The Ivory Child | Page 9

I grew absolutely furious.
"Confound it, Mr. Keeper," I explained, "what do you mean by
lecturing me? Attend to your business, and I'll attend to mine."
At this moment who should appear from behind the angle of some
building--we were talking in the stableyard, near the gun-room--but
Lord Ragnall himself. I could see that he had overheard the
conversation, for he looked angry.
"Jenkins," he said, addressing the keeper, "do what Mr. Quatermain has
said and attend to your own business. Perhaps you are not aware that he
has shot more lions, elephants, and other big game than you have cats.
But, however that may be, it is not your place to try to instruct him or
any of my guests. Now go and see to the beaters."
"Beg pardon, my lord," ejaculated Jenkins, his face, that was as florid
as his waistcoat, turning quite pale; "no offence meant, my lord, but
elephants and lions don't fly, my lord, and those accustomed to such
ground varmin are apt to shoot low, my lord. Beaters all ready at the
Hunt Copse, my lord."
Thus speaking he backed himself out of sight. Lord Ragnall watched
him go, then said with a laugh:

"I apologize to you, Mr. Quatermain. That silly old fool was part of my
inheritance, so to speak; and the joke of it is that he is himself the worst
and most dangerous shot I ever saw. However, on the other hand, he is
the best rearer of pheasants in the county, so I put up with him. Come
in, now, won't you? Charles will look after your guns and cartridges."
So Scroope and I were taken through a side entrance into the big hall
and there introduced to the other members of the shooting party, most
of whom were staying at the castle. They were famous shots. Indeed, I
had read of the prowess of some of them in /The Field/, a paper that I
always took in Africa, although often enough, when I was on my
distant expeditions, I did not see a copy of it for a year at a time.
To my astonishment I found that I knew one of these gentlemen. We
had not, it is true, met for a dozen years; but I seldom forget a face, and
I was sure that I could not be mistaken in this instance. That mean
appearance, those small, shifty grey eyes, that red, pointed nose could
belong to nobody except Van Koop, so famous in his day in South
Africa in connexion with certain gigantic and most successful frauds
that the law seemed quite unable to touch, of which frauds I had been
one of the many victims to the extent of £250, a large sum for me.
The last time we met there had been a stormy scene between us, which
ended in my declaring in my wrath that if I came across him on the
veld I should shoot him at sight. Perhaps that was one of the reasons
why Mr. van Koop vanished from South Africa, for I may add that he
was a cur of the first water. I believe that he had only just entered the
room, having driven over from wherever he lived at some distance
from Ragnall. At any rate, he knew nothing of my presence at this
shoot. Had he known I am quite sure that he would have been absent.
He turned, and seeing me, ejaculated: "Allan Quatermain, by heaven!"
beneath his breath, but in such a tone of astonishment that it attracted
the attention of Lord Ragnall, who was standing near.
"Yes, Mr. van Koop," I answered in a cheerful voice, "Allan
Quatermain, no other, and I hope you are as glad to see me as I am to
see you."

"I think there is some mistake," said Lord Ragnall, staring at us. "This
is Sir Junius Fortescue, who used to be Mr. Fortescue."
"Indeed," I replied. "I don't know that I ever remember his being called
by that particular name, but I do know that we are old-- friends."
Lord Ragnall moved away as though he did not wish to continue the
conversation, which no one else had overheard, and Van Koop sidled
up to me.
"Mr. Quatermain," he said in a low voice, "circumstances have changed
with me since last we met."
"So I gather," I replied; "but mine have remained much the same, and if
it is convenient to you to repay me that £250 you owe me, with interest,
I shall be much obliged. If not, I think I have a good story to tell about
you."
"Oh, Mr. Quatermain," he answered with a sort of smile which made
me feel inclined to kick him, "you know I dispute that debt."
"Do you?" I exclaimed.