Part 2 (1/2)
”Yes, I a the tin case with a snap
Then the hawk-eyed person departed, also gru, for that story about the da man ”Dreadful people, orchidists, so jealous Very rich, too, both of theh I adainst it”
”They are,” I replied, ”my name is Allan Quatermain”
”Ah! much better than Brown Well, Mr Allan Quatermain, there's a private room in this place to which I have ad with that--” here the hawk-eyed gentleain, ”that case of butterflies?”
”With pleasure,” I answered, and followed hih the door to the left, and ultimately into a little cupboard-like rooers
He closed the door and locked it
”Now,” he said in a tone of the villain in a novel who at last has come face to face with the virtuous heroine, ”noe are alone Mr Quatermain, let me see-those butterflies”
I placed the case on a deal table which stood under a skylight in the roo, and there, pressed between two sheets of glass and quite uninjured after all its journeyings, appeared the golden flower, glorious even in death, and by its side the broad green leaf
The young gentleht his eyes would really start out of his head He turned away ain
”Oh! Heavens,” he said at last, ”oh! Heavens, is it possible that such a thing can exist in this imperfect world? You haven't faked it, Mr Half-I mean Quatermain, have you?”
”Sir,” I said, ”for the second tian to shut up the case
”Don't be offhanded,” he exclaimed ”Pity the weaknesses of a poor sinner You don't understand If only you understood, you would understand”
”No,” I said, ”I ain to collect orchids I'm not mad, really, except perhaps on this point, Mr Quater voice-”that ht, it is a Cypripediuold mines I can well believe that,” I said tartly, and, I old urative and colloquial sense, not as the investor knows it,” he answered ”That is, the plant on which it grew is priceless Where is the plant, Mr Quatermain?”
”In a rather indefinite locality in Africa east by south,” I replied ”I can't place it to within three hundred ht to ask it, seeing that you know nothing of me, but I assure you I a me the story of this flower?”
”I don't think I should,” I replied, a little doubtfully Then, after another good look at hiave hi that I wanted to find someone ould finance an expedition to the remote and romantic spot where this particular Cypripediurow
Just as I finished my narrative, and before he had ti at the door
”Mr Stephen,” said a voice, ”are you there, Mr Stephen?”
”By Jove! that's Briggs,” exclaier Shut up the case, Mr Quater the door slowly ”What is it?”
”It is a good deal,” replied a thin and agitated person who thrust hi door ”Your father, I mean Sir Alexander, has co because he didn't find you there, sir When he discovered that you had gone to the orchid sale he grew furious, sir, furious, and sent me to fetch you”
”Did he?” replied Mr Somers in an easy and unruffled tone ”Well, tell Sir Alexander I as, and tell hily
”I must leave you, Mr Quatermain,” said Mr Somers as he shut the door behind him ”But will you promise me not to show that flower to anyone until I return? I'll be back within half an hour”
”Yes, Mr Somers I'll wait half an hour for you in the sale room, and I promise that no one shall see that flower till you return”
”Thank you You are a good fellow, and I pro by your kindness if I can help it”
We went together into the sale rooht suddenly struck Mr Soot about that Odontoglossum Where's Woodden? Oh! come here, Woodden, I want to speak to you”
The person called Woodden obeyed He was a , for his eyes were very light-blue or grey and his hair was sandy, tough-looking and strongly ns of work, for the palms were horny and the nails worn down He was clad in a suit of shi+ny black, such as folk of the labouring class wear at a funeral I ardener
”Woodden,” said Mr Soot the most wonderful orchid in the whole world Keep your eye on him and see that he isn't robbed There are people in this room, Mr Quatermain, ould murder you and throw your body into the Thames for that flower,” he added, darkly
On receipt of this inforh he felt the premonitory movements of an earthquake It was a habit of his whenever anything astonished hi his pale eye upon me in a hich showed that my appearance surprised hier and said: ”'Servant, sir, and where ht this horchid be?”
I pointed to the tin case
”Yes, it's there,” went on Mr Soot to watch Mr Quatermain, if anyone attempts to rob you, call for Woodden and he will knock theardener, you know, and entirely to be trusted, especially if it is aanyone down”
”Aye, I'll knock hireat fist and looking round him with a suspicious eye
”Now listen, Woodden Have you looked at that Odontoglossum Pavo, and if so, what do you think of it?” and he nodded towards a plant which stood in the centre of the little group that was placed on the small table beneath the auctioneer's desk It bore a spray of the most lovely white flowers On the top petal (if it is a petal), and also on the lip of each of these rounded floas a blotch or spot of which the general effect was similar to the iridescent eye on the tail feathers of a peacock, whence, I suppose, the floas named ”Pavo,” or Peacock
”Yes,that ever I saw There isn't a 'glossu,” he added with conviction, and rocked again as he said the word ”But there's plenty after it I say they're a-ss round a rat hole And” (this triu”
”Quite so, Woodden, you have got a logical mind But, look here, we must have that 'Pavo' whatever it costs Now the Governor has sent for ht be detained If so, you've got to bid on ents Here's your authority,” and he scribbled on a card, ”Woodden, ardener, has directions to bid for iven the card to an attendant who passed it up to the auctioneer, ”don't you h your fingers”
In another instant he was gone
”What did the et that there 'Paving' whatever it cost?”
”Yes,” I said, ”that's what he said I suppose it will fetch a good deal-several pounds”
”Maybe, sir, can't tell All I know is that I've got to buy it as you can bear me witness Master, he ain't one to be crossed for money What he wants, he'll have, that is if it be in the orchid line”
”I suppose you are fond of orchids, too, Mr Woodden?”
”Fond of them, sir? Why, I loves 'e else in the same way; not even for my old woman” (then with a burst of enthusiash of hi your pardon, sir” (with a pull at his forelock), ”would you ot to keep an eye on that as well as on 'O Paving,' and I just see'd that chap with the tall hat alooking at it suspicious”