Part 3 (2/2)
”I'll do it for you if you like. Only wants a very sharp knife and a good hard pinch to numb the muscle; then it's done in a few minutes--one good cut, the stone pressed in, and the cold surface makes the skin contract.”
Anson's face seemed to curdle up, and two creases formed, one round each corner of his mouth, as if putting it between parentheses, as he shook his head.
”Look here,” he said, ”what's the good of bantering so? Are you going to search any more men?”
”No,” said the official; ”that's the lot.”
”But are you going to punish them?”
”Oh yes! They'll have to take their dose for it, sir; you may be sure of that. We're going to be more and more severe over this illicit-diamond-dealing.”
”Are you?” said Anson innocently.
”We just are. It'll be a shooting matter soon if it can't be stopped otherwise.”
”How horrid!” said Anson. ”But I say, these men don't deal illicitly, do they?”
”They wouldn't if a set of scoundrels did not set them on to steal, so that they could buy of the poor ignorant savages, giving them s.h.i.+llings for what they sell for pounds.”
”How sad it seems!” said Anson thoughtfully.
”And how innocent you seem!” said West, laughing.
”Yes, it's charming,” cried Ingleborough. ”Why, you know all about it.”
”I?” cried Anson. ”Oh, of course I know something about it. I've heard of the illicit-diamond-dealing, and read about it; but it has all gone in at one ear and out at the other. You see, I devote so much time to music. That and my work at the office keep me from taking much notice of other things. Politics, for instance, and the rumours of war. Do you think it at all likely that there will be any fighting, West?”
”I can't say,” was the reply; ”but we're going to be perfectly ready for the Boers in case there is, and it's quite time we were off, Ingleborough, if we intend to answer at the roll-call.”
”Hah! Yes,” cried the young man addressed. ”Better come with us, Anson.”
The latter shook his head, and his companions separated from him at the gate.
”Better come,” said Ingleborough again. ”Join, and then you'll be on the spot if we do form a band.”
”Oh no!” said Anson, smiling. ”You make up your minds at headquarters to form a band, and then, if you like, I'll come and train it.”
”He's a rum fellow,” said West, as the two young men fell into step.
”Ah,” said Ingleborough roughly, ”I am afraid Master Anson's more R.
than F.”
”More R. than F?” said West questioningly.
”If you must have it in plain English, more rogue than fool.”
”Well, I fancy he isn't quite so simple as he pretends to be.”
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