He
has grandchildren now, and they all think him a hero. What is more, he
does not contradict them. I went down to the lady's place in Essex, a
fine property with a beautiful old house. On the night I arrived there
was a dinner-party of twenty-four people. I had to make a speech about
Charlie Scroope and the leopard. I think it was a good speech. At any
rate everybody cheered, including the servants, who had gathered at
the back of the big hall.
I remember that to complete the story I introduced several other
leopards, a mother and two three-part-grown cubs, also a wounded
buffalo, and told how Mr. Scroope finished them off one after the
other with a hunting knife. The thing was to watch his face as the
history proceeded. Luckily he was sitting next to me and I could kick
him under the table. It was all very amusing, and very happy also, for
these two really loved each other. Thank God that I, or rather Brother
John, was able to bring them together again.
It was during that stay of mine in Essex, by the way, that I first met
Lord Ragnall and the beautiful Miss Holmes with whom I was destined to
experience some very strange adventures in the after years.
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