He replied that
one morning before the warehouse was open, some natives had brought them
down in a canoe, and dumped them at the door, telling the watchman that
they had been paid to deliver them there by some other natives whom they
met a long way up the river. Then they went away without leaving any
letter or message. Well, I thanked Aston and paid his charges and
there's an end of the matter. Those fifty-three cases are now in the
hold invoiced as ore samples and, as I inspected them myself and am sure
that they have not been tampered with, besides the value of the necklace
the Asika gave me we've got L100,000 to begin our married life upon with
something over for old Jeekie, and I daresay we shall do very well on
that."
"Yes, Alan, very well indeed." Then she reflected a while, for the
mention of Jeekie's name seemed to have made her thoughtful, and added,
"Alan, what _do_ you think became of Lord Aylward?"
"I am sure I don't know. Jeekie and I and some of the porters went
to see the Old Calabar officials and made affidavits as to the
circumstances of his disappearance. We couldn't do any more, could we?"
"No, Alan. But do you think that Jeekie quite understands the meaning of
an oath? I mean it seems so strange that we should never have found the
slightest trace of him, and, Alan, I don't know if you noticed it, but
why did Jeekie appear that morning wearing Lord Aylward's socks and
boots?"
"He ought to know all about oaths, he has heard enough of them in
Magistrates' Courts, but as regards the boots, I am sure I can't say,
dear," answered Alan uneasily.
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