I nodded, lighting a fresh cigarette in a manner that may have
been unduly leisurely.
"Did you see her?"
Again I nodded.
"Really!"
"I must have been peculiarly favoured, but certainly I had that
pleasure."
"You speak of seeing her," said one of the party, now entering the
conversation for the first time. "To whom do you refer?"
"Well," replied Burton, "it's really a sort of fairy tale--unless
Knox"--glacing across in my direction--"can confirm it. But
there was a story current during the latter part of Adderley's
stay in Singapore to the effect that he had made the acquaintance
of the wife, or some member of the household, of an old gentleman
out Johore Bahru way--sort of mandarin or big pot among the
Chinks."
"It was rumoured that he had bolted with her," added another
speaker.
"I think it was more than a rumour."
"Why do you say so?"
"Well, representations were made to the authorities, I know for
an absolute certainty, and I have an idea that Adderley was
kicked out of the Service as a consequence of the scandal which
resulted."
"How is it one never heard of this?"
"Money speaks, my dear fellow," cried Burton, "even when it is
possessed by such a peculiar outsider as Adderley.
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