Babehami spat. 'What will you pay him?'
'One twentieth of the crop. He is a good man to work.'
'He is a good worker. His chena is always the best, but he is a fool. He has brought disgrace upon us.'
'Is he married to that woman?'
'No. He went to her father's house and lives there with her.'
'It would be a good thing to take him from them. Is he not tired of her now?'
'He was mad about her. He would not listen to reason.'
'Ah, but that was at first, long ago. They say the man first finds heaven in a woman, later in a field, and last in the temple. Would you like to get him back to your house?'
'Yes.'
'Well, why not?' Fernando moved nearer to Babehami and lowered his voice. 'Ralahami, I must live here some months. Without a woman what comfort in a house? The woman is not ill-looking and could cook my meals for me. I had thought of this for some days, so I sent my servant boy to her. She answered that she would come, but she was afraid of her man. Then I thought of speaking to the man, but it is not easy for a stranger. I thought, if he marries this woman it is a disgrace to the headman. It is better that his friends speak to him. Probably he is tired of the woman, and will marry from another village some girl who has a dowry of land.'