Well, I have got the cheque sent me by the lawyer on your account, being payment in full for every farthing I invested in the Bona Fide Gold Mine, and I can only say that it is uncommonly useful, for that business had pretty well cleaned me out.

God bless you, Mr.Quatermain." I opened another letter, and another, and another.

They were all to the same effect.

Bewildered I went on to the stoep, where I found Hans with an epistle in his hand which he requested me to be good enough to read.
I read it.

It was from a well-known firm of local lawyers and said: "On behalf of Allan Quatermain, Esq., we beg to enclose a draft for the sum of L650, being the value of the interest in the Bona Fide Gold Company, Limited (in liquidation), which stands in your name on the books of the company.