A Servant of Satan: Romantic Career of Prado the Assassin — page 141: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

e A SERVANT OF SATAN. 133 who was giving directions to his men. Frederick, having alighted, courteously raised his hat and inquired if he could be of any assistance, an offer which was gratefully accepted. With the help of his servants the ponies were at length freed, but it was found impossible to pull the heavy and cumbrous vehicle out of the mud. At Nina’s pressing solicitation, the Japanese, who, judging by his dress and appearance, was evidently a man of high rank, allowed himself to be prevailed upon to acccepta seat in her carriage and to be driven to his home. The latter was an extremely pretty country house surrounded by vast grounds. . On taking leave of them, with many profuse expressions of gratitude, he requested permission to call upon them on the following day. They learned subsequently from their © major-domo that their new acquaintance was one of the most famous statesmen of the land. On the following day he paid them a long visit, and be- fore he left requested them to spend the next afternoon at his yashiki. ‘There for the first time they caught a glimpse of Japanese life such as is rarely enjoyed by foreigners, On arriving in the court-yard and entering the house they found the entire body of servants and dependents of the establishments assembled in two rows under the heavy portico of carved wood. All were on their knees, and when Frederick and Nina passed between their ranks every nead was lowerel to the ground in silent and respectful greeting to the guests of their lord. At this moment the master of the house appeared, and in his flowing silken robes, with his slow and dignified movements, presented a striking contrast to the restless and frisky little Japs whom oneis accustomed to see rushing through the streets of Lon- don and Paris. A magnificent banquet was then served in true Japanese style. Six girlsin gorgeous apparel entered the dining hall, and, falling on their knees, prostrated themselves till their gS) Eo GOMIEHboOOo = : LD ,