For the first time he looked me squarely in the face.
The ladies grew alarmed at the dark cloud gathering on the brow of their liege lord, and withdrew to the other end of the room.
The Taou-tai was now wide awake.
So was I!
“Bold, thoughtless, and ill-counselled stranger,” he cried out, “by the decree of the Child of the Sun, him of the Sacred Countenance, it is not lawful to punish a rash petitioner like thee, provided his prayer be one that may be granted. But what thou askest is impossible, for at this hour there is neither paper, ink nor brush within the palace! Thou must suffer for thy rash conduct. Thou hast been cunning enough to pass the guards in coming hither: but already a score of pikes are leveled at thy breast. Escape is impossible. Prepare for death or imprisonment in dungeon cell which knows neither light nor warmth!”
To speak the truth, my legs bent beneath the weight of my body as these cruel words made clear to me the danger I was in.
I could see that tears had gathered in the eyes of the two gracious ladies, standing near me.
“Paper—ink—brush!” I murmured, half dazed, “brush—paper—ink—or death!”
“It must not be!” I glanced about me. I closed my eyes. I fixed my gaze on Bulger, but all in vain—no help came to me.
A cold perspiration stood on my brow.