Of these discoveries and many other details, on our return to the house, Lord Ragnall made full notes in a pocket-book, that when completed were signed by all three of us.

There is not much more to tell, that is of this part of the story.  The matter was put into the hands of detectives who discovered that the Easterns had driven to London, where all traces of the carriage which conveyed them was lost.  They, however, embarked upon a steamer called the Antelope, together with two native women, who probably had been provided to look after Miss Holmes, and sailed that very afternoon for Egypt.  Thither, of course, it was useless to follow them in those days, even if it had been advisable to do so.

To return to Miss Holmes.  She came down to breakfast looking very charming but rather pale.  Again I sat next to her and took some opportunity to ask her how she had rested that night.

She replied, Very well and yet very ill, since, although she never remembered sleeping more soundly in her life, she had experienced all sorts of queer dreams of which she could remember nothing at all, a circumstance that annoyed her much, as she was sure that they were most interesting.  Then she added,

“Do you know, Mr. Quatermain, I found a lot of mud on my dressing-gown this morning, and my bedroom slippers were also a mass of mud and wet through.  How do you account for that?  It is just as though I had been walking about outside in my sleep, which is absurd, as I never did such a thing in my life.”

Not feeling equal to the invention of any convincing explanation of these phenomena, I upset the marmalade pot on to the table in such a way that some of it fell upon her dress, and then covered my retreat with profuse apologies.  Understanding my dilemma, for he had heard something of this talk, Lord Ragnall came to my aid with a startling statement of which I forget the purport, and thus that crisis passed.

Shortly after breakfast Scroope announced to Miss Manners that her carriage was waiting, and we departed.  Before I went, as it chanced, I had a few private words with my host, with Miss Holmes, and with the magnificent Mr. Savage.  To the last, by the way, I offered a tip which he refused, saying that after all we had gone through together he could not allow “money to come between us,” by which he meant, to pass from my pocket to his.  Lord Ragnall asked me for both my English and my African addresses, which he noted in his pocket-book.  Then he said,

“Really, Quatermain, I feel as though I had known you for years instead of three days; if you will allow me I will add that I should like to know a great deal more of you.” (He was destined to do so, poor fellow, though neither of us knew it at the time.) “If ever you come to England again I hope you will make this house your headquarters.”

“And if ever you come to South Africa, Lord Ragnall, I hope you will make my four-roomed shanty on the Berea at Durban your headquarters.  You will get a hearty welcome there and something to eat, but little more.”