But you will see, I shall not let it
out." He lighted his cigar with deliberation and leaned back in his
chair.
"I am lucky to find you, Willoughby," he continued, "for I am only in
town for to-day. I come up every now and then from Devonshire to see my
oculist, and I was very anxious to meet you if I could. On my last visit
Mather told me that you were away in the country. You remember Mather, I
suppose? He was with us in Suakin."
"Of course, I remember him quite well," said Willoughby, heartily. He
was more than willing to talk about Mather; he had a hope that in
talking about Mather, Durrance might forget that other matter which
caused him anxiety.
"We are both of us curious," Durrance continued, "and you can clear up
the point we are curious about. Did you ever come across an Arab called
Abou Fatma?"
"Abou Fatma," said Willoughby, slowly, "one of the Hadendoas?"
"No, a man of the Kabbabish tribe."
"Abou Fatma?" Willoughby repeated, as though for the first time he had
heard the name. "No, I never came across him;" and then he stopped. It
occurred to Durrance that it was not a natural place at which to stop;
Willoughby might have been expected to add, "Why do you ask me?" or some
question of the kind.
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