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mind； and with it the memory of the veiled picture which Mr。 Savage
had pointed out to me on the previous morning。
〃I can't say； Mr。 Quatermain； but I did know it。 You were thinking of
the picture； were you not？〃
〃And if I was；〃 I said； avoiding a direct reply； 〃what of it？ Though
it is hidden from everybody else； he has only to draw the curtain and
seeyou。〃
〃Supposing he should draw the curtain one day and see nothing； Mr。
Quatermain？〃
〃Then the picture would have been stolen； that is all； and he would
have to search for it till he found it again； which doubtless sooner
or later he would do。〃
〃Yes； sooner or later。 But where？ Perhaps you have lost a picture or
two in your time； Mr。 Quatermain； and are better able to answer the
question than I am。〃
There was silence for a few moments； for this talk of lost pictures
brought back memories which choked me。
Then she began to speak again； low； quickly； and with suppressed
passion； but acting wonderfully all the while。 Knowing that eyes were
on her； her gestures and the expression of her face were such as might
have been those of any young lady of fashion who was talking of
everyday affairs； such as dancing； or flowers； or jewels。 She smiled
and even laughed occasionally。 She played with the golden salt…cellar
in front of her and； upsetting a little of the salt； threw it over her
left shoulder； appearing to ask me if I were a victim of that ancient
habit； and so on。
But all the while she was talking deeply of deep things； such as I
should never have thought would pass her mind。 This was the substance
of what she said； for I cannot set it all down verbatim； after so many
years my memory fails me。
〃I am not like other women。 Something moves me to tell you so；
something very real and powerful which pushes me as a strong man
might。 It is odd； because I have never spoken to anyone else like
that； not to my mother for instance； or even to Lord Ragnall。 They
would neither of them understand； although they would misunderstand
differently。 My mother would think I ought to see a doctorand if you
knew that doctor！ He；〃 and she nodded towards Lord Ragnall； 〃would
think that my engagement had upset me； or that I had grown rather more
religious than I ought to be at my age； and been reflecting too much
well； on the end of all things。 From a child I have understood that I
am a mystery set in the midst of many other mysteries。 It all came to
me one night when I was about nine years old。 I seemed to see the past
and the future； although I could grasp neither。 Such a long； long past
and such an infinite future。 I don't know what I saw； and still see
sometimes。 It comes in a flash； and is in a flash forgotten。 My mind
cannot hold it。 It is too big for my mind； you might as well try to
pack Dr。 Jeffreys there into this wineglass。 Only two facts remain
written on my heart。 The first is that there is trouble ahead of me；
curious and unusual trouble； and the second； that permanently；
continually； I； or a part of me； have something to do with Africa； a
country of which I know nothing except from a few very dull books。
Also； by the waythis is a new thoughtthat I have a great deal to
do with /you/。 That is why I am so interested in Africa and you。 Tell
me about Africa and yourself now； while we have the chance。〃 And she
ended rather abruptly； adding in a louder voice； 〃You have lived there
all your life； have you not； Mr。 Quatermain？〃
〃I rather think your mother would be rightabout the doctor； I mean；〃
I said。
〃You /say/ that； but you don't /believe/ it。 Oh！ you are very
transparent； Mr。 Quatermainat least； to me。〃
So； hurriedly enough； for these subjects seemed to be uncomfortable；
even dangerous in a sense； I began to talk of the first thing about
Africa that I rememberednamely； of the legend of the Holy Flower
that was guarded by a huge ape； of which I had heard from a white man
who was supposed to be rather mad； who went by the name of Brother
John。 Also I told her that there was something in it； as I had with me
a specimen of the flower。
〃Oh！ show it me；〃 she said。
I replied that I feared I could not； as it was locked away in a safe
in London； whither I was returning on the morrow。 I promised； however；
to send her a life…sized water…colour drawing of which I had caused
several to be made。 She asked me if I were going to look for this
flower； and I said that I hoped so if I could make the necessary
arrangements。 Next she asked me if there chanced to be any other
African quests upon which I had set my mind。 I replied that there were
several。 For instance； I had heard vaguely through Brother John； and
indirectly from one or two other sources； of the existence of a
certain tribe in East Central AfricaArabs or semi…Arabswho were
reported to worship a child that always remained a child。 This child；
I took it； was a dwarf； but as I was interested in native religious
customs which were infinite in their variety； I should much like to
find out the truth of the matter。
〃Talking of Arabs；〃 she broke in； 〃I will tell you a curious story。
Once when I was a little girl； eight or nine years of ageit was just
before that kind of awakening of which I have spoken to youI was
playing in Kensington Gardens； for we lived in London at the time； in
the charge of my nurse…governess。 She was talking to some young man
who she said was her cousin； and told me to run about with my hoop and
not to bother。 I drove the hoop across the grass to some elm trees。
From behind one of the trees came out two tall men dressed in white
robes and turbans； who looked to me like scriptural characters in a
picture…book。 One was an elderly man with flashing； black eyes； hooked
nose； and a long grey beard。 The other was much younger； but I do not
remember him so well。 They were both brown in colour； but otherwise
almost like white men； not Negroes by any means。 My hoop hit the elder
man； and I stood still； not knowing what to say。 He bowed politely and
picked it up； but did not offer to return it to me。 They talked
together rapidly； and one of them pointed to the moon…shaped birthmark
which you see I have upon my neck； for it was hot weather； and I was
wearing a low…cut frock。 It was because of this mark that my father
named me Luna。 The elder of the two said in broken English：
〃'What is your name； pretty little girl？'
〃I told him it was Luna Holmes。 Then he drew from his robe a box made
of scented wood； and； opening it； took out some sweetmeat which looked
as if it had been frozen； and gave me a piece that； being very fond of
sweet； I put into my mouth。 Next； he bowled the hoop along the ground
into the shadow of the treesit was evening time and beginning to
grow darksaying； 'Run； catch it； little girl！'
〃I began to run； but something in the taste of that sweet caused me to
drop it from my lips。 Then all grew misty； and the next thing I
remember was findin