ded--there I
was:--which makes all the difference."

"If you are, I hope we may meet in the field. I shall be pleased to
show you all you may be wishing to see to the best advantage."

"Now, Dr Da Costa, you are not to encourage him," struck in Aletta.
"Mr Kershaw is not going to be shot at at all. He is not needed, as he
says, and--you are not to encourage him."

The other, who had heard of Piet Plessis' attractive kinswoman and her
English _fiance_, smiled good-naturedly. Then, to change the
conversation, he went on:

"Did you make a long stay at Johannesburg, Mr Kershaw?"

"At Johannesburg?" echoed Colvin.

"Yes. Didn't I see you in the Rand Club about a fortnight ago? And
again on Pritchard Street. Someone told me it was a Mr Kershaw."

"Someone told you all wrong then, doctor, for I came right through
Johannesburg. I never even got out of the train there."

"That's odd," said Da Costa, with a momentary twinkle in his eye, as
though he didn't believe a word of this statement. "It must have been
only a likeness," he added tactfully.

"But the name," went on Aletta, opening her eyes. "It's strange they
should have got hold of the name."

"Very, because, as I said, I didn't so much as get out of the train, let
alone take a stroll as far as Pritchard Street, let alone the Rand Club,
which is farther," said Colvin. "Well, we most of us have a `double'
somewhere."

Which was precisely the remark made by the jovial Piet, when the
occurrence was narrated to him on their return home. But for once his
official instinct of reticence, even in trifling matters, was misplaced,
had he but known it. Had he imparted the results of those enquiries he
had caused to be made, what a deal of sorrow, and mistrust, and
heart-wringing might have been thereafter saved!

"Is that man we met to-day going out with the ambulance department?"
asked Colvin.

"Who, Da Costa? Ambulance department?" echoed Piet, wonderingly. "Oh,
I see," with a shout of laughter. "No fear. He's not a medico. He's a
lawyer--running hard for a judgeship. But I say, Colvin, would you like
to go up and see the President this afternoon? I think we could get at
the old man to-day."

"Just what I would like."

"And, Colvin," struck in Aletta, "you are not to look upon Oom Paul as
an old bear, as most English do. Remember, I have a great admiration
for him."

Colvin promised to keep this fact in mind when forming his opinion, and
in