“I don’t know what to think,” I answered, “except that you will do well to keep a good eye upon your wife. What those Easterns tried to do last night and, I think, years ago, they may try again soon, or years hence, for evidently they are patient and determined men with much to win. Also it is a curious coincidence that she should have that mark upon her which appeals so strongly to Messrs. Harût and Marût, and, to be brief, she is in some ways different from most young women. As she said to me herself last night, Lord Ragnall, we are surrounded by mysteries; mysteries of blood, of inherited spirit, of this world generally in which it is probable that we all descended from quite a few common ancestors. And beyond these are other mysteries of the measureless universe to which we belong, that may already be exercising their strong and secret influences upon us, as perhaps, did we know it, they have done for millions of years in the Infinite whence we came and whither we go.” I suppose I spoke somewhat solemnly, for he said, “Do you know you frighten me a little, though I don’t quite understand what you mean.” Then we parted. With Miss Holmes my conversation was shorter. She remarked, “It has been a great pleasure to me to meet you. I do not remember anybody with whom I have found myself in so much sympathy—except one of course. It is strange to think that when we meet again I shall be a married woman.” “I do not suppose we shall ever meet again, Miss Holmes. Your life is here, mine is in the wildest places of a wild land far away.” “Oh! yes, we shall,” she answered. “I learned this and lots of other things when I held my head in that smoke last night.” Then we also parted. Lastly Mr. Savage arrived with my coat. “Goodbye, Mr. Quatermain,” he said. “If I forget everything else I shall never forget you and those villains, Harum and Scarum and their snakes. I hope it won’t be my lot ever to clap eyes on them again, Mr. Quatermain, and yet somehow I don’t feel so sure of that.” “Nor do I,” I replied, with a kind of inspiration, after which followed the episode of the rejected tip. CHAPTER VI. THE BONA FIDE GOLD MINE Fully two years had gone by since I bade farewell to Lord Ragnall and Miss Holmes, and when the curtain draws up again behold me seated on the stoep of my little house at Durban, plunged in reflection and very sad indeed. Why I was sad I will explain presently.