Had
he asked Jim-Eng, that patient Chinaman would have informed him with
proper pride that its meaning was: "House of heavenly delight."
In the evening of the same day Babalatchi called on Captain Ford. The
captain's cabin opened on deck, and Babalatchi sat astride on the high
step, while Ford smoked his pipe on the settee inside. The steamer was
leaving next morning, and the old statesman came as usual for a last
chat.
"We had news from Bali last moon," remarked Babalatchi. "A grandson is
born to the old Rajah, and there is great rejoicing."
Ford sat up interested.
"Yes," went on Babalatchi, in answer to Ford's look. "I told him. That
was before he began to smoke."
"Well, and what?" asked Ford.
"I escaped with my life," said Babalatchi, with perfect gravity, "because
the white man is very weak and fell as he rushed upon me." Then, after a
pause, he added, "She is mad with joy."
"Mrs. Almayer, you mean?"
"Yes, she lives in our Rajah's house. She will not die soon. Such women
live a long time," said Babalatchi, with a slight tinge of regret in his
voice. "She has dollars, and she has buried them, but we know where. We
had much trouble with those people. We had to pay a fine and listen to
threats from the white men, and now we have to be careful.
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