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reputed to be one of the most gifted conversationalists
of the Afghan border。〃
〃I don't mean in that way；〃 said the greybeard
hastily； 〃I've been very much interested in your
conversation。 I was alluding to my unfortunate financial
situation。 You mayn't hardly believe it； but at the
present moment I am absolutely without a farthing。 Don't
see any prospect of getting any money； either； for the
next few days。 I don't suppose you've ever found
yourself in such a position；〃 he added。
〃In the town of Yom；〃 said Crosby； 〃which is in
Southern Afghanistan； and which also happens to be my
birthplace； there was a Chinese philosopher who used to
say that one of the three chiefest human blessings was to
be absolutely without money。 I forget what the other two
were。〃
〃Ah； I daresay；〃 said the stranger； in a tone that
betrayed no enthusiasm for the philosopher's memory； 〃and
did he practise what he preached？ That's the test。〃
〃He lived happily with very little money or
resources；〃 said Crosby。
〃Then I expect he had friends who would help him
liberally whenever he was in difficulties； such as I am
in at present。〃
〃In Yom；〃 said Crosby； 〃it is not necessary to have
friends in order to obtain help。 Any citizen of Yom
would help a stranger as a matter of course。〃
The greybeard was now genuinely interested。
The conversation had at last taken a favourable
turn。
〃If someone； like me； for instance； who was in
undeserved difficulties； asked a citizen of that town you
speak of for a small loan to tide over a few days'
impecuniosity … five shillings； or perhaps a rather
larger sum … would it be given to him as a matter of
course？〃
〃There would be a certain preliminary；〃 said Crosby；
〃one would take him to a wine…shop and treat him to a
measure of wine； and then； after a little high…flown
conversation； one would put the desired sum in his hand
and wish him good…day。 It is a roundabout way of
performing a simple transaction； but in the East all ways
are roundabout。〃
The listener's eyes were glittering。
〃Ah；〃 he exclaimed； with a thin sneer ringing
meaningly through his words； 〃I suppose you've given up
all those generous customs since you left your town。
Don't practise them now； I expect。〃
〃No one who has lived in Yom；〃 said Crosby
fervently； 〃and remembers its green hills covered with
apricot and almond trees； and the cold water that rushes
down like a caress from the upland snows and dashes under
the little wooden bridges； no one who remembers these
things and treasures the memory of them would ever give
up a single one of its unwritten laws and customs。 To me
they are as binding as though I still lived in that
hallowed home of my youth。〃
〃Then if I was to ask you for a small loan … 〃 began
the greybeard fawningly； edging nearer on the seat and
hurriedly wondering how large he might safely make his
request； 〃if I was to ask you for； say … 〃
〃At any other time； certainly；〃 said Crosby； 〃in the
months of November and December； however； it is
absolutely forbidden for anyone of our race to give or
receive loans or gifts； in fact； one does not willingly
speak of them。 It is considered unlucky。 We will
therefore close this discussion。〃
〃But it is still October！〃 exclaimed the adventurer
with an eager； angry whine； as Crosby rose from his seat；
〃wants eight days to the end of the month！〃
〃The Afghan November began yesterday；〃 said Crosby
severely； and in another moment he was striding across
the Park； leaving his recent companion scowling and
muttering furiously on the seat。
〃I don't believe a word of his story；〃 he chattered
to himself； 〃pack of nasty lies from beginning to end。
Wish I'd told him so to his face。 Calling himself an
Afghan！〃
The snorts and snarls that escaped from him for the
next quarter of an hour went far to support the truth of
the old saying that two of a trade never agree。
THE SCHARTZ…METTERKLUME METHOD
LADY CARLOTTA stepped out on to the platform of the
small wayside station and took a turn or two up and down
its uninteresting length； to kill time till the train
should be pleased to proceed on its way。 Then； in the
roadway beyond； she saw a horse struggling with a more
than ample load； and a carter of the sort that seems to
bear a sullen hatred against the animal that helps him to
earn a living。 Lady Carlotta promptly betook her to the
roadway； and put rather a different complexion on the
struggle。 Certain of her acquaintances were wont to give
her plentiful admonition as to the undesirability of
interfering on behalf of a distressed animal； such
interference being 〃none of her business。〃 Only once had
she put the doctrine of non…interference into practice；
when one of its most eloquent exponents had been besieged
for nearly three hours in a small and extremely
uncomfortable may…tree by an angry boar…pig； while Lady
Carlotta； on the other side of the fence； had proceeded
with the water…colour sketch she was engaged on； and
refused to interfere between the boar and his prisoner。
It is to be feared that she lost the friendship of the
ultimately rescued lady。 On this occasion she merely
lost the train； which gave way to the first sign of
impatience it had shown throughout the journey； and
steamed off without her。 She bore the desertion with
philosophical indifference； her friends and relations
were thoroughly well used to the fact of her luggage
arriving without her。 She wired a vague non…committal
message to her destination to say that she was coming on
〃by another train。〃 Before she had time to think what
her next move might be she was confronted by an
imposingly attired lady； who seemed to be taking a
prolonged mental inventory of her clothes and looks。
〃You must be Miss Hope； the governess I've come to
meet；〃 said the apparition； in a tone that admitted of
very little argument。
〃Very well； if I must I must；〃 said Lady Carlotta to
herself with dangerous meekness。
〃I am Mrs。 Quabarl；〃 continued the lady； 〃and where；
pray； is your luggage？〃
〃It's gone astray；〃 said the alleged governess；
falling in with the excellent rule of life that the
absent are always to blame； the luggage had； in point of
fact； behaved with perfect correctitude。 〃I've just
telegraphed about it；〃 she added； with a nearer approach
to truth。
〃How provoking；〃 said Mrs。 Quabarl； 〃these railway
companies are so careless。 However； my maid can lend you
things for the night；〃 and she led the way to her car。
During the drive to the Quabarl mansion Lady
Carlotta was impressively introduced to the nature of the
charge that had been thrust upon her； she learned that
Claude and Wilfrid were delicate； sensitive young people；
that Irene had