thencameapause.
"Mr.Quatermain,"saidSirHenrysuddenly, "Isupposeyouknoworcanguessnothingmoreofthereasonsofmy—ofMr.Neville’sjourneytothenorthward,orastowhatpointthatjourneywasdirected?"
"Iheardsomething,"Ianswered,andstopped. ThesubjectwasonewhichIdidnotcaretodiscuss.
