He sat down, but looked incredulous and uneasy.
“While you were ill yesterday,” I began, “we went out to take a walk.”
“With the governor’s soldiers guarding every door?” he asked.
“Why, you yourself have said there were secret passages that the governor did not know of. You must not forget, sir, that we are the trusted friends and emissaries of Prince Kai Lun Pu.”
This may or may not have satisfied him. Anyhow, he said nothing but looked at me inquiringly.
“We wandered through the grounds, trying not to meet anyone,” I continued, “until we came to the great pool by the rocks which your people say is inhabited by the devil-fish.”
“It is true,” said Wi-to. “I, myself, have seen the monster.”
I was much relieved to hear this, for it made my invention seem more plausible.
“While we stood looking into the pool,” said I, “the governor suddenly stepped from the grove of trees nearby and advanced toward us. He held a naked scimitar in his hand, such as his soldiers use, and he seemed very angry. He reproached us for making the acquaintance of his wife and daughter and for opposing his soldiers, and declared we should not escape him again.”
This struck the eunuch as quite reasonable. He began to look interested.