The Heart of the Matter

On the way to Bamba to investigate the Pemberton incident, Scobie drifts in and out of sleep dreaming about a snake. Once arriving, Scobie is less worried about the fate of Pemberton and more about his promise to Louise to send her to South Africa. Father Clay informs Scobie that Pemberton died by hanging himself, adding that Pemberton was not Catholic. Scobie searches Pemberton’s quarters and finds a suicide note. In the note, Pemberton apologizes to his father and tells him not to pay off his debts because “the fellow doesn’t deserve it” (78).

Later that evening, Scobie has more feverish dreams, this time about Louise and Pemberton who are “obscurely linked” in Scobie’s imagination (79). Yusef visits Scobie and reveals that Pemberton owed money to Yusef’s store manager. Scobie finds it suspicious that Pemberton died by suicide at the same time Yusef was in town. Yusef affectionately calls Scobie “Daniel” (81) and says that he has a “friendship for you in my soul” (82). Yusef proceeds to burn all of Pemberton’s debts and IOUs.

After his fever subsides, Scobie returns to Louise, dreading her inevitable questions about the status of her South Africa voyage. As the variations of the 200 pounds needed for the trip ring in his head, Scobie reveals that he has not yet secured the extra funds.