Every man in Japat thinks that your people are gambling with jewels that belong to the corporation.  They think there’s something crooked, d’ye see?  My advice to you is:  Stop that sort of joking.  It’s not a joke to the islanders, as you may find out to your sorrow.  Take the tip from me, gentlemen.  Let ’em play for pins or peppermint drops, but not for rubies red.  Here’s your julep, Mr. Saunders.  Fresh straw?”

“By Jove,” said Saunders, taking a straw, and at the same time staring in open-mouthed wonder at the tall host; “you appal me!  It’s most extraordinary.  But I see your point clearly, quite clearly.  Do you, Britt?”

“Certainly,” said Britt with a look of disdain.  “I told ’em to lower the limit long ago.”

“This is all offered in a kindly spirit, you understand,” said the magnanimous Enemy.  “We might as well live comfortably as to die unseasonably here.  Another little suggestion, Mr. Saunders.  Please tell Lord Deppingham that if he persists in snooping about the ravines in search of rubies, he’ll get an unmanageable bullet in the back of his head some day soon.  He’s being watched all the time.  The natives resent his actions, foolish as they may seem to us.  This is not child’s play.  He has no right to a single ruby, even if he should see one and know what it was.  Just tell him that, please, Mr. Saunders.”

“I shall, confound him,” exploded Saunders, smiting the table mightily.  “He’s too damned uppish anyhow.  He needs taking down—­”

“Ah, Selim,” interrupted the Enemy, as the native boy entered, “no mail, eh?”

“No, excellency, the ship is not due to arrive for two weeks.”

“Ah, but, Selim, you forget that I am expecting a letter from Von Blitz’s wives.  They promised to let me know how soon he is able to resume work at the mines.”

“I hear you polished him off neatly,” said Britt, with a grin.

“Just the rough edges, Mr. Britt.  He is now a gem of purest ray serene.  By the way, I hope you’ll not take my mild suggestions amiss.”

“There’s nothing I object to except your power to call strikes among our servants.  That seems to me to be rather high-handed,” said Britt good-naturedly.

“No doubt you’re right,” agreed the other, “but you must remember that I needed the cigarettes.”

“My word!” muttered Saunders admiringly.

“Look here, old man,” said Britt, his cheeks glowing, “it’s mighty good of you to take this trouble for——­”

“Don’t mention it.  I’d only ask in return that we three be a little more sociable hereafter.  We’re not here to cut each other’s throats, you know, and we’ve got a deadly half year ahead of us.  What say?”

For answer the two lawyers arose and shook hands with the excellent Enemy.  When they started for the chateau at seven o’clock, each with six mint juleps about his person, they were too mellow for analysis.  The Enemy, who had drunk but little, took an arm of each and piloted them sturdily through the town.