into his face and instantly dying out again. "Yes, he left me a pile of
money and a heart-ache. I can hardly bear to talk of it even now, and it
will be two years this August. But come up to my room. By Jove, I am
glad to see you! How is it you are in Geneva? I was thinking about you
yesterday, and wondering whether you were drifting down the Nile in a
dahabeeah, or crossing the desert on a dromedary. Of course you have
hunted tigers and elephants: did you kill anything?"

"I haven't killed anything but time. I was always a dead shot at that."

Lynde passed his arm through Flemming's, and the two friends mounted the
staircase of the hotel.

"How is it you are in Geneva?" repeated Lynde.

"By luck," answered Flemming. "I am going home--in a zigzag way. I've
been obliged to take a reef in my Eastern itinerary. The fact is, I have
had a letter from the old gentleman rather suggesting it. I believe he
has availed himself of my absence to fall into financial difficulties."

"Why, I thought he was rolling in wealth."

"No, he is rolling in poverty, as nearly as I can make out. Well, not so
bad as that. Nothing is ever as bad as it pretends to be. But he has met
with heavy losses. I shall find letters in London and learn all about
it. He wrote me not to hurry, that a month or two would make no
difference. When I got to Munich I thought I would take a peep at
Switzerland while I had the opportunity. I have done a good piece--from
Lindau to Lucerne, from Lucerne to Martigny by way of the Furca; through
the Tete Noire Pass to Chamouni, and from Chamouni, here."