"
At these words the priest smiled a little, then said that the Asika
desired to see the white lord and to receive from him Little Bonsa in
return for the gold, and that he could proffer his request to her.
"Good," replied Alan, "lead me to the Asika."
Then they started, Alan bearing the box containing Little Bonsa, and
Jeekie following after him. They went down passages and through sundry
doors till at length they came to a long and narrow hall that seemed to
be lined with plates of gold. At the end of this hall was a large chair
of black wood and ivory placed upon a dais, and sitting in this chair
with the light pouring on her from some opening above, was the woman of
Alan's dream, beautiful to look on in her crown and glittering
garments. Upon a stool at the foot of the dais sat a man, a handsome
and melancholy man. His hair was tied behind his head in a pigtail and
gilded, his face was painted red, white and yellow; he wore ropes of
bright-coloured stones about his neck, middle, arms and ankles, and held
a kind of sceptre in his hand.
"Who is that creature?" asked Alan over his shoulder to Jeekie. "The
Court fool?"
"That husband of Asika, Major.
Pages:
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231