Then you and I had better beware." "I am an old man and fear not death," answered Babalatchi, with a mendacious assumption of indifference.

"But what will you do ?" "I am an old woman, and wish to live," retorted Mrs.Almayer.

"She is my daughter also.

I shall seek safety at the feet of our Rajah, speaking in the name of the past when we both were young, and he--" Babalatchi raised his hand.
"Enough.

You shall be protected," he said soothingly.
Again the sound of Almayer's voice was heard, and again interrupting their talk, they listened to the confused but loud utterance coming in bursts of unequal strength, with unexpected pauses and noisy repetitions that made some words and sentences fall clear and distinct on their ears out of the meaningless jumble of excited shoutings emphasised by the thumping of Almayer's fist upon the table.