’Dead，’herepliedinalowvoice。’AndIhavecomebacktotheoldplace，havingnourishedathought——notadefiniteintention，butjustathought——thatIshouldliketoreturnhereinayearortwo，tospendtheremainderofmydays。’
’Marriedman，Mr。Lackland？’
’No。’
’Andhavetheworldused’eewell，sir——orratherJohn，knowing’eeasachild？Intheserichnewcountriesthatwehearofsomuch，you’vegotrichwiththerest？’
’Iamnotveryrich，’Mr。Lacklandsaid。’Eveninnewcountries，youknow，therearefailures。Theraceisnotalwaystotheswift，northebattletothestrong；andevenifitsometimesis，youmaybeneitherswiftnorstrong。However，that’senoughaboutme。Now，havingansweredyourinquiries，youmustanswermine；forbeinginLondon，IhavecomedownhereentirelytodiscoverwhatLongpuddleislookinglike，andwhoarelivingthere。ThatwaswhyIpreferredaseatinyourvantohiringacarriagefordrivingacross。’