Bashti glimpsed it and mistook it for simple curiosity of observation not guessing its real nature.

Which goes to show two things of those in the high place: one, that they may fool those beneath them; the other, that they may be fooled by those beneath them.
Bashti regarded Jerry quizzically, as if the matter were a joke, and shot a careless side glance to note the disappointment in his priest's eyes.
Ah, ha, thought Bashti; I have fooled him.
"Which is the high taboo ?" Agno queried in the Somo tongue.
"As you should ask.

Of a surety, the megapode." "And the dog ?" was Agno's next query.
"Must pay for breaking the taboo.

It is a high taboo.

It is my taboo.
It was so placed by Somo, the ancient father and first ruler of all of us, and it has been ever since the taboo of the chiefs.