He gave an awkward little laugh.
"And I understand," he said, "that Meredith is in the same enviable position." "Indeed!" Durnovo indulged in a meaning silence.
"When do you go back ?" she asked carelessly.
"Almost at once," in a tone that apologised for causing her necessary pain.

"I must leave to-morrow or the next day.

I do not like the idea of Meredith being left too long alone up there with a reduced number of men.

Of course, I had to bring a pretty large escort.

I brought down sixty thousand pounds worth of Simiacine." "Yes," she said; "and you take all the men back to-morrow ?" He did not remember having stated for certain that he was leaving the next day.
"Or the day after," he amended.
"Have you had any more sickness among the men ?" she asked at once, in a tone of irony which made him wince.
"No," he answered, "they have been quite all right." "What time do you start ?" she asked.