Our friend Laputa was a fool not to take better precautions; but I must say you acted the drunkard pretty well.' The vanity of 19 is an incalculable thing.

I rose to the fly.
'I know the kind of precaution you wanted to take,' I muttered.
'You heard that too?
Well, I confess I am in favour of doing a job thoroughly when I take it up.' 'In the Koodoo Flats, for example,' I said.
He sat down beside me, and laughed softly.

'You heard my little story?
You are clever, Mr Storekeeper, but not quite clever enough.

What if I can act a part as well as yourself ?' And he thrust his yellow face close to mine.
I saw his meaning, and did not for a second believe him; but I had the sense to temporize.
'Do you mean to say that you did not kill the Dutchmen, and did not mean to knife me ?' 'I mean to say that I am not a fool,' he said, lighting another cigarette.
'I am a white man, Mr Storekeeper, and I play the white man's game.
Why do you think I am here?
Simply because I was the only man in Africa who had the pluck to get to the heart of this business.

I am here to dish Laputa, and by God I am going to do it.' I was scarcely prepared for such incredible bluff.