Also I rather fancy picking upsome little thing
wherever I go, just as a tripper buys souvenirs. That was the first of several long
and intricate talks.
III did not meet Tavanger again till the week after
Christmas.
I should like to have seen Steinackers face when he
had finishedgleaning in my tracks . Ill put up ten thousand forthe Lebombo, and Ill
buy your Daphne shares.
Unluckily they had neither tea nor coffee, and
theirtobacco ran out. It concerned the ownership of aparcel of shares in a Rhodesian
company. Ill hold on, he said, though I should have to go wanting thebreeks to do
it.
I was amazed, till I remembered thatthis was one of
his two hobbies.
Late on the second night the rain ceased, and
revealed a wonderfulsky of stars. As it turned out it was the best thing that could
have happened. This was the best part of Tavangers story, but I must confinemyself
to the bare outline.
My childrenwill curse me, but my grandchildren may
bless me.
Ive always made it a rule neverto mix myself up
with things I dont understand.
There he stepped off the plank into
deepishwaters.
Barrowmanalmost wept when I gave him my cheque for
the lot.
I gathered that time was of the essence ofthe
business. Happilythe island was high ground, so there was no risk of its
beingoverflowed.
Oh, we have brisked up Daphnes a bit, he said in
reply to myquestion.
Anyhow, after a hecticafternoon of argument,
Dilling consented.
But he had not gone twenty miles before the
heavensopened. Are you cleverenough to realise that the plain reason is often the
right one?
Barrowmanalmost wept when I gave him my cheque for
the lot. Would you besurprised to learn that the simple explanation is
true?
He announced that there wasnothing to be done
except to wait for the river to fall.
I wanted to fling my heels and get rid of London
for amonth or two. I want your money, but stillmore I want your name. Daphnes seem
to be held by a legion ofsmall folk up and down the world, none of whom want to
sell.
So three hours later in the Wynberg bungalow he
went with Barrowmanover his holdings.