was full of quinine and fever, in deadly earnest.

"I can see you're a gentleman," he said; "I'll trust you. I want a
man to join me in making a fortune. I have got my hand on it at
last. But I'm afraid of this country. I'm getting shaky; look at
that hand. I've been looking for it too long. I take you into my
confidence, the first comer, you'll think. But there are not many
men like you in this country, and I'm beastly afraid of dying. I'm
in a damned funk. I want to get out of this for a bit, but I dare
not leave until I set things going."

"Take your time," said Meredith, quietly and soothingly; "light that
cigar again and lie down. There is no hurry."

Durnovo obeyed him meekly.

"Tell me," he said, "have you ever heard of Simiacine?"

"I cannot say that I have," replied Jack. "What is it for, brown
boots or spasms?"

"It is a drug, the most expensive drug in the market. And they must
have it, they cannot do without it, and they cannot find a
substitute. It is the leaf of a shrub, and your hatful is worth a
thousand pounds."

"Where is it to be found?" asked Jack Meredith. "I should like
some--in a sack."

"Ah, you may laugh now, but you won't when you hear all about it.