Thirdly, because you have matched your single wit for many years against all the power of the royal House and yet kept your life in you, notably when Panda threatened you in my presence at the trial of one who has 'gone down,' and you told him to kill you if he dared.

Now you would prove that you were right by causing your cunning to triumph over the royal House." "True, quite true, O Macumazahn.

You have a good memory, Macumazahn, especially for anything that has to do with that woman who has 'gone down.' I sent her down, but how was she named, Macumazahn?
I forget, I forget, whose mind being old, falls suddenly into black pits of darkness--like her who went down." He paused and we stared at each other through the veil of fire.
Then as I made no answer, he went on-- "Oh! I remember now, she was called Mameena, was she not, a name taken from the wailing of the wind?
Hark! It is wailing now." I listened; it was, and I shivered to hear it, since but a minute before the night had been quite still.

Yes, the wind moaned and wailed about the rocks of the Black Kloof.
"Well, enough of her.

Why trouble about the dead when there are so many to be sent to join them?
Macumazahn, the hour is at hand.