now far enough? The
ladies are hungry; will you send word to the lodge-keeper that he may
open the gate?"

Trent helped himself to coffee, and leaned back in his chair, stirring
it thoughtfully.

"You are right, Da Souza," he said. "It is an excellent joke. The cream
of it is too that I am in earnest; neither you nor any of those ladies
whom I see out there will sit at my table again."

"You are not in earnest! You do not mean it!"

"I can assure you," Trent replied grinning, "that I do!"

"But do you mean," Da Souza spluttered, "that we are to go like this--to
be turned out--the laughing-stock of your servants, after we have come
back too, all the way?--oh, it is nonsense! It's not to be endured!"

"You can go to the devil!" Trent answered coolly. "There is not one of
you whom I care a fig to see again. You thought that I was ruined, and
you scudded like rats from a sinking ship. Well, I found you out, and a
jolly good thing too. All I have to say is now, be off, and the quicker
the better!"

Then Da Souza cringed no longer, and there shot from his black eyes the
venomous twinkle of the serpent whose fangs are out. He leaned over the
table, and dropped his voice.

"I speak," he said, "for my wife, my daughter, and myself, and I assure
you that we decline to go!"

CHAPTER XII

Trent rose up with flashing eyes. Da Souza shrank back from his
outstretched hands. The two men stood facing one another. Da Souza was
afraid, but the ugly look of determination remained upon his white
face. Trent felt dimly that there was something which must be explained
between them. There had been hints of this sort before from Da Souza.
It was time the whole thing was cleared up. The lion was ready to throw
aside the jackal.

"I give you thirty seconds," he said, "to clear out. If you haven't come
to your senses then, you'll be sorry for it."

"Thirty seconds is not long enough," Da Souza answered, "for me to tell
you why I decline to go. Better listen to me quietly, my friend. It will
be best for you. Afterwards you will admit it."

"Go ahead," Trent said, "I'm anxious to hear what you've got to say.
Only look here! I'm a bit short-tempered this morning, and I shouldn't
advise you to play with your words!"

"This is no play at all," Da Souza remarked, with a sneer. "I ask you to
remember, my friend, our first meeting."

Trent nodded.

"Never likely to forget it," he answered.

"I came down from Elmina to deal wit