y
with the Halses, then! Now who the deuce could this Denham be? he began
to wonder. There had been dark suspicions of gun-running in the part
inhabited by Sapazani's tribe, and now here was a stranger, about whom
nobody knew anything at all, going on a visit to Ben Halse. Then it
occurred to him that the said stranger had arrived unexpectedly at
Ezulwini, not by the usual road and in the usual way, but alone, on
horseback, from a different direction and through some of the most
disaffected and out-of-the-way parts of the country. It also occurred
to him that the said stranger's previous movements might bear some
looking into.

"Well, I shall leave you to take away poor Sapazani's character
together," said Verna presently, rising from the table--the hostess had
already retired.

"Going to have forty winks, Miss Halse?" laughed James.

"Perhaps."

The men sat on for a little while longer, then the Inspector left them
to return to his work. Ben Halse and Denham adjourned to the verandah
to smoke another pipe or so.

"I'm glad you've found your way out here," said the former. "We've done
business together for quite a time, and it seems as if we ought to know
each other."

"And very satisfactory business it has been to me, Mr Halse--"

"Glad to hear you say so. Yes, go on. I interrupted you. I'm sorry."

"Oh, not at all. Well, what I was going to say is this: I trust we
shall continue it on the same satisfactory terms--er--I mean--of course
it is most kind of you to offer me hospitality, and I assure you I look
forward to my visit with keen pleasure. But you will understand that
anything rare you may obtain for me in the way of specimens while I am
with you, is obtained on exactly the same terms as before. You don't
mind?"

We have somewhat emphasised the fact that Ben Halse was fond of money,
but also that there was no sort of meanness about him. He had a code of
his own. Moreover, he had taken a very great liking, at first sight, to
the man beside him.

"I don't mind, Mr Denham," he answered. "But I don't think I'll agree.
While you are my guest we won't go on the business tack over any
thing."

"Now you don't want to cut my visit short, do you?" said the other, with
a pleasant laugh.

"Certainly not. But this time you must let me have my own way. We
haven't known each other long, Mr Denham, but I don't mind telling you
there are people in these parts who say things about me; but whatever