"Tell me then, in your country do not people go on to their knees before their queen, and if not, how do they greet her ?" "No," answered Alan with the help of Jeekie.

"They greet her by raising their head-dress or kissing her hand." "Ah!" she said.

"Well, you have no head-dress, so kiss _my_ hand," and she stretched it out towards him, at the same time prodding the man whom Jackie had said was her husband, in the back with her foot, apparently to make him get out of the way.
Not knowing what to do, Alan stepped on to the dais, the painted man scowling at him as he passed.

Then he halted and said: "How can I kiss your hand through this mask, Asika ?" "True," she answered, then considered a little and added, "White man, you have brought back Little Bonsa, have you not, Little Bonsa who ran away with you a great many years ago ?" "I have," he said, ignoring the rest of the question.
"Your messengers said that you required a present of gold in return for Little Bonsa.

I have sent you one, is it sufficient?
If not, you can have more." "I cannot say, O Asika, I have not examined it.