“The first is that you were a great donkey not to get more out of the Kalubi when you had the chance.”
“Agreed, Allan, but, amongst other things, I am a doctor and the operation was uppermost in my mind.”
“The second is that I believe this Kalubi had charge of the gorilla-god, as no doubt you’ve guessed; also that it was the gorilla which bit off his finger.”
“Why so?”
“Because I have heard of great monkeys called sokos that live in Central East Africa which are said to bite off men’s toes and fingers. I have heard too that they are very like gorillas.”
“Now you mention it, so have I, Allan. Indeed, once I saw a soko, though some way off, a huge, brown ape which stood on its hind legs and drummed upon its chest with its fists. I didn’t see it for long because I ran away.”
“The third is that this yellow orchid would be worth a great deal of money if one could dig it up and take it to England.”
“I think I told you, Allan, that I valued it at £20,000, so that conclusion of yours is not original.”
“The fourth is that I should like to dig up that orchid and get a share of the £20,000.”
Brother John became intensely interested.