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The Yellow God
or An Idol of Africa
by H。 Rider Haggard
CHAPTER I
SAHARA LIMITED
Sir Robert Aylward； Bart。； M。P。； sat in his office in the City of
London。 It was a very magnificent office； quite one of the finest that
could be found within half a mile of the Mansion House。 Its exterior
was built of Aberdeen granite； a material calculated to impress the
prospective investor with a comfortable sense of security。 Other
stucco； or even brick…built； offices might crumble and fall in an
actual or a financial sense； but this rock…like edifice of granite；
surmounted by a life…sized statue of Justice with her scales； admired
from either corner by pleasing effigies of Commerce and of Industry；
would surely endure any shock。 Earthquake could scarcely shake its
strong foundations； panic and disaster would as soon affect the Bank
of England。 That at least was the impression which it had been
designed to convey； and not without success。
〃There is so much in externals；〃 Mr。 Champers…Haswell； Sir Robert's
partner； would say in his cheerful voice。 〃We are all of us influenced
by them； however unconsciously。 Impress the public； my dear Aylward。
Let solemnity without suggest opulence within； and the bread； or
rather the granite； which you throw upon the waters will come back to
you after many days。〃
Mr。 Aylward； for this conversation occurred before his merits or the
depth of his purse had been rewarded by a baronetcy； looked at his
partner in the impassive fashion for which he was famous； and
answered：
〃You mix your metaphors； Haswell； but if you mean that the public are
fools who must be caught by advertisement； I agree with you。 Only this
particular advertisement is expensive and I do not want to wait many
days for my reward。 However； ￡20；000 one way or the other is a small
matter； so tell that architect to do the thing in granite。〃
Sir Robert Aylward sat in his own quiet room at the back of this
enduring building； a very splendid room that any Secretary of State
might have envied； but arranged in excellent taste。 Its walls were
panelled with figured teak； a rich carpet made the footfall noiseless；
an antique Venus stood upon a marble pedestal in the corner； and over
the mantelpiece hung a fine portrait by Gainsborough； that of a
certain Miss Aylward； a famous beauty in her day； with whom； be it
added； its present owner could boast no connection whatsoever。
Sir Robert was seated at his ebony desk playing with a pencil； and the
light from a cheerful fire fell upon his face。
In its own way it was a remarkable face； as he appeared then in his
fourth and fortieth year； very pale but with a natural pallor； very
well cut and on the whole impressive。 His eyes were dark； matching his
black hair and pointed beard； and his nose was straight and rather
prominent。 Perhaps the mouth was his weakest feature； for there was a
certain shiftiness about it； also the lips were thick and slightly
sensuous。 Sir Robert knew this； and therefore he grew a moustache to
veil them somewhat。 To a careful observer the general impression given
by this face was such as is left by the sudden sight of a waxen mask。
〃How strong！ How lifelike！〃 he would have said； 〃but of course it
isn't real。 There may be a man behind； or there may be wood； but
that's only a mask。〃 Many people of perception had felt like this
about Sir Robert Aylward； namely； that under the mask of his pale
countenance dwelt a different being whom they did not know or
appreciate。
If these had seen him at this moment of the opening of our story； they
might have held that Wisdom was justified of her children。 For now in
the solitude of his splendid office； of a sudden Sir Robert's mask
seemed to fall from him。 His face broke up like ice beneath a thaw。 He
rose from his table and began to walk up and down the room。 He talked
to himself aloud。
〃Great Heavens！〃 he muttered； 〃what a game to have played； and it will
go through。 I believe that it will go through。〃
He stopped at the table； switched on an electric light and made a
rapid calculation on the back of a letter with a blue pencil。
〃Yes；〃 he said； 〃that's my share； a million and seventeen thousand
pounds in cash； and two million in ordinary shares which can be worked
off at a discountlet us say another seven hundred and fifty
thousand； plus what I have got alreadyput that at only two hundred
and fifty thousand net。 Two millions in all； which of course may or
may not be added to； probably not； unless the ordinaries boom； for I
don't mean to speculate any more。 That's the end of twenty years'
work； Robert Aylward。 And to think of it； eighteen months ago；
although I seemed so rich； I was on the verge of bankruptcythe very
verge； not worth five thousand pounds。 Now what did the trick？ I
wonder what did the trick？〃
He walked down the room and stopped opposite the ancient marble；
staring at it
〃Not Venus； I think；〃 he said； with a laugh； 〃Venus never made any man
rich。〃 He turned and retraced his steps to the other end of the room；
which was veiled in shadow。 Here upon a second marble pedestal stood
an object that gleamed dimly through the gloom。 It was about ten
inches or a foot high； but in that place nothing more could be seen of
it； except that it was yellow and had the general appearance of a
toad。 For some reason it seemed to attract Sir Robert Aylward； for he
halted to stare at it； then stretched out his hand and switched on
another lamp； in the hard brilliance of which the thing upon the
pedestal suddenly declared itself； leaping out of the darkness into
light。 It was a terrible object； a monstrosity of indeterminate sex
and nature； but surmounted by a woman's head and face of
extraordinary； if devilish loveliness； sunk back between high but
grotesquely small shoulders； like to those of a lizard； so that it
glared upwards。 The workmanship of the thing was rude yet strangely
powerful。 Whatever there is cruel； whatever there is devilish；
whatever there is inhuman in the dark places of the world； shone out
of the jewelled eyes which were set in that yellow female face； yellow
because its substance was of gold； a face which seemed not to belong
to the embryonic legs beneath； for body there was none； but to float
above them。 A hollow； life…sized mask with two tiny frog…like legs；
that was the fashion of it。
〃You are an ugly brute；〃 muttered Sir Robert； contemplating this
effigy； 〃but although I believe in nothing in heaven above or earth
below； except the abysmal folly of the British public； I am bothered
if I don't believe in you。 At any rate from the day when Vernon
brought you into my office； my luck turned； and to judge from the
smile on your sweet countenance； I don't think it is done with yet。 I
wonder what those stones are in your eyes。 Opals； I suppose； from the
way they change colour。 They shine uncommonly to…day； I never remember
them so bright。 I〃
At this moment a knock came on the door。 Sir Robert turned off the
lamp and walked back to the fireplace。
〃Come in；〃 he said； and as he spoke once more his pale face grew
impassive and expressionless。
The door opened and a clerk entered； a