ver
quietly and free from all distraction what I had heard, in the hope of
being able to arrive at some definite conclusion with regard to the
matter. Also, I was anxious to learn whether there was any foundation
for Anuti's suggestion that Bimbane was probably aware of his meeting
with me, and of what had passed between us, believing that if such were
indeed the case the queen would assuredly betray her knowledge either by
her speech or in her manner. But although I had scarcely been back long
enough to bathe and change into the garments which I usually wore
indoors when I was invited to join the queen in her apartments, I could
detect nothing in either her manner of greeting me or in her subsequent
speech to indicate that she had the least suspicion that I had spent
nearly two hours in her husband's company. There was not the slightest
shade of difference in her cordiality of manner toward me, not the
faintest suggestion of uneasiness or anxiety; and as for her
conversation, after informing me that she had received information from
the mine to the effect that a large consignment of the shining stones
might be expected shortly, she proceeded to question me with regard to
the details of my past life--of which she appeared to possess a quite
extraordinary general knowledge--and finally referred, in a perfectly
natural manner, to little Nell Lestrange, asking whether I still adhered
to my original intention of endeavouring to find the child. And upon my
assuring her that I certainly did, she asserted that she possessed the
power to help me very materially in my search, and was perfectly willing
to afford me that help, if I cared to avail myself of it; to which I
replied that I would gladly do so, and would feel infinitely obliged and
grateful for it. Whereupon she offered to show me, there and then, the
road which I must follow, upon leaving Masakisale, in order to reach the
place where the lost child might be found.

To one who thought somewhat slowly, as I generally do, this seemed to be
rather rushing matters, and, with Anuti's warning fresh in my mind, I
hesitated for just the fraction of a second, wondering whether perchance
this might not be some subtle scheme on Bimbane's part to get me into
her power; but the friendly, ingenuous look in her eyes, as I glanced
into them, disarmed my momentary suspicion, and a few seconds later,
animated by the intensity of my desire to learn what I might regarding
poor Nell's