question. He looked at the
body laying straight and rigid under its white cover on which the sun,
declining amongst the clouds to the westward, threw a pale tinge of red.
The lieutenant waited for the answer, taking quick pulls at his
half-extinguished cigar. Behind them Ali moved noiselessly laying the
table, ranging solemnly the ill-assorted and shabby crockery, the tin
spoons, the forks with broken prongs, and the knives with saw-like blades
and loose handles. He had almost forgotten how to prepare the table for
white men. He felt aggrieved; Mem Nina would not help him. He stepped
back to look at his work admiringly, feeling very proud. This must be
right; and if the master afterwards is angry and swears, then so much the
worse for Mem Nina. Why did she not help? He left the verandah to fetch
the dinner.

"Well, Mr. Almayer, will you answer my question as frankly as it is put
to you?" asked the lieutenant, after a long silence.

Almayer turned round and looked at his interlocutor steadily. "If you
catch this Dain what will you do with him?" he asked.

The officer's face flushed. "This is not an answer," he said, annoyed.

"And what will you do with me?" went on Almayer, not heeding the
interruption.

"Are you inclined to bargain?" growled the other. "It would be bad
policy, I assure you. At present I have no orders about your person, but
we expected your assistance in catching this Malay."

"Ah!" interrupted Almayer, "just so: you can do nothing without me, and
I, knowing the man well, am to help you in finding him."

"This is exactly what we expect," assented the officer. "You have broken
the law, Mr. Almayer, and you ought to make amends."

"And save myself?"

"Well, in a sense yes. Your head is not in any danger," said the
lieutenant, with a short laugh.

"Very well," said Almayer, with decision, "I shall deliver the man up to
you."

Both officers rose to their feet quickly, and looked for their side-arms
which they had unbuckled. Almayer laughed harshly.

"Steady, gentlemen!" he exclaimed. "In my own time and in my own way.
After dinner, gentlemen, you shall have him."

"This is preposterous," urged the lieutenant. "Mr. Almayer, this is no
joking matter. The man is a criminal. He deserves to hang. While we
dine he may escape; the rumour of our arrival--"

Almayer walked towards the table. "I give you my word of honour,
gentlemen, that he shall not escape; I have him safe eno