“I have no time to wait; here, accept this,” said Rayner, holding out a dollar which he fortunately had in his pocket.
The old woman’s eyes glittered.
“Give monsieur what he wants, but keep enough for your father’s supper and breakfast to-morrow. It is strange that he should require food since he is so rich.”
“I want sufficient for several persons—anything you have got,” said Rayner.
The girl went to a shelf at the other end of the room and got down a couple of loaves of maize bread, some cakes, salt-fish, and fruit.
“You can take some of these,” she said, placing them on the table; “but how are you to carry them?”
He had a silk handkerchief, which he produced, intending to tie up the provisions in. The girl looked at it with admiration.
“Perhaps you will accept this, and give me a basket, or a matting bag instead?” he said.
She quickly produced a bag large enough to hold all the things.
“Now can you give me any news of anything happening in the village?”