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"Thou hast heard my question, Chia'gnosi, and Mapela's answer," said he. "Canst thou tell me what I want to know?" "Listen to my words, O King," said I. "Last night, when the moon was so high in the heavens," I pointed to the approximate altitude of the planet "Machenga came secretly and in disguise to my wagon, asking for gifts.
"And you are fool enough to think that after such treatment as I have received at your hands I will let you go?" she shrieked in a perfect frenzy of fury. "No, Chia'gnosi; you have humiliated me as I believe no woman was ever before humiliated by a man, and since you have scorned my friendship you shall learn what it means to incur my hate.
"Quite impossible, Chia'gnosi," he answered, "if she were sincere in their expression." "And how do you know that she is not?" I demanded hotly. "How do you know that she is?" he retorted. "You have only her word for it; she has not furnished you with a shadow of proof. It is easy for a woman or a man to express exalted sentiments and lofty aspirations, even though she or he may not feel them.
"So, Chia'gnosi," she said, "you, to whom I extended a cordial welcome to my kingdom, whom I made a general of my army, upon whom I heaped benefits innumerable, even to the bestowal upon you of all the shining stones I possess, and which you have so greatly craved you whom I deemed the very soul and embodiment of chivalry and honour and truth you have stooped so low as to clandestinely consort with my enemies, to hearken to their slanderous tongues, to credit the base falsehoods about me which they have poured into your ears; and now you have the assurance to come to me with the purpose of telling me that I am so utterly vile that even you, false and craven that you are, will no longer remain my guest, from fear of contamination!"
Machenga had obeyed my imperative command to halt, thus unconsciously demonstrating at once that his state of trance was merely a pretence; and when I ceased to speak he further betrayed himself by answering me. "Au, Chia'gnosi!" he exclaimed, "so thou, too, art a magician? And thou dost threaten to kill me!
"There was no need for you to tell me that, Chia'gnosi," he said, "for I know Bimbane, and am fully aware of her extraordinary powers of persuasion.
"Nay," answered Mapela, "I am but a simple induna, knowing nothing save the art of warfare, and the way in which warriors should be trained in order to make good fighters of them. Who am I that I should presume to answer such a question? Ask Chia'gnosi; he is young, but he is very wise. Perhaps his wisdom may be able to answer thee. Ask him." The king turned to me.
"Well met, Anuti," said I. "I have been hoping that I might see you, for I have several matters of moment that I wish to discuss with you. Will you ride with me to the end of the valley, or shall I accompany you to your house?" "Let us ride to the end of the valley first, Chia'gnosi," said he; "then, afterwards, if you will accompany me to my house, I shall feel myself very deeply honoured."
Great is my pride and joy, O Chia'gnosi, that mine is the privilege to be the first to hail you king. Deign to honour my poor house with your gracious presence for a few hours, Your Majesty, while I go forth and proclaim the glad tidings to the nobles and chiefs here in Masakisale, and make arrangements for the news to be transmitted to the uttermost parts of the kingdom "
"Oh, Chia'gnosi, you are cruel, bitterly cruel and unjust to say such things to me!" she cried; and then, to my utter consternation, she burst into a perfect passion of weeping, and again I felt my heart insidiously softening and warming toward her, she looked so utterly woebegone, so terribly helpless and friendless.
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