Ruston twisted his cigar in his mouth. The prospect of immediate wealth flowing in from Omofaga was, as Lord Semingham knew very well, not assured.
"Loring's stopped hammering us," said Ruston; "that's one thing."
"Oh, you found out he wrote them?"
"Yes; and uncommonly well he did it, confound him. I wish we could get that fellow. There's a good deal in him."
"You see," observed Lord Semingham, "he doesn't like you. I don't know that you went the right way about to make him."
The remark sounded blunt, but Semingham had learnt not to waste delicate phrases on Willie Ruston.
"Well, I didn't know he was worth the trouble."
"One path to greatness is said to be to make no enemies."
"A very roundabout one, I should think. I'm going to make a good many enemies in Omofaga."
Lord Semingham suddenly rose, put on his hat, and left the offices of the Company. Mrs. Dennison had, a little while ago, complained to him that she ate, drank, breathed and wore Omofaga. He had detected the insincerity of her complaint, but he was becoming inclined to echo it in all genuineness on his own account. There were moments when he wondered how and why he had allowed this young man to lead him so far and so deep; moments when a convulsion of Nature, redistributing Africa and blotting out Omofaga, would have left him some thousands of pounds poorer in purse, but appreciably more cheerful in spirit. Perhaps matters would mend when the Local Administrator had departed to his local administration, and only the mild shadow of him which bore the name of Carlin trod the boards of Queen Street, Cheapside. Ruston began to be oppressive. The restless energy and domineering mind of the man wearied Semingham's indolent and dilettante spirit, and he hailed the end of the season as an excellent excuse for putting himself beyond the reach of his colleague for a few weeks. Yet, the more he quailed, the more he trusted; and when a very great man, holding a very great office, met him in the House of Lords, and expressed the opinion that when the Company and Mr. Ruston went to Omofaga they would find themselves in a pretty hornets' nest, Lord Semingham only said that he should be sorry for the hornets.