The Asika watched him go, laughed musically and said: "It is a very dull thing to be married,--but how are you named, white man ?" "Vernon," he answered.
"Vernoon, Vernoon," she repeated, for she could not pronounce the O as we do.

"Are you married, Vernoon ?" He shook his head.
"Have you been married ?" "No," he answered, "never, but I am going to be." "Yes," she repeated, "you are going to be.

You remember that you were near to it many years ago, when Little Bonsa got jealous and ran away with you.

Well, she won't do that again, for doubtless she is tired of you now, and besides," she added with a flash of ferocity, "I'd melt her with fire first and set her spirit free." While Jeekie was trying to explain this mysterious speech to Alan, the Asika broke in, asking: "Do you always want to wear that mask ?" He answered, "Certainly not," whereon she bade Jeekie take it off, which he did.
"Understand me," she said, fixing her great languid eyes upon his in a fashion that made him exceedingly uncomfortable, "understand, Vernoon, that if you go out anywhere, it must be in your mask, which you can only put off when you are alone with me ?" "Why ?" "Because, Vernoon, I do not choose that any other woman should see your face.

If a woman looks upon your uncovered face, remember that she dies--not nicely." Alan stared at her blankly, being unable to find appropriate Asiki words in which to reply to this threat.