)
LADY CICELY (getting up to look and uttering a cry of
admiration). Oh, how lovely!
SIR HOWARD (also rising). What are those hills over there to the
southeast?
RANKIN. They are the outposts, so to speak, of the Atlas
Mountains.
LADY CICELY. The Atlas Mountains! Where Shelley's witch lived!
We'll make an excursion to them to-morrow, Howard.
RANKIN. That's impoassible, my leddy. The natives are verra
dangerous.
LADY CICELY. Why? Has any explorer been shooting them?
RANKIN. No. But every man of them believes he will go to heaven
if he kills an unbeliever.
LADY CICELY. Bless you, dear Mr. Rankin, the people in England
believe that they will go to heaven if they give all their
property to the poor. But they don't do it. I'm not a bit afraid
of that.
RANKIN. But they are not accustomed to see women going about
unveiled.
LADY CICELY. I always get on best with people when they can see
my face.
SIR HOWARD. Cicely: you are talking great nonsense and you know
it. These people have no laws to restrain them, which means, in
plain English, that they are habitual thieves and murderers.
RANKIN. Nay, nay: not exactly that,
LADY CICELY (indignantly). Of course not. You always think,
Howard, that nothing prevents people killing each other but the
fear of your hanging them for it. But what nonsense that is! And
how wicked! If these people weren't here for some good purpose,
they wouldn't have been made, would they, Mr.
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