Then, to raise money to reach England, I had to borrow from a man named Da Souza, and afterwards, in London, to start the Company, I had to make him my partner in the profits of the concession.

One day I quarrelled with him--it was just at the time I met you--and then, for the first time, I heard of your father's being alive.

I went out to Africa to bring him back and Da Souza followed me in abject fear, for as my partner he lost half if your father's claim was good.

I found your father infirm and only half sane.
I did all I could for him whilst I worked in the interior, and meant to bring him back to England with me when I came, unfortunately he recovered a little and suddenly seized upon the idea of visiting England.

He left before me and fell into the hands of Da Souza, who had the best possible reasons in the world for keeping him in the background.