"Well, what are you going to do now?"
"I shall tell him this morning who sent me, and what brought me
here. I will then ask him to write a letter to Mr. Bennett, and
to give what news he can spare. I did not come here to rob him of
his news. Sufficient for me is it that I have found him. It is a
complete success so far. But it will be a greater one if he gives
me letters for Mr. Bennett, and an acknowledgment that he has seen
me."
"Do you think he will do so?"
"Why not? I have come here to do him a service. He has no goods.
I have. He has no men with him. I have. If I do a friendly part
by him, will he not do a friendly part by me? What says the poet? -
Nor hope to find
A friend, but who has found a friend in thee.
All like the purchase; few the price will pay
And this makes friends such wonders here below.
I have paid the purchase, by coming so far to do him a service.
But I think, from what I have seen of him last night, that he is
not such a niggard and misanthrope as I was led to believe. He
exhibited considerable emotion, despite the monosyllabic greeting,
when he shook my hand. If he were a man to feel annoyance at any
person coming after him, he would not have received me as he did,
nor would he ask me to live with him, but he would have surlily
refused to see me, and told me to mind my own business. Neither
does he mind my nationality;
for 'here,' said he, 'Americans and Englishmen are the same
people. We speak the same language and have the same ideas.'
Just so, Doctor; I agree with you. Here at least, Americans
and Englishmen shall be brothers, and, whatever I can do
for you, you may command me freely."
I dressed myself quietly, intending to take a stroll along the
Tanganika before the Doctor should rise; opened the door, which
creaked horribly on its hinges, and walked out to the veranda.
"Halloa, Doctor! - you up already? I hope you have slept well? "
"Good-morning, Mr. Stanley! I am glad to see you. I hope you
rested well. I sat up late reading my letters. You have brought
me good and bad news. But sit down. "He made a place for me by
his side. "Yes, many of my friends are dead. My eldest son has
met with a sad accident - that is, my boy Tom; my second son, Oswell,
is at college studying medicine, and is doing well I am told. Agnes,
my eldest daughter, has been enjoying herself in a yacht, with `Sir
Paraffine' Young and his family.
