“Observation, Major, it is art of life.  I see Miss Barbara’s eyes red like morning sky and I deduct.  I see you shot out and gloomy like evening cloud, and I deduct.  I listen at door of Mr. Haswell’s room, I hear him curse and swear like holy saint in Book, and you and Miss Barbara answer him not like saint, though what you speak I cannot hear, and I deduct.  Jeekie deduct this—­that you make love to Miss Barbara in proper gentlemanlike, ’nogamous, Christian fashion such as your late Reverend Uncle approve, and Miss Barbara, she make love to you with ten per cent. compound interest, but old gent with whistle, he not approve; he say, ‘Where corresponding cash!’ He say ’Noble Sir Robert have much cash and interested in identical business.  I prefer Sir Robert.  Get out, you Cashless.’  Often I see this same thing when boy in West Africa, very common wherever sun shine.  I note all these matters and I deduct—­that Jeekie’s way and Jeekie seldom wrong.”

Alan laughed for the third time, until the tears ran down his face indeed.

“Jeekie,” he said, “you are a great rascal——­”

“Yes, yes,” interrupted Jeekie, “great rascal.  Best thing to be in this world, Major.  Honourable Sir Robert, Bart., M.P., and Mr. Champers-Haswell, D.L., J.P., they find that out long ago and sit on top of tree of opulent renown.  Jeekie great rascal and therefore have Savings Bank account—­go on, Major.”

“Well, Jeekie, because if you are a rascal you are kind-hearted and because I believe that you care for me——­”

“Oh!  Major,” broke in Jeekie again, “that most ’utterably true.  Honour bright I love you, Major, better than anyone on earth, except my late old woman, now happily dead, gone and forgotten in best oak coffin, L4 10 without fittings but polished, and perhaps your holy uncle, Reverend Mr. Austin, also coffined and departed, who saved me from early extinction in a dark place.  Major, I no like graves, I see too much of them, and can’t tell what lie on other side.  Though everyone say they know, Jeekie not quite sure.  May be all light and crowns of glory, may be damp black hole and no way out.  But this at least true, that I love you better, yes, better than Miss Barbara, for love of woman very poor, uncertain thing, quick come, quick go.  Jeekie find that out—­often.  Yes, if need be, though death most nasty, if need be I say I die for you, which great unpleasant sacrifice,” and Jeekie in the genuine enthusiasm of his warm heart, throwing himself upon his knees after the African fashion, seized his master’s hand and kissed it.

“Thanks, Jeekie,” said Alan, “very kind of you, I am sure.  But we haven’t come to that yet, though no one knows what may happen later on.  Now sit upon that chair and take a little whisky—­not too much—­for I am going to ask your advice.”

“Major,” said Jeekie, “I obey,” and seizing the whisky bottle in a casual manner, he poured out half a tumbler full, for Jeekie was fond of whisky.  Indeed before now this taste had brought him into conflict with the local magistrates.