I might have been far in the interior where a man cannot be traced and
letters do not reach him."

Then he made a few pointed inquiries about the affairs of the mine,
noting my answers down in his pocket-book. I thought this odd but
concluded that he wished to verify my statements before entering into
a close companionship with me, since for aught he knew I might be the
largest liar in the world and a swindler to boot. So I said nothing,
even when I heard through a roundabout channel on the morrow that he had
sought an interview with the late secretary of the defunct company.

A few days later, for I may as well finish with this matter at once, the
astonishing object of these inquiries was made clear to me. One morning
I found upon my table a whole pile of correspondence, at the sight
of which I groaned, feeling sure that it must come from duns and be
connected with that infernal mine. Curiosity and a desire to face the
worst, however, led me to open the first letter which as it happened
proved to be from that very shareholder who had proposed a vote of
confidence in me at the winding-up meeting. By the time that it was
finished my eyes were swimming and really I felt quite faint. It ran:

"Honoured Sir,--I knew that I was putting my money on the right horse
when I said the other day that you were one of the straightest that ever
ran. Well, I have got the cheque sent me by the lawyer on your account,
being payment in full for every farthing I invested in the Bona Fide
Gold Mine, and I can only say that it is uncommonly useful, for that
business had pretty well cleaned me out. God bless you, Mr. Quatermain."

I opened another letter, and another, and another. They were all to the
same effect. Bewildered I went on to the stoep, where I found Hans with