“My dear girl,” said the explorer, “what are you striving to get at?”
Zulima paid no attention to the interruption.
“Better than any living creature,” she said, “I love the god of my fathers. To me devotion to the great Jobu means happiness in a future life. Now he is angry with my people.”
“Why?”
“Because the stranger was allowed to desecrate him. Do you not tremble?”
Zulima spoke in an impassioned manner throughout. Now she burst into tears.
“My dear,” said Stolburst, “Ajeeb accused me of stealing the famous green diamond that formed the idol’s eye.”
“Ajeeb is wise, and does not speak idle words.”
“Do you then think I am a thief?”
“Were I sure of that,” said the girl, “I would not be here.”