"I appreciate the difference, Quatermain. If you kill for cows,
it is justifiable homicide; if you kill for women, it is murder."
"Yes," I replied, "that is how it seems to work out in Africa.
You see, women are higher in the scale of creation than cows,
therefore crimes committed for their sake are enormously greater
than those committed for cows, which just makes the difference
between justifiable homicide and murder."
"Good lord! what an argument," he exclaimed and relapsed into
silence. Had he been accustomed to natives and their ways he
would have understood the point much better than he did, though I
admit it is difficult to explain.
In due course we reached the wagon without further trouble.
While we were shielding our pipes after an excellent supper I
asked Anscombe his impressions of Mr. Marnham.
"Queer cove, I think," he answered. "Been a gentleman, too, and
still keeps the manners, which isn't strange if he is one of the
Marnhams, for they are a good family. I wonder he mentioned
having served with my father."
"It slipped out of him. Men who live a lot alone are apt to be
surprised into saying things they regret afterwards, as I noticed
he did. But why do you wonder?"
"Because as it happens, although I have only just recalled it, my
father used to tell some story about a man named Marnham in his
regiment. I can't remember the details, but it had to do with
cards when high stakes were being played for, and with the
striking of a superior officer in the quarrel that ensued, as a
result of which the striker was requested to send in his papers.
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