Kit Musgrave's Luck

s giving a ball, to which Mrs. Austin had resolved she would not go. Captain Farquhar's friends were numerous but rather mixed; his feasts were not marked by the

u have not, like the othe

e if I came or not," Kit replied. "

you would have gone to

n board Carsegarry when she called on her outward run. Captain Farquhar's k

you knew where to stop,

ow for half an hour, I'l

I know you're frank. Frankness has advanta

in Olivia, but while she talked she studied Kit. He was an honest, sober young fellow, and had recently begun to

e an effort to be polite," she said. "W

rejoined. "You oughtn't to have known.

e you bo

too hard; she must get the sun and fresh air. I feel I ought to help, but it's impossible. Thinking about this, I've begun to

nish manager was satisfi

you like your

ana merchants give a good price for onions, but the peons who grow them in the mountains know nothing about this. They have got a big

rs. Austin agreed. "Still, if they're willing t

buying t

. Musgrave puzzles me. He grumbles b

e his case,"

hile I talk to the peons. They're an unsophisticated lot with the manners of fine gentlemen, and live on maize, bananas, and goat's milk cheese. Yet, for all their poverty, I must eat membrillo jelly and drink a cup of wine before we get to business. They have stacks of onion

aid Mrs. Austin. "To buy at the lowest price the seller will take

hundred per cent," Kit rejoined. "The thing's

u can fool people once or twice; you can't fool them all the time.

of their chairs would make it awkward for him to join the group. Moreover, he i

n I thought, and I've got

were not going

at ten o'clock and I must get Mac

ndertaken something of a

s. Don Erminio's excitable and Macallister is big. All the same, somebody must go. Don Ramon at the o

laughed. "Kit's na?ve, but I

men and stopped for a mo

od sort, but his luck is t

rson. "If Musgrave gets anothe

stin said to Jefferson: "If Harry has

lthough in other ways she meant to be his friend. She had married a poor man, and rousing him to use his talent, had helped hi

but the tourists only stopped for a few months in the winter, and for the most part

said, "You work too long, Harry. You b

the African business I'm pretty closely occupied. For one thing,

peaks good

is another thing. In fact, I remember a note of yours that embarrassed a sober Spanish gentleman. A

ngaging an En

m young and don't know your luck until they arrive. Some come out for adventure-I imagine

h business girl? She wouldn't lose her pay at the casino and b

I'm being gently led. I expect you know a candidate, but she mus

ht about is a fri

with a twinkle, "

. Austin rejoined. "Anyhow,

s not fastidious. Moreover, she knew her husband and Jefferson, and felt she was on firm ground when she drew a moving picture of Betty's struggle against

sk it. Muriel would

ived. Mrs. Austin's habit was to note things like that. So far, the scheme went well, but she had not gone far enough. After all, Betty had refused Kit and the correillo stopped at Las Palmas for three or four days every two weeks. Betty would be occupied by her business duties, but Olivia had none.

after his injury, has not co

think Scot would co

embarrassed

England, and to engage a young man you haven't seen is ri

u do wa

Mrs. Austin lo

Musgrave a good post. I expect you know I'm a m

a number of people owe

Mr. Musgrave is the man you want. He's honest and resolute, a

id not want him clever, and had for some time thought about Kit. Then h

ost he'd be willing to take. In fact, when my schoone

ed with quiet amusement. She kn

" he resumed. "I understand Don Arturo comes from Li

ght not to b

k for a few minutes to the honoured guest, who forgets one immediately afterwards. There i

much money in the islands and West Africa. Austin knew both gentlemen and Wolf wanted to meet them at her house. It looked as if he knew Ramirez was going

to meet Se?or Ram

d I am a foreigner. There are rules about trading with the Berbers that stand in my w

all Ramirez knew men. He would not take Wolf's

ith us one evening, and I will tell you when the

to send for Musgrave, but now I feel I must

terwards Mrs. Austin to

fellow's coming to the veranda, but this di

give Kit a post,"

ed at her r

er cost. However, one doesn't cheat Ramire

e Wolf will tr

ble," said

and won't make you accountable. Besides, if