They depart. A bundle of rags and blankets in a neighbouring corner suddenly comes to life, and reveals the familiar lineaments of Oskarashi, as he slinks away, like an enormous anthropoid ape, to his hovel in the back street beyond the wall.
Fourth Scene.
—We now find ourselves at night in an even more ancient and dilapidated part of the city—the neighbourhood of the hovel in the back street, beyond the wall. A number of American tourists, shepherded by an unsightly and bespectacled Baboo from the local Cook’s office, are making a tour of these rather unsavoury precincts, before embarking to join the P. and O. steamer at Hong Kong. Lurking in the background are Aswarak, Boo Boo and Co., with an arsenal of weapons, closing in upon their enemy.
The Baboo (addressing his audience collectively): And—here—we—have—a—typical—example—of—the—ar—chitecture—of old—Pekin—dating—to—a—time—co—eval—with—Ginghis Khan—in—my—country.
A Tourist: My, Sally. Look at here! (To the guide) Say, cutey, what you callum this? (She points to a procession forming up among the houses.)
The Baboo: This—is—a very—fortunate—circumstance. Ladies—and—gentlemen—we—are—about—to—witness—a—Manchu—funeral.
Another Tourist: Some guy pegged out, I guess.
The Baboo: We must—withdraw—to—one—side. (They do so.)
Aswarak (or Boo Boo): A thousand curses. We must delay the assault until this pig of an unbeliever has been taken away. (They confer.)
The procession advances, headed by the Mourners, who are singing a terrible wailing melody. As they approach the words become audible.