He looked startled. “That’s funny,” he said, “I’ve just been getting rid of some of those myself.”
“What’s so funny about it?” I asked, keeping my voice casual.
He shook his head. “Oh, nothing,” he said shortly, and changed the subject.
I wondered if the dame who’d just gone had anything to do with this. I didn’t like to risk asking him outright who she was. These guys, once they’ve been through the army, have got ideas about mentioning names of women who they’ve compromised. He might have turned tough, so I shelved it for the moment.
After we had settled our lunch, we went out and had a look at the grounds. The more I saw of the place the more I liked it.
He’d got everything. Even a bathing-pool, cut in the rocks in the thickest part of the wood, and fed by the rushing water of the river.
We spent the next four days fishing, swimming, and lazing about. He and I hit it off together pretty well. The food was good and there was plenty to drink. I’ll say this, it was one of the nicest holidays I’ve spent. There was nothing that guy didn’t know about fishing, and with his help I found I wasn’t doing too badly myself. We’d go out after breakfast with rods and long waders, and walk slowly into the shallow, fast-moving river and fish. It was a grand way of spending the day.
One evening we were sitting on the verandah in the moonlight, finishing a cigar before turning in. The night was still and hot and we were both pleasantly tired. I was thinking that it was time I got back and did some work, when he looked up suddenly. “You know, Mason, a guy like you ought to marry and settle down. You’d make more money that way.”
Six months ago a crack like that would have made me laugh, but now I pondered before answering him. “Yeah,” I said at last, “I guess there’s somethin’ in that.”
He was silent for a little while, then he went on, “When you find the girl, I’m going to give you this place.”