Talbot Mundy

“ The law of hospitality, that says a guest may not be allowed to betray himself; the law of loyalty, that grants the same grace to the employer; Jeff’s habit of open dealing, and Ommony’s of absolute reliance on a Destiny he trusted, were all in danger and both men knew it. ”

“ A man who is lost in the jungle, too, imagines things.
Ten minutes later he did not even look up when Diana pricked her ears, and he heard Jeff Ramsden’s unmistakable heavy footsteps clambering the look-out rock. He was not afraid of anything Jeff might do, without Strange to persuade him and direct.
“Sorry, old man,” said Jeff from behind him, leaning on a rifle, “I’ve made a bloomer. Charley and I found what we supposed were leopard tracks and followed them to about half a mile from here. I fired at a glimpse in the thicket. Hit a tiger, and he got away into the undergrowth. ”

“ True, Strange was supposed to have retired from the ranks of industry. But there are said-to-be-tamed wolves. Who trusts them? King, Grim, Ramsden were as good men as there are. But so is fire good, until employed by an incendiary. Strange’s eleventh hour resolution to reform the world by the weight of his maneuvered money was only wolf-eat-wolf at best; to judge from Charley’s and Jeff Ramsden’s accounts, the again-to-be-protected people had preferred to protect themselves in the ancient way from uninvited interference. ”

“ Tell her she can count on me to help her, but on what terms, and say we’ve only got thirty days to win or lose in. Now, let me provide you with money.”
“No. I’ve enough for the present.”
“Have lunch before you go, then. There’s no train till two o’clock.” ”