MR.

MARNHAM So much for preliminaries, now for the story.
The eighteen months had gone by, bringing with them to me their share of adventure, weal and woe, with all of which at present I have no concern.

Behold me arriving very hot and tired in the post-cart from Kimberley, whither I had gone to invest what I had saved out of my Matabeleland contract in a very promising speculation whereof, today, the promise remains and no more.

I had been obliged to leave Kimberly in a great hurry, before I ought indeed, because of the silly bargain which I have just recorded.

Of course I was sure that I should never see Mr.
Anscombe again, especially as I had heard nothing of him during all this while, and had no reason to suppose that he was in Africa.