No, he would not join them at the Club later, he felt tired and was looking forward to a comfortable bed for a change.
The Commissioner dined alone and turned in early.
In the morning he woke with a start. It was late, nearly eight o'clock; what the deuce were his people about?
He jumped out of bed and went to the bath-room. The bath was not set ready. He called to his boy. There was no answer. He slipped on a dressing gown and went to the kitchen. It was empty, the fire was not even lighted. He went back to the house for a pair of slippers and a hat and walked across to the native compound. By this time he was very angry.
To his amazement, the compound was quite empty. On his way back he looked in at the stable. His horses whinnied: they had not been fed, nor had the stable been cleaned. He fed the horses himself and then walked over to the cattle kraal. His half-dozen cows had not been milked.
At that moment the Magistrate came up.
"What's the matter with the natives?"
"I don't know, why?"
"Not a black soul in the township will do a hand's turn."
"Mine aren't here."