The letter was duly delivered at the hatch. Schiller pretended to read it and said there was no answer.
As a rule he brought his letters to be read by my native clerk, but I had taken him with me on my tour.
If the Cattle King was surprised when the headman pushed open the hatch shutter and looked in, he did not show it.
He glanced up from his draught-board impatiently, frowned at the interruption, and turned to the game again. He was playing self versus self, and self was giving self no end of a tussle.
"Good-day to you, Merchant."
"Good-day, Gonye."
"I hope you have slept well?"
"Yes, and you?"
"Oh, yes, I have slept very well, thank you, Merchant."