again.

"It is rather a long story," he answered, "but, to put it shortly, years
ago, when I was travelling in Africa, Mr. Quatermain and I had a dispute
as to a sum of £5 which he thought I owed him, and to save argument
about a trifle we have agreed that I should shoot against him for it
to-day."

"Indeed," said Lord Ragnall rather seriously, for I could see that
he did not believe Van Koop's statement as to the amount of the bet;
perhaps he had heard more than we thought. "To be frank, Sir Junius, I
don't much care for betting--for that's what it comes to--here. Also I
think Mr. Quatermain said yesterday that he had never shot pheasants in
England, so the match seems scarcely fair. However, you gentlemen know
your own business best. Only I must tell you both that if money is
concerned, I shall have to set someone whose decision will be final to
count your birds and report the number to me."

"Agreed," said Van Koop, or, rather, Sir Junius; but I answered nothing,
for, to tell the truth, already I felt ashamed of the whole affair.

As it happened, Lord Ragnall and I walked together ahead of the others,
to the first covert, which was half a mile or more away.

"You have met Sir Junius before?" he said to me interrogatively.

"I have met Mr. van Koop before," I answered, "about twelve years
since, shortly after which he vanished from South Africa, where he was a
well-known and very successful--speculator."