"In that case, sir," said Bones firmly, "the east line would be east, and I claim to have answered the question to your entire satisfaction." "Continue to claim," snarled Hamilton. "I shall mark you zero for that answer." "Make it one," pleaded Bones. "Be a sport, dear old Ham--I've found a new fishin' pool." Hamilton hesitated. "There never are any fish in the pools you find," he said dubiously. "Anyway, I'll reserve my decision until I've made a cast or two." They adjourned for tiffin soon after. "How did you do, Bones?" asked Patricia Hamilton. "Fine," said Bones enthusiastically; "I simply bowled over every question that your dear old brother asked. In fact, Ham admitted that I knew much more about some things than he did." "What I said," corrected Hamilton, "was that your information on certain subjects was so novel that I doubted whether even the staff college shared it." "It's the same thing," said Bones. "You should try him on military history," suggested Sanders dryly. "I've just been hearing from Bosambo----" Bones coughed and blushed. "The fact is, sir an' Excellency," he confessed, "I was practisin' on Bosambo. You mightn't be aware of the fact, but I like to hear myself speak----" "No!" gasped Hamilton in amazement, "you're wronging yourself, Bones!" "What I mean, sir," Bones went on with dignity, "is that if I lecture somebody on a subject I remember what I've said." "Always providing that you understand what you're saying," suggested Hamilton. "Anyway," said Sanders, with his quiet smile, "Bones has filled Bosambo with a passionate desire to emulate Napoleon, and Bosambo has been making tentative inquiries as to whether he can raise an Old Guard or enlist a mercenary army." "I flatter myself----" began Bones. "Why not?" said Hamilton, rising. "It's the only chance you'll have of hearing something complimentary about yourself." "_I_ believe in you, Bones," said a smiling Patricia. "I think you're really wonderful, and that Ham is a brute." "I'll never, never contradict you, dear Miss Patricia," said Bones; "an' after the jolly old Commissioner has gone----" "You're not going away again, are you?" she asked, turning to Sanders. "Why, you have only just come back from the interior." There was genuine disappointment in her eyes, and Sanders experienced a strange thrill the like of which he had never known before. "Yes," he said with a nod. "There is a palaver of sorts in the Morjaba country--the most curious palaver I have ever been called upon to hold." And indeed he spoke the truth.