lm
evenness of intonation peculiar to the better class Malays--

"Who would doubt a white Tuan's words? A man seeks his friends where his
heart tells him. Is this not true also? I have come, although so late,
for I have something to say which you may be glad to hear. To-morrow I
will go to the Sultan; a trader wants the friendship of great men. Then
I shall return here to speak serious words, if Tuan permits. I shall not
go to the Arabs; their lies are very great! What are they? Chelakka!"

Almayer's voice sounded a little more pleasantly in reply.

"Well, as you like. I can hear you to-morrow at any time if you have
anything to say. Bah! After you have seen the Sultan Lakamba you will
not want to return here, Inchi Dain. You will see. Only mind, I will
have nothing to do with Lakamba. You may tell him so. What is your
business with me, after all?"

"To-morrow we talk, Tuan, now I know you," answered the Malay. "I speak
English a little, so we can talk and nobody will understand, and then--"

He interrupted himself suddenly, asking surprised, "What's that noise,
Tuan?"

Almayer had also heard the increasing noise of the scuffle recommenced on
the women's side of the curtain. Evidently Nina's strong curiosity was
on the point of overcoming Mrs. Almayer's exalted sense of social
proprieties. Hard breathing was distinctly audible, and the curtain
shook during the contest, which was mainly physical, although Mrs.
Almayer's voice was heard in angry remonstrance with its usual want of
strictly logical reasoning, but with the well-known richness of
invective.

"You shameless woman! Are you a slave?" shouted shrilly the irate
matron. "Veil your face, abandoned wretch! You white snake, I will not
let you!"

Almayer's face expressed annoyance and also doubt as to the advisability
of interfering between mother and daughter. He glanced at his Malay
visitor, who was waiting silently for the end of the uproar in an
attitude of amused expectation, and waving his hand contemptuously he
murmured--

"It is nothing. Some women."

The Malay nodded his head gravely, and his face assumed an expression of
serene indifference, as etiquette demanded after such an explanation. The
contest was ended behind the curtain, and evidently the younger will had
its way, for the rapid shuffle and click of Mrs. Almayer's high-heeled
sandals died away in the distance. The tranquillised master of the house
was going to r