The eunuch gazed upon each of us in turn with black looks. Then he said, slowly and bitterly:
“Why, in the name of Buddha, have you done the one thing that has forfeited my right to protect you?”
“Have we?” I asked, curiously.
“Yes,” he snapped, grinding his teeth savagely. “You are doomed. Even my power cannot save you!”
CHAPTER XXVI.
A FEARFUL ENCOUNTER.
I have always believed Wi-to was the best friend we had in Kai-Nong, and that he was quite willing to serve us to the best of his ability, thus honoring the will of his dead master. But his oriental education and surroundings had saturated his otherwise liberal mind with the conventions and prejudices of his people; and he had a supreme contempt for women and could not tolerate such an unwarranted act as we had committed; in other words, making the acquaintance of three pretty and interesting girls who were inmates of harems.
So Wi-to stormed and paced the floor, in one breath condemning us to horrible tortures and in the next trying to figure out a way to save us.
Meantime we, the culprits, maintained an appearance subdued and expectant, but could not bring ourselves to realize that we had merited punishment.
“I will not give you up to Mai Lo,” declared the Chief Eunuch, positively; “but he has the right to send his men to capture you. For a time I can hold him at bay, but such delay cannot save you. If I provided for your escape from the palace, which I might easily do, you could not cross the province ruled by Mai Lo, and his influence as governor of Kwang-Kai-Nong extends more or less throughout the Empire.”
“Where is Mai Lo now?” I asked.