“Why, the fellows of the Bayonetteers struck me as being particularly good company,” said Harwood. “And so they were. Now I must look after this precious portmanteau of mine.” “And assist that helpless little creature to look after hers,” muttered Harwood when the other had left him. “Poor little Lottie! is it possible that you have landed a prize at last? Well, no one will say that you don't deserve something for your years of angling.” Mr. Harwood felt very charitably inclined just at this instant, for his reflections on the behaviour of Markham during the last few days they had been at the same hotel at Cape Town had not by any means been quieted since they had parted. He was sorry to be compelled to leave Cape Town without making any discovery as to the mental condition of Markham. Now, however, he knew that Markham had been strong enough to come on to Natal, so that the searching out of the problem of his former weakness would be as uninteresting as it would be unprofitable. If there should chance to be any truth in that vague thought which had been suggested to him as to the possibility of Markham having become attached to Daireen Gerald, what did it matter now? Here was Markham, having overcome his weakness, whatever it may have been, by the side of Lottie Vincent; not indeed appearing to be in great anxiety regarding the welfare of the young lady's luggage which was being evil-treated, but still by her side, and this made any further thought on his behalf unnecessary. Mr. Markham had given his portmanteau into the charge of one of the Natal Zulus, and then he turned to Harwood. “You don't mind my asking you what you are doing at Durban instead of being at the other side of the Tugela?” he said. “The Zulus of this province require to be treated of most carefully in the first instance, before the great question of Zulus in their own territory can be fully understood by the British public,” replied the correspondent. “I am at present making the Zulu of Durban my special study. I suppose you will be off at once to Pietermaritzburg?” “No,” said Markham. “I intend remaining at Durban to study the--the Zulu characteristics for a few days.” “But Lottie--I beg your pardon--Miss Vincent is going on at once.” There was a little pause, during which Markham stared blankly at his friend. “What on earth has that got to say to my remaining here?” he said. Harwood looked at him and felt that Miss Lottie was right, even on purely artistic grounds, in choosing Oswin Markham as one of her actors. “Nothing--nothing of course,” he replied to Markham's question. But Miss Lottie had heard more than a word of this conversation. She tripped up to Mr. Harwood.