Still I had taken his #50 and he _might_ come.

Also I have always prided myself upon keeping an appointment.
The post-cart halted with a jerk in front of the European Hotel, and I crawled, dusty and tired, from its interior, to find myself face to face with Anscombe, who was smoking a pipe upon the stoep! "Hullo, Quatermain," he said in his pleasant, drawling voice, "here you are, up to time.

I have been making bets with these five gentlemen," and he nodded at a group of loungers on the stoep, "as to whether you would or would not appear, I putting ten to one on you in drinks.

Therefore you must now consume five whiskies and sodas, which will save them from consuming fifty and a subsequent appearance at the Police Court." I laughed and said I would be their debtor to the extent of one, which was duly produced.
After it was drunk Anscombe and I had a chat.

He said that he had been to India, shot, or shot at whatever game he meant to kill there, visited his relations in England and thence proceeded to keep his appointment with me in Africa.