find him some food. In his mysterious
African fashion the negro had already collected much intelligence as
to the events of the day, mostly in the servants' hall, and more
particularly from the two golf-caddies, sons of one of the gardeners,
who it seemed instead of retiring with the clubs, had taken shelter in
some tall whins and thence followed the interview between Barbara and
Sir Robert with the intensest interest. Reflecting that this was not
the time to satisfy his burning curiosity, Jeekie went and in due course
returned with some cold mutton and a bottle of claret. Then came his
chance, for Alan could scarcely touch the mutton and demanded toast and
butter.

"Very inferior chop"--that was his West African word for food--"for a
gentleman, Major," he said, shaking his white head sympathetically and
pointing to the mutton,--"specially when he has unexpectedly departed
from magnificent eating of The Court. Why did you not wait till after
dinner, Major, before retiring?"

Alan laughed at the man's inflated English, and answered in a more
nervous and colloquial style:

"Because I was kicked out, Jeekie."

"Ah! I gathered that kicking was in the wind, Major. Sir Robert Aylward,
Bart., he also was kicked out, but by smaller toe."

Again Alan laughed and, as it was a relief to talk even to Jeekie, asked
him:

"How do you know that?"

"I gathered it out of atmosphere, Major; from Sir Robert's gentleman,
from two youths who watch Sir Robert and Miss Barbara talking upon golf
green No. 9, from the machine driver of Sir Robert whose eyes he damn in
public, and last but not least from his own noble countenance."

"I see that you are observant, Jeekie."

"Observation, Major, it is art of life. I see Miss Barbara's eyes
red like morning sky and I deduct. I see you shot out and gloomy like
evening cloud, and I deduct. I listen at door of Mr. Haswell's room,
I hear him curse and swear like holy saint in Book, and you and Miss
Barbara answer him not like saint, though what you speak I cannot hear,
and I deduct. Jeekie deduct this--that you make love to Miss Barbara
in proper gentlemanlike, 'nogamous, Christian fashion such as your late
Reverend Uncle approve, and Miss Barbara, she make love to you with
ten per cent. compound interest, but old gent with whistle, he _not_
approve; he say, 'Where corresponding cash!' He say 'Noble Sir Robert
have much cash and interested in identical business. I prefer Sir
Robert. Get ou