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whereof the roof was supported by gilded columns； and in the room
couches of cushions； wooden stools inlaid with ivory； vessels of
water； great basins made of some black； hard wood； and in the centre a
block of stone that looked like an altar。
Jeekie set down the tin box upon the altar…like stone； then he turned
to the crowd of women and said； 〃Bring food。〃 Instantly they departed；
closing the door of the room behind them。
〃Now for a wash；〃 said Alan； 〃unlace this confounded mask； Jeekie。〃
〃Mustn't； Major； mustn't。 Priests tell me that。 If those girls see you
without mask； perhaps they kill them。 Wait till they gone after
supper； then take it off。 No one allowed see you without mask except
Asika herself。〃
Alan stepped to one of the wooden bowls full of water which stood
under a lamp； and gazed at his own reflection。 The mask was gilded；
the sham lips were painted red and round the eye…holes were black
lines。
〃Why； it is horrible；〃 he exclaimed； starting back。 〃I look like a
devil crossed with Guy Fawkes。 Do you mean to tell me that I have got
to live in this thing？〃
〃Afraid so； Major； upon all public occasion。 At least they say that。
You holy； not lawful see your sacred face。〃
〃Who do the Asiki think I am； then； Jeekie？〃
〃They think you your reverend uncle come back after many； many year。
You see； Major； they not believe uncle run away with Little Bonsa；
they believe Little Bonsa run away with uncle just for change of air
and so on； and that now； when she tired of strange land； she bring him
back again。 That why you so holy； favourite of Little Bonsa who live
with you all this time and keep you just same age； bloom of youth。〃
〃In Heaven's name；〃 asked Alan； exasperated； 〃what is Little Bonsa；
beyond an ancient and ugly gold fetish？〃
〃Hush；〃 said Jeekie； 〃mustn't call her names here in her own house。
Little Bonsa much more than fetish； Little Bonsa alive； or so；〃 he
added doubtfully； 〃these silly niggers say。 She wife of Big Bonsa； you
see； to…morrow p'raps。 But their story this； that she get dead sick of
Big Bonsa and bolt with white Medicine man； who dare preach she
nothing but heathen idol。 She want show him whether or no she only
idol。 That the yarn； priests tell it me to…day。 They always watch for
her there by the edge of the lake。 They always sure Little Bonsa come
back。 Not at all surprised； but as she love you once； you stop holy；
and I holy also； thank goodness； because she take me too as servant。
Therefore we sleep in peace； for they not cut out throats； at any rate
at present； though I think；〃 he added mournfully； 〃they not let us go
either。〃
Alan sat down on a stool and groaned at the appalling prospect
suggested by this information。
〃Cheer up； Major；〃 said Jeekie sympathetically。 〃Perhaps manage hook
it somehow； and meanwhile make best of bad business and have high old
time。 You see you want to come Asiki…land； though I tell you it rum
place； and；〃 he added with certitude and a circular sweep of his hand；
〃by Jingo！ you here now and I daresay they give you all the gold you
want。〃
〃What's the good of gold unless one can get away with it？ What's the
good of anything if we are prisoners among these devils？〃
〃Perhaps time show； Major。 Hush！ here come dinner。 You sit still on
stool and look holy。〃
The door opened and through it appeared four of the women bearing
dishes and cups full of drink； fashioned of gold like that which had
been given to Alan in the litter。 He noticed at once that they had
removed their veils and outer garments； if indeed they were the same
women； and now； like many other Africans； were but lightly clad in
linen capes open in front that hung over their shoulders； short
petticoats or skirts about their middles； and sandals。 Such was their
attire which； scanty as it might be； was yet becoming enough and
extremely rich。 Thus the cape was fastened with a brooch of worked
gold； so were the sandal straps； while the petticoat was adorned with
beads of gold that jingled as they walked； and amongst them strings of
other beads of various and beautiful colours； that might be glass or
might be precious stones。 Moreover； these women were young and
handsome； having splendid figures and well…cut features； soft； dark
eyes and rather long hair worn in the formal and attractive fashion
that has been described。
Advancing to Alan two of them knelt before him； holding out the trays
upon which was the food。 So they remained while he ate； like bronze
statues； nor would they consent to change their posture even when he
told them in their language to be pleased to go away。 On hearing
themselves addressed in the Asiki language； they seemed surprised； for
their faces changed a little； but go they would not。 The result was
that Alan grew extremely nervous and ate and drank so rapidly that he
scarcely noted what he was putting into his mouth。 Then before Jeekie；
to whom the women did not kneel； had half finished his dinner； Alan
rose and walked away； whereon two of the women gathered up everything；
including the dishes that had been given to Jeekie； and in spite of
his remonstrances carried them out of the room。
〃I say； Major；〃 said Jeekie； 〃if you gobble chop so fast you go ill
inside。 Poor nigger like me can't keep up with you and sleep hungry
to…night。〃
〃I am sorry； Jeekie；〃 said Alan with a little laugh； 〃but I can't eat
off living tables； especially when they stare at one like that。 You
tell them that to…morrow we will breakfast alone。〃
〃Oh； yes； I tell them； Major； but I don't know if they listen。 They
mean it great compliment and only think you not like those girls and
send others。〃
〃Look here； Jeekie；〃 exclaimed Alan； turning his masked face towards
the two who remained； 〃let us come to an understanding at once。 Clear
them out。 Tell them I am so holy that Little Bonsa is enough for me。
Say I can't bear the sight of females； and that if they stop here I
will sacrifice them。 Say anything you like； only get rid of them and
lock the door。〃
Thus adjured； Jeekie began to reason with the women； and as they
treated his remarks with lofty disdain； at last seized first one and
then the other by the elbows and literally ran them out of the room。
〃There；〃 he said； 〃baggage gone since you make such fuss about it；
though I 'spect they try to give me Bean for this job〃 （here he spoke
not in figurative English slang； but of the Calabar bean； which is a
favourite native poison）。 〃Well； dinner gone and girls gone； and we
tired； so best go to bed。 Think we all private here now； though in
Gold House never can be sure；〃 and he looked round him suspiciously；
adding； 〃rummy place； Gold House； full of all sort of holes made by
old fellows thousand year ago； which no one know but Bonsa priests。
Still； best risk it and take off your face so that you have decent
wash；〃 and he began to unlace the mask on his master's head。
Never has a City clerk dressed up for a fancy ball in the armour of a
Norman knight； been more glad to get rid of his costume than was Alan
of that hateful head…dress。 At length it was gone with his other
garments and the much…needed wash accomplished； after which he clothe