procedure as to give a
direct answer. He looked forward to being sent on a secret mission,
with many days of pleasant sojourn among the kraals of his countrymen,
well regaled with plenty of beef and beer, and--other things. So he
reiterated his ability to find out all about the stranger if entrusted
with that delicate errand. At that, for the time, he was dismissed.

"What sort of chap's that, Elvesdon?" said Thornhill re-lighting his
pipe.

"Haven't tried him yet. Why?"

"You may have to `try' him yet, in another sense," returned Thornhill,
drily, shading the third match with his hand. "Look here. I don't want
to seem to run your show for you, but I've been here a goodish while,
and I _hear_ things. If you'll take a tip from me--you're not obliged
to, you know--you won't trust everything to Teliso. Don't mind my
saying that?"

"Certainly not. In fact, I'm obliged to you. To my mind if there's
anything idiotic in the world it's making light of the experience of men
of experience."

"Well, you can always command mine--on the quiet of course--and I shan't
be in the least put out if you don't agree with it. Now I can see
you're longing to get back to your job, so I'll saddle up."

"Er--the fact is, I've got a lot of these tin-pot cases to worry
through--so I'll get you to excuse me. By the way, Thornhill, I'm going
to take you at your word, and invade you on Sunday. I'm beastly
all-by-myself here when there's no work. How does that pan out?"

"Any number of ounces to the ton. Come as early as you like, and,
there's a bed for you, if you don't want to get back here till next
morning. Good Lord, Elvesdon, when I think of--"

"But, don't `think of'," interrupted the other, hurriedly. "Very well.
So long--till Sunday."

Thornhill's horse had been brought round, and as he got into the saddle
Elvesdon turned away to the Court house. And the latter as he got
there, felt as if he was treading on air. Yet why should he--why the
devil should he?--he kept unconsciously asking himself.

Thornhill, passing the clerk's quarters, saw the latter just coming out.

"Hallo, Prior!" he hailed. "Good-bye, I'm off."

The young man came over to him.

"Good-bye, Mr Thornhill," he said. "You don't often look us up in
these days."

"You don't often look me up, Prior, for the matter of that."

"Oh well, Mr Thornhill," said the other shamefacedly. "I should like
to, you know. Er--may I come and try for a bush