Копи царя Соломона
I Meet Sir Henry Curtis
"Excuseme,sir,"hesaid,leaningforwardacrossthetable,andspeakinginalowdeepvoice,averysuitablevoice,itseemedtome,tocomeoutofthosegreatlungs. "Excuseme,sir,butisyournameAllanQuatermain?"
Isaidthatitwas.
Thebigmanmadenofurtherremark,butIheardhimmutter"fortunate"intohisbeard.
Presentlydinnercametoanend,andaswewereleavingthesaloonSirHenrystrolledupandaskedmeifIwouldcomeintohiscabintosmokeapipe. Iaccepted,andheledthewaytotheDunkelddeckcabin,andaverygoodcabinitis. Ithadbeentwocabins,butwhenSirGarnetWolseleyoroneofthosebigswellswentdownthecoastintheDunkeld,theyknockedawaythepartitionandhaveneverputitupagain. Therewasasofainthecabin,andalittletableinfrontofit. SirHenrysentthestewardforabottleofwhisky,andthethreeofussatdownandlitourpipes.
"Mr.Quatermain,"saidSirHenryCurtis,whenthemanhadbroughtthewhiskyandlitthelamp,"theyearbeforelastaboutthistime,youwere,Ibelieve,ataplacecalledBamangwato,tothenorthoftheTransvaal."
"Iwas,"Ianswered,rathersurprisedthatthisgentlemanshouldbesowellacquaintedwithmymovements,whichwerenot,sofarasIwasaware,consideredofgeneralinterest.
"Youweretradingthere,wereyounot? "putinCaptainGood,inhisquickway.
"Iwas.Itookupawagon-loadofgoods,madeacampoutsidethesettlement,andstoppedtillIhadsoldthem."
