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Have to do something soon if want to go。 Mungana's time nearly up； and
thenoh my eye！〃
It was night； about ten o'clock indeed； the hour at which Alan
generally went to bed。 No message had come and he began to hope that
the Asika had forgotten； or changed her mind； and was just going to
say so to Jeekie when a light coming from behind him attracted his
attention and he turned to see her standing in a corner of the great
room； holding a lamp in her hand and looking towards him。 Her gold
breastplate and crown were gone； with every other ornament； and she
was clad； or rather muffled in robes of pure white fitted with a kind
of nun's hood which lay back upon her shoulders。 Also on her arm she
carried a shawl or veil。 Standing thus； all undecked； with her long
hair fastened in a simple knot； she still looked very beautiful； more
so than she had ever been； thought Alan； for the cruelty of her face
had faded and was replaced by a mystery very strange to see。 She did
not seem quite like a natural woman； and that was the reason； perhaps；
that Alan for the first time felt attracted by her。 Hitherto she had
always repelled him； but this night it was otherwise。
〃How did you come here？〃 he asked in a more gentle voice than he
generally used towards her。
Noting the change in his tone； she smiled shyly and even coloured a
little； then answered：
〃This house has many secrets； Vernoon。 When you are lord of it you
shall learn them all； till then I may not tell them to you。 But； come；
there are other secrets which I hope you shall see to…night； and；
Jeekie； come you also； for you shall be the mouth of your lord； so
that you may tell me what perhaps he would hide。〃
〃I will tell you everything； everything； O Asika；〃 answered Jeekie；
stretching out his hands and bowing almost to the ground。
Then they started and following many long passages as before； although
whether they were the same or others Alan could not tell； came at last
to a door which he recognized； that of the Treasure House。 As they
approached this door it opened and through it； like a hunted thing；
ran the bedizened Mungana； husband of the Asika； terror； or madness；
shining in his eyes。 Catching sight of his wife； who bore the lamp； he
threw himself upon his knees and snatching at her robe； addressed some
petition to her； speaking so rapidly that Alan could not follow his
words。
For a moment she listened； then dragged her dress from his hand and
spurned him with her foot。 There was something so cruel in the gesture
and the action； so full of deadly hate and loathing； that Alan； who
witnessed it； experienced a new revulsion of feeling towards the
Asika。 What kind of a woman must she be； he wondered； who could treat
a discarded lover thus in the presence of his successor？
With a groan or a sob； it was difficult to say which； the poor man
rose and perceived Alan； whose face he now beheld for the first time；
since the Asika had told him not to mask himself as they would meet no
one。 The sight of it seemed to fill him with jealous fury； at any rate
he leapt at his rival； intending； apparently； to catch him by the
throat。 Alan； who was watching him； stepped aside； so that he came
into violet contact with the wall of the passage and； half…stunned by
the shock； reeled onwards into the darkness。
〃The hog！〃 said the Asika； or rather she hissed it； 〃the hog； who
dared to touch me and to strike at you。 Well； his time is shortwould
that I could make it shorter！ Did you hear what he sought of me？〃
Alan； who wished for no confidences； replied by asking what the
Mungana was doing in the Treasure House； to which she answered that
the spirits who dwelt there were eating up his soul； and when they had
devoured it all he would go quite mad and kill himself。
〃Does this happen to all Munganas？〃 inquired Alan。
〃Yes； Vernoon； if the Asika hates them； but if she loves them it is
otherwise。 Come； let us forget the wretch； who would kill you if he
could；〃 and she led the way into the hall and up it； passing between
the heaps of gold。
On the table where lay the necklaces of gems she set down her lamp；
whereof the light； all there was in that great place； flickered feebly
upon the mask of Little Bonsa； which had been moved here apparently
for some ceremonial purpose； and still more feebly upon the hideous；
golden countenances and winding sheets of the ancient； yellow dead who
stood around in scores placed one above the other； each in his
appointed niche。 It was an awesome scene and one that oppressed Jeekie
very much； for he murmured to Alan：
〃Oh my！ Major； family vault child's play to this hole； just like〃
here his comparison came to an end； for the Asika cut it short with a
single glance。
〃Sit here in front of me；〃 she said to Alan； 〃and you； Jeekie； sit at
your lord's side； and be silent till I bid you speak。〃
Then she crouched down in a heap behind them； threw the cloth or veil
she carried over her head； and in some way that they did not see；
suddenly extinguished the lamp。
Now they were in deep darkness； the darkness of death； and in utter
silence； the silence of the dead。 No glimmer of light； and yet to Alan
it seemed as though he could feel the flash of the crystal eyes of
Little Bonsa； and of all the other eyes set in the masks of those
departed men who once had been the husbands of the bloodstained
priestess of the Asiki； till one by one； as she wearied of them； they
were bewitched to madness and to doom。 In that utter quiet he thought
even that he could hear them stir within their winding sheets； or it
may have been that the Asika had risen and moved among them on some
errand of her own。 Far away something fell to the floor； a very light
object； such as flake of rock or a scale of gold。 Yet the noise of it
struck his nerves loud as a clap of thunder； and those of Jeekie also；
for he felt him start at his side and heard the sudden hammerlike beat
of his heart。
What was the woman doing in this dreadful place； he wondered。 Well； it
was easy to guess。 Doubtless she had brought them here to scare and
impress them。 Presently a voice； that of some hidden priest； would
speak to them； and they would be asked to believe it a message from
the spirit world； or a spirit itself might be arrangedwhat could be
easier in their mood and these surroundings？
Now the Asika was speaking behind them in a muffled voice。 From the
tone of it she appeared to be engaged in argument or supplication in
some strange tongue。 At any rate Alan could not understand a word of
what she said。 The argument； or prayer； went on for a long while； with
pauses as though for answers。 Then suddenly it ceased and once more
they were plunged into that unfathomable silence。
CHAPTER XVI
WHAT THE ASIKA SHOWED ALAN
It seemed to Alan that he went to sleep and dreamed。
He dreamed that it was late autumn in England。 Leaves drifted down
from the trees beneath the breath of a strong； damp wind； and ran or
floated along the road till they vanished into a ditch； or caught
against a pile of stones that had been laid ready for its repair。 He
knew the road well enough； he even knew the elm tree beneath whi