This must be
right; and if the master afterwards is angry and swears, then so much the
worse for Mem Nina. Why did she not help? He left the verandah to fetch
the dinner.
"Well, Mr. Almayer, will you answer my question as frankly as it is put
to you?" asked the lieutenant, after a long silence.
Almayer turned round and looked at his interlocutor steadily. "If you
catch this Dain what will you do with him?" he asked.
The officer's face flushed. "This is not an answer," he said, annoyed.
"And what will you do with me?" went on Almayer, not heeding the
interruption.
"Are you inclined to bargain?" growled the other. "It would be bad
policy, I assure you. At present I have no orders about your person, but
we expected your assistance in catching this Malay."
"Ah!" interrupted Almayer, "just so: you can do nothing without me, and
I, knowing the man well, am to help you in finding him."
"This is exactly what we expect," assented the officer. "You have broken
the law, Mr. Almayer, and you ought to make amends."
"And save myself?"
"Well, in a sense yes. Your head is not in any danger," said the
lieutenant, with a short laugh.
"Very well," said Almayer, with decision, "I shall deliver the man up to
you.
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