“I’m quite sure Mai Lo won’t betray his own secret,” said I. “He has probably warned the eunuch not to trust us, as we might steal the whole palace.”
Joe had started to reply when a door opened and Mai Lo entered the hall and approached us.
“Why are we kept here waiting?” I demanded, trying to control my temper. “I won’t stand such treatment, Mai Lo, I assure you. We must be treated with proper respect or something unpleasant is going to happen.”
He looked at me steadily.
“Brave words,” said he.
“But we have deeds to back them,” retorted Joe.
“You’ll force us to ruin if you’re not careful, Gov’nor,” added Archie, savagely.
“Yes,” said I, as if the idea had just occurred to me; “if you think to play us false, Mai Lo, it will cost you your life.”
He turned his glassy eyes from one to the other of us, and when I had finished he asked, quietly:
“Will you make a compact with me?”