Page:An African Millionaire.djvu/225

212 Colonel Clay in disguise! Oh, my stars, what a lovely one!'

'You, at least, have no right to laugh,' Charles responded, drawing himself up and growing still redder. 'You led me once into a similar scrape, and then backed out of it in a way unbecoming a gentleman. Besides,' he went on, getting angrier at each word, 'this fellow, whoever he is, has been trying to cheat me on his own account. Colonel Clay or no Colonel Clay, he's been salting my rocks with gold-bearing quartz, and trying to lead me on into an absurd speculation!'

Sir Adolphus exploded. 'Oh, this is too good,'