African

The lodge was a ruin of black granite and bared ribs of rafters, but facing it was a new building, half constructed, the first fruit of Sir Charles’s South African gold.

I repeat, however, that this enables me to fix the date, which was the latter end of June, 1902, shortly after the conclusion of the South African War.

Sir Charles, as is well known, made large sums of money in South African speculation.

His health was in a poor way after his African experiences, and both his mother and I were of opinion that complete rest and change were needed.