Chapter 9

Numa "El Adrea"




On the same day that Kadour ben Saden rode south the diligence
from the north brought Tarzan a letter from D'Arnot which had been
forwarded from Sidi-bel-Abbes. It opened the old wound that Tarzan
would have been glad to have forgotten; yet he was not sorry that
D'Arnot had written, for one at least of his subjects could never
cease to interest the ape-man. Here is the letter:

MY DEAR JEAN:

Since last I wrote you I have been across to London on a matter of
business. I was there but three days. The very first day I came
upon an old friend of yours--quite unexpectedly--in Henrietta
Street. Now you never in the world would guess whom. None other
than Mr. Samuel T. Philander. But it is true. I can see your
look of incredulity. Nor is this all. He insisted that I return
to the hotel with him, and there I found the others--Professor
Archimedes Q. Porter, Miss Porter, and that enormous black woman,
Miss Porter's maid--Esmeralda, you will recall. While I was there
Clayton came in. They are to be married soon, or rather sooner,
for I rather suspect that we shall receive announcements almost
any day. On account of his father's death it is to be a very quiet