“What did you say?” Gaunt interrupted him quickly.
“Nothing. And when she wanted to know if you were going to the Congo, I referred her to you. Don’t you think it would be as well to give Lady Mildred your entire confidence? I can see that things are not quite right between you.”
“Listen to me, Drake. If we are to remain friends, that is a subject that must never be mentioned between us. I may not be able to manage my own conscience, but, by Heaven, I’ll manage my own domestic affairs,” Gaunt cried warmly.
“Forgive me. It was not from any desire to meddle that I spoke. Gaunt, I like you and I like Lady Mildred. When two people are proud, misunderstandings arise easily, and I thought that I might be able to help you both,” Drake said gently.
“That’s all right. I shouldn’t have spoken quite so roughly, but I think you understand. We’ve just time for a smoke before we start. Come into the library,” Gaunt said and placed his hand on Drake’s shoulder with an affectionate touch.
Their characters were utterly different, and yet their mutual liking was increasing daily as their knowledge of one another grew.
“I’ve been thinking over that ‘cruiser’ idea,” Gaunt began when they had lighted their cigars, “and I’m not at all sure that the scheme is not practicable as a last resource. I intend to make inquiries at once, but the difficulty is to do so without attracting attention. Secrecy is essential to success.”
“It seems to me that there is a greater chance of making the British government move now that you have started to work. The fact that you are fighting for the natives gives that touch of romance which is necessary to rouse the public’s interest.”
“There is not much romance about John Gaunt. Come along or we shall be late.”
The meeting had been well advertised, and Drake was right in his surmise that Gaunt’s personality would attract when the wrongs of the natives failed to do so, for the large hall was packed from floor to ceiling. The chairman wasted but little time in his opening remarks and quickly called upon Gaunt to speak.