"Old Jackson, the editor of _The Judge_, was a great friend of Vernon's father, the late Sir William Vernon, G.C.B.I believe that he was engaged to be married to his sister years ago, only she died or something.

So the Major ought to be able to get round him if anybody can.

Only the worst of it is I don't altogether trust that young gentleman.

It suited us to give him a share in the business because he is an engineer who knows the country, and this Sahara scheme was his notion, a very good one in a way, and for other reasons.

Now he shows signs of kicking over the traces, wants to know too much, is developing a conscience, and so forth.