The Malay replied in his own tongue that he was prepared to hear anything the Resident had to say.
“But will what I say be overheard, I asked you?” cried Mr Braine, impatiently, still speaking in English, so that Murray might hear his words, knowing as he did that the Malay perfectly understood everything.
“I am quite ready to hear you,” replied the Tumongong.
“And will what I say be carried to the rajah? Look here, Tumongong. I have always been on good terms with you since I came here, though I do consider you acted unfairly by me in not warning me in Malacca as to what my position would be.”
“I am the servant of his highness,” replied the officer, “and I have my duty to do toward him. When I have done that, I am your friend.”
“Then tell me this: those two boys, my son and his young companion—where are they?”
Dark as it was, Murray saw the Malay start, but he was perfectly calm the next moment.
“I do not know,” he said.
“Is this the truth?”
“I do not know where they are,” replied the Malay.