Page:The Plutocrat (1927).pdf/470

 education of man; and in Africa Laurence Ogle had acquired, at least temporarily and it might even be permanently, a little education. A few months earlier he would not have encouraged the friendly advances of this bizarre person; he would have said with a coldness covering a slight indignation, "Ah—I have never been in Rock Island," without adding anything except frigidity to the statement. Now he offered his hand. "I'm glad to meet someone who is almost a compatriot. I imagine you don't find Timgad very like Rock Island, though."

"There are some resemblances," the other said, smiling as if upon some hidden thought;—"resemblances not so subtle as they might appear. You haven't seen the ruins yet?"

"No. I got in after dark."

"They are all about us, out there in a thin and very chilly starlight. My pupil and I are just going to take a ghostly walk among them; but I should advise you to wait for the morning sunshine. Permit me." Here he bowed and offered Ogle a card upon which was engraved "E. D. G. N. Medjila, D. Arche. Inst. Coll. Bass'a." Ogle mentioned his own name, and the donor of the formidable card continued: "You see I am Doctor Medjila, an arch-