d to spring it on the
fellows first chance--that is, if I could remember the jolly thing. I
just looked at Jenkins' solemn face and laughed.

"Oh, I say, Jenkins--hang the expense, you know!" I remonstrated in some
disgust. For this London chap had given me no end of a good time, you
know; and it's such devilish bad form--rotten, I say--haggling about
expense when you want to make a come-back and do the handsome. I was
jolly glad the mistake had happened.

Just here I remembered the letter and went at it again, for I was keen
to find out, if possible, if it _was_ a muffler under the string. So I
fixed my glass and read on:

"Realizing what these cigars are, I have given them, from time
to time, to friends of mine--and others. Really, I don't think
I ever had such unselfish, unalloyed pleasure from anything in
my life. Gave one to a bus driver out Earl's Court way--chap
who had never been known to speak to man, woman or child in
years, and, after he lighted it--well, my word! He opened up
and grew so bally loquacious I had to get off."

"By Jove!" I exclaimed.

I felt real pleased--that kind of fizzy glow--sort of
bubbling-champagney-feeling you get, you know, whenever a friend does
some clever, unexpected thing--like repaying a loan, for instance. Know
about that, because I had it happen to me once. Fact!

"See that, Jenkins?" I said with a little triumph.

I wanted to reassure him, for I could see with half an eye that the poor
fellow was devilish plucked about the expense. And Jenkins certainly
looked regularly bowled over.

I read on:

"Had been trying to get Jorgins, my chief, to send me out here
again to China, but he was ever finding some cold, beastly
evasion. But when your package came to the office, the first
thing I did after I had tried the cigars was to hand the old
iceberg a box with my compliments.

"Five minutes after, he came back, completely thawed out. Fact
is, never saw him so warm toward any one. Asked me if the other
boxes were to be given away outside. Said no; that his was the
only box I could spare; was going to keep 'em all there at the
office and smoke 'em myself. Never saw a man so moved--so
worked up over a little thing. Next day he sent me out here to
China."

"Coals of fire!" I ejaculated admiringly. "Regular out-and-out coals of
fire, by Jove!"

"And so I have been looking a