‘What am I to think?’ asked Jenkins.
‘It is rather more important what you say,’ replied the captain. ‘What is this fine conspiracy?’
‘I had read in England about the Berbalangs.’
‘Probably in Mr. Skertchley’s curious paper in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal?’ asked Bude with suavity.
Jenkins merely stared at him.
‘I deemed that specimens of these American subjects, dowered with their strange and baneful gift, were well worthy of the study of American savants; and I knew that the pearls were a certain prophylactic.’
‘What’s that?’ asked the captain.
‘A kind of Universal Pain-Killer,’ said Jenkins.
‘Well, you surprise me,’ said the captain, ‘a man of your education. Pain-Killer!’ and he expectorated dexterously.
‘I mean that the pearls keep off the Berbalangs,’ said Jenkins.