amagovernmentofficial——youtelltherascal……Eh？What？Friendofyours？“……Hecontinuedwallowingcalmlyinthechair……“Yousaidso；that’sjustit；andIampleasedtogiveyouthehint。Isupposeyou，too，wouldliketogetsomethingoutofit？Don’tinterrupt。YoujusttellhimI’veheardthetale，buttomygovernmentIhavemadenoreport。Notyet。See？Whymakeareport？Eh？Tellhimtocometomeiftheylethimgetaliveoutofthecountry。Hehadbetterlookoutforhimself。Eh？I
　　promisetoasknoquestions。Onthequiet——youunderstand？You，too——youshallgetsomethingfromme。Smallcommissionforthetrouble。Don’tinterrupt。
　　Iamagovernmentofficial，andmakenoreport。That’sbusiness。Understand？
　　Iknowsomegoodpeoplethatwillbuyanythingworthhaving，andcangivehimmoremoneythanthescoundreleversawinhislife。Iknowhissort。“
　　Hefixedmesteadfastlywithbothhiseyesopen，whileIstoodoverhimutterlyamazed，andaskingmyselfwhetherhewasmadordrunk。Heperspired，puffed，moaningfeebly，andscratchinghimselfwithsuchhorriblecomposurethatIcouldnotbearthesightlongenoughtofindout。Nextday，talkingcasuallywiththepeopleofthelittlenativecourtoftheplace，IdiscoveredthatastorywastravellingslowlydownthecoastaboutamysteriouswhitemaninPatusanwhohadgotholdofanextraordinarygem——namely，anemeraldofanenormoussize，andaltogetherpriceless。TheemeraldseemstoappealmoretotheEasternimaginationthananyotherpreciousstone。Thewhitemanhadobtainedit，Iwastold，partlybytheexerciseofhiswonderfulstrengthandpartlybycunning，fromtherulerofadistantcountry，whencehehadfledinstantlyarrivinginPatusaninutmostdistress，butfrighteningthepeoplebyhisextremeferocity，whichnothingseemedabletosubdue。
　　Mostofmyinformantswereoftheopinionthatthestonewasprobablyunlucky——likethefamousstoneoftheSultanofSuccadana，whichintheoldtimeshadbroughtwarsanduntoldcalamitiesuponthatcountry。Perhapsitwasthesamestone——onecouldn’tsay。IndeedthestoryofafabulouslylargeemeraldisasoldasthearrivalofthefirstwhitemenintheArchipelago；andthebeliefinitissopersistentthatlessthanfortyyearsagotherehadbeenanofficialDutchinquiryintothetruthofit。Suchajewel——itwasexplainedtomebytheoldfellowfromwhomIheardmostofthisamazingJim-myth——asortofscribetothewretchedlittleRajahoftheplace；——suchajewel，hesaid，cockinghispoorpurblindeyesupatmehewassittingonthecabinflooroutofrespect，isbestpreservedbybeingconcealedaboutthepersonofawoman。Yetitisnoteverywomanthatwoulddo。Shemustbeyoung——hesigheddeeply——andinsensibletotheseductionsoflove。
　　Heshookhisheadsceptically。Butsuchawomanseemedtobeactuallyinexistence。Hehadbeentoldofatallgirl，whomthewhitemantreatedwithgreatrespectandcare，andwhoneverwentforthfromthehouseunattended。
　　Peoplesaidthewhitemancouldbeseenwithheralmostanyday；theywalkedsidebyside，openly，heholdingherarmunderhis——pressedtohisside——thus——inamostextraordinaryway。Thismightbealie，heconceded，foritwasindeedastrangethingforanyonetodo：ontheotherhand，therecouldbenodoubtsheworethewhiteman’sjewelconcealeduponherbosom。’
　　wasthetheoryofJim’smaritaleveningwalks。
　　Imadeathirdonmorethanoneoccasion，unpleasantlyawareeverytimeofCornelius，whonursedtheaggrievedsenseofhislegalpaternity，slinkingintheneighbourhoodwiththatpeculiartwistofhismouthasifhewereperpetuallyonthepointofgnashinghisteeth。Butdoyounoticehow，threehundredmilesbeyondtheendoftelegraphcablesandmail-boatlines，thehaggardutilitarianliesofourcivilizationwitheranddie，tobereplacedbypureexercisesofimagination，thathavethefutility，oftenthecharm，andsometimesthedeephiddentruthfulness，ofworksofart？
　　RomancehadsingledJimforitsown——andthatwasthetruepartofthestory，whichotherwisewasallwrong。Hedidnothidehisjewel。Infact，hewasextremelyproudofit。
　　`ItcomestomenowthatIhad，onthewhole，seenverylittleofher。
　　WhatIrememberbestistheeven，olivepallorofhercomplexion，andtheintenseblue-blackgleamsofherhair，flowingabundantlyfromunderasmallcrimsoncapsheworefarbackonhershapelyhead。Hermovementswerefree，assured，andsheblushedaduskyred。WhileJimandIweretalking，shewouldcomeandgowithrapidglancesatus，leavingonherpassageanimpressionofgraceandcharmandadistinctsuggestionofwatchfulness。
　　Hermannerpresentedacuriouscombinationofshynessandaudacity。Everyprettysmilewassucceededswiftlybyalookofsilent，repressedanxiety，asifputtoflightbytherecollectionofsomeabidingdanger。Attimesshewouldsitdownwithusand，withhersoftcheekdimpledbytheknucklesofherlittlehand，shewouldlistentoourtalk；herbigcleareyeswouldremainfastenedonourlips，asthougheachpronouncedwordhadavisibleshape。Hermotherhadtaughthertoreadandwrite；shehadlearnedagoodbitofEnglishfromJim，andshespokeitmostamusingly，withhisownclipping，boyishintonation。Hertendernesshoveredoverhimlikeaflutterofwings。Shelivedsocompletelyinhiscontemplationthatshehadacquiredsomethingofhisoutwardaspect，somethingthatrecalledhiminhermovements，inthewayshestretchedherarm，turnedherhead，directedherglances。
　　Hervigilantaffectionhadanintensitythatmadeitalmostperceptibletothesenses；itseemedactuallytoexistintheambientmatterofspace，toenvelophimlikeapeculiarfragrance，todwellinthesunshinelikeatremulous，subdued，andimpassionednote。IsupposeyouthinkthatI，too，amromantic，butitisamistake。Iamrelatingtoyouthesoberimpressionsofabitofyouth，ofastrangeuneasyromancethathadcomeinmyway。
　　Iobservedwithinteresttheworkofhis——well——goodfortune。Hewasjealouslyloved，butwhysheshouldbejealous，andofwhat，Icouldnottell。Theland，thepeople，theforestswereheraccomplices，guardinghimwithvigilantaccord，withanairofseclusion，ofmystery，ofinvinciblepossession。
　　Therewasnoappeal，asitwere；hewasimprisonedwithintheveryfreedomofhispower，andshe，thoughreadytomakeafootstoolofherheadforhisfeet，guardedherconquestinflexibly——asthoughhewerehardtokeep。
　　TheveryTamb’Itam，marchingonourjourneysupontheheelsofhiswhitelord，withhisheadthrownback，truculentandbe-weaponedlikeajanissary，withkris，chopper，andlancebesidescarryingJim’sgun；evenTamb’
　　Itamallowedhimselftoputontheairsofuncompromisingguardianship，likeasurlydevotedjailerreadytolaydownhislifeforhiscaptive。
　　Ontheeveningswhenwesatuplatehissilent，indistinctformwouldpassandrepassundertheveranda，withnoiselessfootsteps，orliftingmyheadIwouldunexpectedlymakehimoutstandingrigidlyerectintheshadow。
　　Asageneralrulehewouldvanishafteratime，withoutasound；butwhenwerosehewouldspringupclosetousasiffromtheground，readyforanyordersJimmightwishtogive。Thegirl，too，Ibelieve，neverwenttosleeptillwehadseparatedforthenight。MorethanonceIsawherandJimthroughthewindowofmyroomcomeouttogetherquietlyandleanontheroughbalustrade——twowhiteformsveryclose，hisarmaboutherwaist，herheadonhisshoulder。Theirsoftmurmursreachedme，penetrating，tender，withacalmsadnoteinthestillnessofthenight，likeaself-communionofonebeingcarriedonintwotones。Lateron，tossingonmybedunderthemosquitonet，Iwassuretohearslightcreakings，faintbreathing，athroatclearedcautiously——andIwouldknowthatTamb’Itamwasstillontheprowl。Thoughhehadbythefavourofthewhitelordahouseinthecompound，had“takenwife，“andhadlatelybeenblessedwithachild，Ibelievethat，duringmystayatallevents，hesleptontheverandaeverynight。Itwasverydifficulttomakethisfaithfulandgrimretainertalk。
　　EvenJimhimselfwasansweredinjerkyshortsentences，underprotestasitwere。Talking，heseemedtoimply，wasnobusinessofhis。ThelongestspeechIheardhimvolunteerwasonemorningwhen，suddenlyextendinghishandtowardsthecourtyard，hepointedatCorneliusandsaid，“HerecomestheNazarene。“Idon’tthinkhewasaddressingme，thoughIstoodathisside；hisobjectseemedrathertoawakentheindignantattentionoftheuniverse。Somemutteredallusions，whichfollowed，todogsandthesmellofroastmeat，struckmeassingularlyfelicitous。Thecountryard，alargesquarespace，wasonetorridblazeofsunshine，and，bathedinintenselight，Corneliuswascreepingacrossinfullviewwithaninexpressibleeffectofstealthiness，ofdarkandsecretslinking。Heremindedoneofeverythingthatisunsavoury。Hisslowlaboriouswalkresembledthecreepingofarepulsivebeetle，thelegsalonemovingwithhorridindustrywhilethebodyglidedevenly。Isupposehemadestraightenoughfortheplacewherehewantedtogetto，buthisprogresswithoneshouldercarriedforwardseemedoblique。Hewasoftenseencirclingslowlyamongstthesheds，asiffollowingascent；passingbeforetheverandawithupwardstealthyglances；
　　disappearingwithouthasteroundthecornerofsomehut。ThatheseemedfreeoftheplacedemonstratedJim’sabsurdcarelessnessorelsehisinfinitedisdain，forCorneliushadplayedaverydubiousparttosaytheleastofitinacertainepisodewhichmighthaveendedfatallyforJim。Asamatteroffact，ithadredoundedtohisglory。Buteverythingredoundedtohisglory，anditwastheironyofhisgoodfortunethathe，whohadbeentoocarefulofitonce，seemedtobearacharmedlife。
　　`YoumustknowhehadleftDoramin’splaceverysoonafterhisarrival——muchtoosoon，infact，forhissafety，andofcoursealongtimebeforethewar。Inthishewasactuatedbyasenseofduty；hehadtolookafterStein’sbusiness，hesaid。Hadn’the？Tothatend，withanutterdisregardofhispersonalsafety，hecrossedtheriverandtookuphisquarterswithCornelius。
　　HowthelatterhadmanagedtoexistthroughthetroubledtimesIcan’tsay。AsStein’sagent，afterall，hemusthavehadDoramin’sprotectioninameasure；andinonewayoranotherhehadmanagedtowrigglethroughallthedeadlycomplications，whileIhavenodoubtthathisconduct，whateverlinehewasforcedtotake，wasmarkedbythatabjectnesswhichwaslikethestampoftheman。Thatwashischaracteristic；hewasfundamentallyandoutwardlyabject，asothermenaremarkedlyofagenerous，distinguished，orvenerableappearance。Itwastheelementofhisnaturewhichpermeatedallhisactsandpassionsandemotions；heragedabjectly，smiledabjectly，wasabjectlysad；hiscivilitiesandhisindignationswerealikeabject。
　　Iamsurehislovewouldhavebeenthemostabjectofsentiments——butcanoneimaginealoathsomeinsectinlove？Andhisloathsomeness，too，wasabject，sothatasimplydisgustingpersonwouldhaveappearednoblebyhisside。Hehashisplaceneitherinthebackgroundnorintheforegroundofthestory；heissimplyseenskulkingonitsoutskirts，enigmaticalandunclean，taintingthefragranceofitsyouthandofitsnaiveness。
　　`Hispositioninanycasecouldnothavebeenotherthanextremelymiserable，yetitmayverywellbethathefoundsomeadvantagesinit。Jimtoldmehehadbeenreceivedatfirstwithanabjectdisplayofthemostamicablesentiments。“Thefellowapparentlycouldn’tcontainhimselfforjoy，“saidJimwithdisgust。“Heflewatmeeverymorningtoshakebothmyhands——confoundhim!butIcouldnevertellwhethertherewouldbeanybreakfast。IfI
　　gotthreemealsintwodaysIconsideredmyselfjollylucky，andhemademesignachitfortendollarseveryweek。SaidhewassureMr。Steindidnotmeanhimtokeepmefornothing。Well——hekeptmeonnothingasnearaspossible。Putitdowntotheunsettledstateofthecountry，andmadeasiftotearhishairout，beggingmypardontwentytimesaday，sothatIhadatlasttoentreathimnottoworry。Itmademesick。Halftheroofofhishousehadfallenin，andthewholeplacehadamangylook，withwispsofdrygrassstickingoutandthecornersofbrokenmatsflappingoneverywall。HedidhisbesttomakeoutthatMr。Steinowedhimmoneyonthelastthreeyears’trading，buthisbookswerealltorn，andsomeweremissing。Hetriedtohintitwashislatewife’sfault。Disgustingscoundrel!AtlastIhadtoforbidhimtomentionhislatewifeatall。
　　ItmadeJewelcry。Icouldn’tdiscoverwhatbecameofallthetrade-goods；
　　therewasnothinginthestorebutrats，havingahigholdtimeamongstalitterofbrownpaperandoldsacking。Iwasassuredoneveryhandthathehadalotofmoneyburiedsomewhere，butofcoursecouldgetnothingoutofhim。ItwasthemostmiserableexistenceIledthereinthatwretchedhouse。ItriedtodomydutybyStein，butIhadalsoothersmatterstothinkof。WhenIescapedtoDoraminoldTunkuAllanggotfrightenedandreturnedallmythings。Itwasdoneinaroundaboutway，andwithnoendofmystery，throughaChinamanwhokeepsasmallshophere；butassoonasIlefttheBugisquarterandwenttolivewithCorneliusitbegantobesaidopenlythattheRajahhadmadeuphismindtohavemekilledbeforelong。Pleasant，wasn’tit？AndIcouldn’tseewhattherewastopreventhimifhereallyhadmadeuphismind。Theworstofitwas，Icouldn’thelpfeelingIwasn’tdoinganygoodeitherforSteinorformyself。Oh!
　　itwasbeastly——thewholesixweeksofit。“’