“It is true,” answered Mai Lo, calmly.
Then Wi laughed outright and clapped his hands. The men disappeared as if by magic.
At a signal from me the blacks released Mai Lo, who deliberately rearranged his clothing.
“I want a personal conversation with you, Wi-to,” I said; “but first of all we want something to eat, and proper entertainment.”
“Are you not the slaves of Mai Lo?” he asked.
“No; we are his masters.”
Again I showed the ring of Prince Kai, and the effect was to send the Chief Eunuch to his knees before me.
“We are the friends and representatives of your dead master,” I continued, “and are here to carry out his orders. Mai Lo knows this perfectly well, for Prince Kai ordered him to obey me as he would his royal master, and he himself witnessed with his signature the authority I bear. But he does not seem inclined to respect this order for some reason of his own; so I appeal to you to protect and assist us.”
The eunuch rose and bowed gravely.
“Your orders shall be obeyed,” he said.