Dick
took the cue thus offered, and tried another line.
"Will you kindly tell me at what hour the Governor returns?" he asked.
"Certainly. He will be here in twenty minutes."
"May I wait until he arrives?"
"Nothing would give me greater pleasure."
The lieutenant clapped his hands, and an orderly appeared.
"Some wine, ice, and cigarettes," he commanded. He engaged Dick
instantly in conversation as to the prospects of war in South Africa,
and was obviously desirous not to discuss personal matters. He was a
decent fellow, and an enthusiastic admirer of the British soldier, of
whom he had seen a good deal during a visit to Aden, so the talk did
not flag till the clatter of hoofs through the vaulted gateway
announced the advent of a carriage.
The Governor, a fat, unhealthy-looking man, whose seamed brow and puffy
eyelids suggested that negotiations with King Menelek did not
constitute the highest form of diplomatic happiness, was pleased to be
explicit when Dick was introduced to him, and he found that the
Englishman spoke French.
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