f these
last."

"Old?"

"Tolerably. The race of men who put them up were extinct before the
Egyptian pyramid-builders came upon the scene."

"I don't quite see how that can be. You must understand, Mr.
Cospatric----"

"Oh, what does it matter, man? If it pleases you, I'll grant that
Cheops and Co. took to architecture first. But, anyway, these Minorcan
pyramids were up long before Lully's time, and that's enough for us.
The Recipe's there, just waiting to be fetched. We must drink success
to this."

A waitress brought us filled glasses, and we toasted one another. Then
I told Weems openly enough about my financial position, and asked him
to advance me enough for passage money. I said I knew the language and
the route and all the rest of it, and the outlay for the pair of us
would be very little more than what it would cost him to go alone. In
fact, I was going on to sketch out the trip, and tot up the items of
cost, when he cut me short, and coldly intimated that he did not intend
to part with a cent. He did not even plead poverty. He gave no reason
whatever.

I stared at him for a minute or so blankly. That he would refuse what I
asked had never occurred to me. At last I blurted out, "Why, good God,
man, I needn't have told you about the thing at all. If I'd held my
tongue, you know very well you'd have parted with the book in absolute
ignorance of what it contained."

"I might or might not have looked into it, Mr. Cospatric. That is as
may be. But the most ordinary honesty would have compelled you to speak
when I did. Perhaps I refused your request too abruptly just now.
Believe me, I am not ungrateful for the service you have rendered. In
fact, I should like to prove my obligation. But I could not have you
labour under the error that you are entitled to a half share of
whatever profits may accrue. This Recipe is mine, entirely mine, Mr.
Cospatric, and it is not likely that I am going to put you in the way
of annexing a share of it. Of course, legally, you have no claim on me;
but as you say you are in indigent circumstances, I am willing to
stretch a point, and do more than I otherwise should. I will give you
the remainder of my circular ticket. That will take you back to
England, let me see--via----"

"You scurvy little blackguard," said I, beginning to lose my temper,
"aren't you afraid of being killed?"

He got very red, and exclaimed pompously, "Don't you attempt bombast
with me, Mr. Cospatric. I am