He was so changed, he said, that no one in the
world would recognise him. Poor fellow! It was the last line I
had from him."
"And you are sure," Ernestine said slowly, "that Scarlett Trent was
his partner?"
"Absolutely. Trent's own story clinches the matter. The prospectus
of the mine quotes the concession as having been granted to him by
the King of Bekwando in the same month as your father wrote to me."
"And what news," she asked, "have you had since?"
"Only this letter - I will read it to you - from one of the
missionaries of the Basle Society. I heard nothing for so long that
I made inquiries, and this is the result."
Ernestine took it and read it out steadily.
"FORTNRENIG.
"DEAR Sir,-In reply to your letter and inquiry, respecting the
whereabouts of a Mr. Richard Grey, the matter was placed in my
hands by the agent of Messrs. Castle, and I have personally visited
Buckoman, the village at which he was last heard of. It seems that
in February, 18- he started on an expedition to Bekwando in the
interior with an Englishman by the name of Trent, with a view to
buying land from a native King, or obtaining the concession to work
the valuable gold-mines of that country.
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