ill send Mr. Seaman back to talk to
him."

The man raised his hat respectfully and turned back towards the house.
Caroline was watching her companion curiously.

"Do you find many of your acquaintances in Africa look you up, Everard?"
she asked.

"Except for Seaman," Dominey replied, looking through the barrels of his
gun, "who really does not count because we crossed together, this is my
first visitor from the land of fortune. I expect there will be plenty of
them by and by, though. Colonials have a wonderful habit of sticking to
one another."

CHAPTER XXI

There was nothing in the least alarming about the appearance of Mr.
Ludwig Miller. He had been exceedingly well entertained in the butler's
private sitting-room and had the air of having done full justice to the
hospitality which had been offered him. He rose to his feet at Dominey's
entrance and stood at attention. But for some slight indications of
military training, he would have passed anywhere as a highly respectable
retired tradesman.

"Sir Everard Dominey?" he enquired.

Dominey nodded assent. "That is my name. Have I seen you before?"

The man shook his head. "I am a cousin of Doctor Schmidt. I arrived in
the Colony from Rhodesia, after your Excellency had left."

"And how is the doctor?"

"My cousin is, as always, busy but in excellent health," was the reply.
"He sends his respectful compliments and his good wishes. Also this
letter."

With a little flourish the man produced an envelope inscribed:

To Sir Everard Dominey, Baronet,

Dominey Hall,

In the County of Norfolk,

England.

Dominey broke the seal just as Seaman entered.

"A messenger here from Doctor Schmidt, an acquaintance of mine in East
Africa," he announced. "Mr. Seaman came home from South Africa with me,"
he explained to his visitor.

The two men looked steadily into each other's eyes. Dominey watched
them, fascinated. Neither betrayed himself by even the fall of an
eyelid. Yet Dominey, his perceptive powers at their very keenest in this
moment which instinct told him was one of crisis, felt the unspoken,
unbetokened recognition which passed between them. Some commonplace
remark was uttered and responded to. Dominey read the few lines which
seemed to take him back for a moment to another world:

"Honoured and Honourable Sir,

"I send you my heartiest and most respectful greeting. Of the progress
of all matters here you will learn from another source.