“It still hurts?”
“Indio, Bwana!” said Bakunjala with a high note in his voice.
“Splendid!” assured the lieutenant: and after a full minute added: “Now you may go. And remember if you are frightened of a fly’s pain again I will give you twenty lashes.”
“Indio, Bwana,” answered Bakunjala humbly and departed swiftly with the hornet in his clenched fist. Zu Pfeiffer smiled, again stared reflectively at the violet shadows creeping lazily across the square, sipped some brandy and picking up his book, began to read.…
“Excellence!”
Zu Pfeiffer frowned and looked round. Outside the screen stood Sergeant Schultz at the salute. Zu Pfeiffer nodded.
“Well?”
“Excellence,” said the sergeant at attention, “the Englishman is here.”
“Ach, tell him to go——” The lieutenant drew out his gold chronometer. “It is my bath time. I cannot see him.”
“Ja, Excellence.”