Page:An African Millionaire.djvu/224

Rh Yorkshire College, a very distinguished man of science. First-rate mineralogist—perhaps the best (but one) in England.' Modesty forbade him to name the exception.

'But are you sure it's he?' Charles inquired, with growing doubt. 'Have you known him before? This isn't a second case of Schleiermachering me, is it?'

'Sure it's he?' Sir Adolphus echoed, 'Am I sure of myself? Why, I've known Marmy Gaskell ever since we were at Trinity together. Knew him before he married Miss Forbes of Glenluce, my wife's second cousin, and hyphened his name with hers, to keep the property in the family. Know them both most intimately. Came down here to the inn because I heard that Marmy was on the prowl among these hills, and I thought he had probably something good to prowl after—in the way of fossils.'

'But the man wears a wig!' Charles expostulated.

'Of course,' Cordery answered. 'He's as bald as a bat—in front at least—and he wears a wig to cover his baldness.'

'It's disgraceful,' Charles exclaimed; 'disgraceful—taking us in like that.' And he grew red as a turkey-cock.

Sir Adolphus has no delicacy. He burst out laughing.

'Oh, I see,' he cried out, simply bursting with amusement. 'You thought Forbes-Gaskell was