He was out of the village now, and stood smoking and musing, facing a tremendous range. The evil thoughts by which he was animated were expressed in his face; being alone, as he thought, there was no reason for concealment, and although he generally kept perfect control over his features, there were rare occasions upon which he indulged in the luxury of frankness. This was such an occasion.
He was mistaken in believing himself to be alone. A man, also smoking a good cigar, was sitting on a jutting rock, observing him. Leonard threw away the end of his cigar, and took another from his case. Then he took another from his case. Then he took out his matchbox, and found that it was empty. "The devil take it!" he muttered. "The whole world is against me!" Low as was the tone in which the words were spoken, the stranger heard them.
Leonard started, and his countenance became instantly composed. The stranger laughed aloud. Irritated by the laugh, in which there was a malicious, if not a sinister note, Leonard turned on his heel.
"Why so fast?" said the stranger, stepping to Leonard's side. "A match is a very simple offering for a friend to make."
"A friend!" exclaimed Leonard, and looked the stranger full in the face.
"Allow me to introduce myself anew," said the stranger. "Your memory is not good. Dr. Peterssen, at your service."
"I should never have recognized you," said Leonard, taking the lighted match and applying it to his cigar.
"Small wonder. When we last met I was in low water, and my face was bearded. You remember me now?"
"Voices do not change. Let me see. It is eighteen months ago since we saw each other. Ballarat I think the place was.
"A marvellous gold field, though we got none of the precious metal, partly from indolence, partly from ill luck."
Dr. Peterssen and Leonard had met in Australia, and had struck up an acquaintance there. _Arcades ambo_. It would not have been to their credit if some of their mutual experiences were known. Leonard was painfully conscious of the fact, and could not just at this moment make up his mind whether the meeting was one to be hailed with satisfaction, or the reverse. He knew Dr. Peterssen to be ripe for any villainy, and at this juncture it might be handy to have such a friend near him; but how far would it be safe to trust the man?