The Height of Civilization
Anothermonthbroughtthemtoalittlegroupofbuildingsatthemouthofawideriver,andthereTarzansawmanyboats,andwasfilledwiththetimidityofthewildthingbythesightofmanymen.
Graduallyhebecameaccustomedtothestrangenoisesandtheoddwaysofcivilization,sothatpresentlynonemightknowthattwoshortmonthsbefore,thishandsomeFrenchmaninimmaculatewhiteducks,wholaughedandchattedwiththegayestofthem,hadbeenswingingnakedthroughprimevalforeststopounceuponsomeunwaryvictim,which,raw,wastofillhissavagebelly.
Theknifeandfork,socontemptuouslyflungasideamonthbefore,TarzannowmanipulatedasexquisitelyasdidthepolishedD’Arnot.
SoaptapupilhadhebeenthattheyoungFrenchmanhadlaboredassiduouslytomakeofTarzanoftheApesapolishedgentlemaninsofarasnicetyofmannersandspeechwereconcerned.
"Godmadeyouagentlemanatheart,myfriend,"D’Arnothadsaid;"butwewantHisworkstoshowupontheexterioralso."
Assoonastheyhadreachedthelittleport,D’Arnothadcabledhisgovernmentofhissafety,andrequestedathree-months’leave,whichhadbeengranted.
Hehadalsocabledhisbankersforfunds,andtheenforcedwaitofamonth,underwhichbothchafed,wasduetotheirinabilitytocharteravesselforthereturntoTarzan’sjungleafterthetreasure.