human
Or champagne if you prefer it,
gpt
Coffee for me, said Lister, throwing himself into a comfortable arm-chair, and accepting a cigarette.
human
Do you know, Durgo, that you are something of a puzzle to me?
gpt
How so?
human
Your very good English, the adornments of this room, your present dress--I did not look for such things in a--a----
gpt
In an African negro,
human
Well, yes. People of your colour, added Cyril, with the covert insolence of the white towards the black,
gpt
I know: don't proceed, he said with suppressed anger;
human
Well, you are, as a rule.
gpt
I am the exception to this rule. Durgo paused, and his eyes wandered to some photographs over the mantel-piece.
human
I told you that the missionaries educated me, he continued,
gpt
Alma Mater, repeated Cyril, rising to approach the mantel-piece;
human
Oxford. I was at Oxford some years ago.
gpt
You? Cyril looked at the groups of boating-men, cricketers, football players, and wondered. He wondered still more at a portrait of Durgo in a Master of Arts gown.
human
You!
gpt
Yes. Why not? My father was a great chief--a king, as you might say. But it was Edwin Lister who first fired my ambition to learn the lore of the white men, so that I might civilise my tribe. He induced my father to give me much money, and took me to England himself many years ago. I was at school, and at Oxford until I took my degree. Then I returned to my tribe in Nigeria--in Southern Nigeria--and as my father was dead I attempted to teach my countrymen and subjects what I had learned. Your father helped me, and it was then that he saved my life when a lion attacked me. I could do nothing, however, continued the negro bitterly,
human
And now I suppose you want to find this treasure you spoke of, and regain your chiefdom,
gpt
There is no treasure,
human
But you said----
gpt
I know I did, when Miss Huxham was present. Women, as I say, should know nothing or hear nothing of these things. To you I speak plainly, as you are the son of my master, and so are entitled to my regard and trust. I came here with your father, added Durgo slowly,
human
But the British Government?
gpt
Quite so. The Government would not approve, so for that reason I remained in rough clothes, in rough lodgings, near the docks; while Edwin Lister went to live in the West End. He interested several adventurous spirits in our proposed expedition, but money was sadly needed, and I had not enough. Thus your father came down to see Captain Huxham, and get that which was required. Captain Huxham, whom your father had met in Nigeria, owed my father a lot of money, which he did not pay. I was only employing Edwin Lister to get back my own.
human
I see. But how did my father learn the whereabouts of Captain Huxham?
gpt
I told him! I don't recollect----
human
Perhaps not, as you spoke hurriedly. But don't you remember that when your father one day asked you for money, you said that you wished to save all you could, as you desired to marry Miss Huxham. Your father questioned you, and learned that she was the daughter of an old sailor. It was therefore easy for him to guess that he had found the man for whom he was seeking.
gpt
But I did not tell my father where Captain Huxham lived.
human
That was easy, he remarked, when she left the room,
gpt
I will work with you to learn the truth about this murder.
human
I understand, said Durgo shrewdly,
gpt
Yes, said Cyril, accepting the cup of black coffee which his host passed to him.
human
I am hoping to see my father and to learn that he did not kill Captain Huxham. If he did, there is no chance of happiness for me, as I cannot then marry Miss Huxham.
gpt
No, that is true. I am sorry for you. But if such is the case, and your marriage is an impossibility, why not come with us on our expedition to the Hinterland of Nigeria? If I win back my chiefdom, I can do much for you.
human
I don't want to go with my father, said Cyril, turning pale,
gpt
Quite so. I understand. But my offer is always open to you, if you choose to take it. Meanwhile, the first thing to do is to learn what Edwin Lister took away with him.
human
One hundred pounds.
gpt
Yes, and some papers. I wish to learn what those papers are, as Captain Huxham may have made a memorandum of the property he possessed. There may be other papers which may cast light on those which were stolen.
human
But I don't understand, said Cyril perplexed.
gpt
Whatever property Captain Huxham possessed went to his sister, now Mrs. Henry Vand.
human
The English property, said Durgo with emphasis; then seeing that his guest was still puzzled, he laughed in his guttural way.
gpt
Never mind. I have an idea which may or may not turn out to be correct. I shall know when Mrs. Tunks comes here this evening, and then I can explain myself fully.
human
Mrs. Tunks--Granny Tunks! What has she to do with the matter?
gpt
My friend, I have not been idle while in Marshley looking for my master Edwin Lister. I wished to search the Manor-house for possible papers to reveal that which I desire to know.
human
What is that?
gpt
I shall tell you when I am sure, said the negro doggedly,
human
How do you know that such a chest exists or is in the Manor-house?
gpt
After I see Mrs. Tunks I can tell you,
human
How will Mrs. Tunks know the chest?
gpt
I have described it to her. The figures of the gods are carved on soft white wood, and the lines are filled in with red and blue and yellow pigment. The design and the decoration are very noticeable. The work is, what you call in English, skrimshanking.
human
I thought the word was a military slang one, meaning to shirk work,
gpt
Quite so, but I think the word is a nautical one. Sailors carve and colour their carvings in the way I mention, and call such work skrimshanking. I expect that when a sailor was not at his post the excuse made was that he was skrimshanking; hence the slang meaning of the word.
human
Very interesting from a philological point of view, yawned Lister, taking another cigarette;
gpt
We can do nothing until I know what Edwin Lister took away with him, said Durgo again,
human
He glanced at the travelling clock on the mantel-piece.
gpt
Nearly nine; she should be here soon.
human
But will she have the papers?
gpt
Yes. Yesterday she told me that she saw the chest in an attic under a pile of rubbish, but had no chance of opening it. To-day she is charing at the Manor-house, and will be able to get what I want.
human
But if Mrs. Vand catches her?
gpt
Mrs. Vand won't, was the confident reply.
human
Granny Tunks is too clever to be caught and moreover wants to earn the fifty pounds I promised her.
gpt
Great Scott! are you so wealthy as to----
human
Yes, yes! interrupted Durgo impatiently.
gpt
I have much money, but not enough for my expedition. Unless indeed Edwin Lister has carried these papers, which will show us how to get the money.
human
Then my father knew about this chest also?
gpt
Yes. I expect he looked for it in Captain Huxham's study after the crime was committed. Unfortunately it happened, according to Granny Tunks, to be in the attic, so he missed it. But Huxham may have had the papers in his study.
human
And that was why the room was so upset?
gpt
That was why. After the crime was committed----
human
Great heavens! man, burst out the other irritably,
gpt
If he did not, who did? demanded Durgo coolly; then, as Cyril was markedly silent, he continued,
human
I think very little of the killing myself. If what I believe about the papers I require is correct, Captain Huxham deserved his death as a thief and a false friend.
gpt
You speak in riddles,
human
Granny Tunks can solve them, replied the negro significantly.
gpt
Have some more coffee and try these cigars. They are superfine.