"Fluently."
"Is it permitted to inquire how and when monsieur acquired this very unusual accomplishment?"
"I have spoken Ashantee from my infancy," replied Müller, with admirable aplomb. "I was born at sea, brought up in an undiscovered island, twice kidnapped by hostile tribes before attaining the age of ten years, and have lived among savage nations all my life."
A murmur of admiration ran through the audience, and Müller became, for the time, an object of livelier interest than Caraba Radokala himself. Seeing this, the indignant monarch executed a warlike pas, and rattled his chains fiercely.
"In that case, monsieur, you had better come upon the stage, and speak to his majesty," said the showman reluctantly.
"With all the pleasure in life."
"But I warn you that his temper is uncertain."
"Bah!" said Müller, working his way round through the crowd, "I'm not afraid of his temper."
"As monsieur pleases--but, if monsieur offends him, I will not be answerable for the consequences."
"All right--give us a hand up, mon vieux!" And Muller, having clambered upon the stage, made a bow to the audience and a salaam to his majesty.