“Yes?” said Brace, for his companion stopped short.

“What did Sir Humphrey say to my ideas about the golden city?”

“Nothing whatever.”

“Nothing?”

“Not a word, for he did not know.”

“Didn’t you tell him?”

“Of course not. Didn’t you say that your words were in confidence?”

“Yes,” said Briscoe, with a grunt, “but I didn’t mean to include him. He wouldn’t try to argue the case again, would he, and want to have me set ashore here?”

“Certainly not. He would say that you had a perfect right to indulge in such dreams. He would not interfere.”

“Not if I was to begin prospecting?”