“For him!” said Murray, looking bewildered; “but I want to make them for myself, and for the institutions with which I am connected in London.”
“Yes; it is very awkward,” said Mr Braine.
“Tell him I am highly flattered, but I must go on to-day.—Well, go on: speak to him.”
“I cannot. I dare not.”
“Then I will.”
“But you can’t; you do not know his language.”
“Then I’ll show him in pantomime.”
“My dear sir, pray do nothing rash. I understand this chief and his people. You are quite strange to their ways. I beg you for your own sakes to accept the position.”
“But it is making prisoners of us, sir. English people are not accustomed to such treatment. I will not be forced to stay.”
“My dear Mr Murray, you are losing your temper,” said Mr Braine. “Just let me, as a man of some experience out here, remind you of what, in cooler moments, you must know: I mean the necessity for being diplomatic with eastern people. Now pray look here. I know how annoying all this is; but on the other hand, you will have facilities for carrying on your researches such as you could not create for yourself.”