He was one of that peculiar description of persons who have an idea that it adds to their dignity not to believe anything that is told them, and he certainly acted up to it on every possible occasion.
"There's more in the case than meets the eye," he said suspiciously, "and I fancy, if only we could see the bottom of it, we should discover that your two _proteges_ are as fine a pair of rascals as could be found on the Continent of Asia." "I don't know anything about that," Grantham replied.

"I only know that they were a miserable couple, and that I did the best I could for them.
You wouldn't have had me leave them in the jungle, surely ?" "I am not aware I have said so," the other answered stiffly.

"The only thing I object to is your treating them as if they were martyrs, when in all probability they deserve all the punishment they have received." Grantham was too wise to carry the argument any further.

He knew that when Handiman was in his present humour the best thing to do was to leave him alone in it.

He accordingly returned to the hut where the two men were domiciled, and attended to their comfort as far as lay in his power.