Fielding started back. 'Do you mean to tell me, as man to man, that the accusation's true.'
'As man to man,' repeated Drake steadily, 'I tell you that it is true.'
Fielding stared at him for a minute. Then he said, 'Drake, you're a damned liar.'
'We haven't much time,' said Drake, 'and I would like to say something to you about the future of the Matanga settlement. You will take my place, I suppose. You can, and ought to'; and he entered at once into details on administration.
The advice, however, was lost upon Fielding. Once he interrupted Drake.
'How many white men were with you on the Boruwimi expedition?' he asked.
'Four,' answered Drake, and he gave the names. 'They are dead, though. Two died of fever on the way back; one was killed in a subsequent expedition, and the fourth was drowned about eighteen months ago off Walfisch Bay.' A noise of portmanteaux being dragged along the passage penetrated through the closed door. Drake looked at his watch, and started to his feet. 'I must be off,' he said; 'I am late as it is. You might do something for me, and that is to post these letters.'
'But, man, you are not really going?'
Drake for answer put on his hat and took up his stick. 'Good-bye,' he said.
'But, look here! Do you ask me to believe that you would have been giving me all this advice, if you had really done what that infernal paper makes you out to have done?'
'I'll give you a final piece of advice too. Give up philandering and get married!'