` Oah yes . I have met him several times at Benares , and also at Buddh Gaya , to interrogate him on releegious points and devil-worship . He is pure agnostic -- same as me . ' Huneefa stirred in her sleep , and Hurree Babu jumped nervously to the copper incense-burner , all black and discoloured in morning-light , rubbed a finger in the accumulated lamp-black , and drew it diagonally across his face . ` Who has died in thy house ? ' asked Kim in the vernacular . ` None . But she may have the Evil Eye -- that sorceress , ' the Babu replied . ` What dost thou do now , then ? ' ' I will set thee on thy way to Benares , if thou goest thither , and tell thee what must be known by Us . ' ' I go . At what hour runs the te-rain ? ' He rose to his feet , looked round the desolate chamber and at the yellow-wax face of Huneefa as the low sun stole across the floor . ` Is there money to be paid that witch ? ' ` No . She has charmed thee against all devils and all dangers in the name of her devils . It was Mahbub 's desire . ' In English : ` He is highly obsolete , I think , to indulge in such supersteetion . Why , it is all ventriloquy . Belly-speak -- eh ? '
XXXXX snapped his fingers mechanically to avert whatever evil -- Mahbub , he knew , meditated none -- might have crept in through Huneefa 's ministrations ; and Hurree giggled once more .
Belly-speak Eye Huneefa Kim Mahbub agnostic hour lamp-black sorceress te-rain