“Are you?” said Anson innocently.
“We just are. It’ll be a shooting matter soon if it can’t be stopped otherwise.”
“How horrid!” said Anson. “But I say, these men don’t deal illicitly, do they?”
“They wouldn’t if a set of scoundrels did not set them on to steal, so that they could buy of the poor ignorant savages, giving them shillings for what they sell for pounds.”
“How sad it seems!” said Anson thoughtfully.
“And how innocent you seem!” said West, laughing.
“Yes, it’s charming,” cried Ingleborough. “Why, you know all about it.”
“I?” cried Anson. “Oh, of course I know something about it. I’ve heard of the illicit-diamond-dealing, and read about it; but it has all gone in at one ear and out at the other. You see, I devote so much time to music. That and my work at the office keep me from taking much notice of other things. Politics, for instance, and the rumours of war. Do you think it at all likely that there will be any fighting, West?”
“I can’t say,” was the reply; “but we’re going to be perfectly ready for the Boers in case there is, and it’s quite time we were off, Ingleborough, if we intend to answer at the roll-call.”
“Hah! Yes,” cried the young man addressed. “Better come with us, Anson.”