“But can we trust him? Will he not take us back to Mynheer?”
“Yes, we can trust him; and I am sure he won’t take us back to Mynheer; for although he is, in some way or other, mysteriously mixed up with that bad man, Prabu is an honest fellow, or I am no judge;” and as, when my brother spoke in that off-hand manner and came to a decision with abruptness, I knew it was useless to attempt to argue with him, I followed the ex-slave without further comment, only wondering what it was the “fool’s Providence,” as Martin had termed chance, had in store for us.
Having walked about half a mile along the bank, Prabu came to a dead halt in front of a spacious but very low bamboo building, which I at first believed to be some warehouse. When, however, we got up to him, he said:
“My young masters do not desire that Mynheer should know that they have been with Prabu. Thus it was that he thought it well not to be seen with them. Let them now follow him into the house, for there they can unbosom themselves without fear.”
“But,” said I, shrinking backwards, as I caught a view of the interior, “I do not like to enter this vile place; it is an opium-house.”
“It is not the house that is bad, but the people who frequent it, and with them my master need have no association. Let them enter fearlessly, for it is here only we can converse without fear of seeing any of the Dutch merchants.”
“Oh, bother! Don’t be so particular, Claud. Come along; Prabu knows best. We are not to be bad, because others are, surely,” said Martin.
“Oh! very well,” said I, seeing Martin was getting angry, “lead on; but, mind, I shall not smoke the horrid stuff.”
“Well, I don’t suppose anybody will ask you,” replied my brother; and in we went. As, however, I walked up the room, I felt as much contaminated as if I had been in a New York rum-shop. But the scene was even worse. Along each side of the room were separate divisions or chambers, with matted floors, upon which sat or reclined Chinese, in one of the phases consequent upon the free use of opium—one giddily stupid; another in loquacious intoxication; another in something like convulsions; another as if in a state of beatification; but all with emaciated forms, wild, staring eyes, a slight cough, and hectic cheeks: but not one, certainly, who seemed likely, or, indeed, capable, of listening with profit to anything we might have to say.
Having led us to one of the largest of these chambers, Prabu bade us seat ourselves upon the matting; then, following our example, he called to an attendant, who brought him a small pipe filled with a mixture of tobacco and opium. To do Prabu justice, however, he was no debauched opium-smoker, but called for the drug on this occasion, that the attendant might readily believe him to be an ordinary visitor, and not a spy upon the actions and words of others—a character, by the way, not uncommon in these dens, where it is believed by the authorities that conspiracies are ever being hatched for the overthrow of European rule.