The Boy Fortune Hunters in China by L. Frank Baum

Followed by Nux and Bryonia, who never relaxed their vigilance over us, we three boys attended the governor and the Chief Eunuch to the entrance of the palace -- the first foreigners to step foot in this retired stronghold of an ancient race.

At the carved portico Mai Lo turned and regarded us intently, and then began a long lingo in Chinese to which the eunuch listened carefully.

The casket had disappeared through the entrance; the army of eunuchs had melted away and disappeared; we seemed quite alone with these two natives, one of whom we knew distrusted and hated us.

The result of the conversation was that we were shown into a broad, lofty hall just within the entrance and asked to seat ourselves until rooms could be prepared for our accommodation.

The Chief Eunuch, who made this request, looked at us shrewdly and with an expression more grave and reserved than he had yet shown us, and then turned and entered a side room in company with the governor.

We were much annoyed at this discourteous treatment. It was now the middle of the afternoon, and we had eaten nothing since breakfast, at daybreak. Wi-to certainly should have given us some food before leaving us to sit in the hall awaiting his convenience. The pretence of preparing rooms for us was absurd. With such an army of servants the palace should have been, and doubtless was, perfectly appointed. But here we were, seated upon stiff carved sofas in the great hall of the palace, and here we must remain until it suited Mai Lo and the eunuch to relieve us.

The magnificence of the palace aroused our admiration in spite of our annoyance. The floor was tiled and covered here and there with costly rugs; the woodwork everywhere was elaborately carved, and every nook and corner was crowded with rare ornaments and bric-à-brac, art treasures which would have filled the soul of a collector with envy. On one face of the wall was a display of ancient armor and weapons inlaid with gold and silver and set with precious gems. At either side of the entrance stood a huge bronze figure of the Sacred Ape, its grinning jaws filled with ivory teeth and its eyes set with immense rubies.

We had ample leisure to look around us, for no one came to our relief during the next hour. Also we had time to discuss our situation.

"What do you think it all means, boys? " I asked.

"Looks as if they had allowed us to come this far so that they might murder us," answered Archie, frowning.

"Mai Lo must have said something to the Chief Eunuch that turned him against us," remarked Joe.

"That's my idea," I said; "but if I get a chance I intend to put a spoke in Mai Lo's wheel. We've got to win the good will of the eunuch or we're done for. He seems to have unlimited power in the palace."

"Do you think Mai Lo has said anything about the -- the body? " whispered Archie, glancing suspiciously around. "Speak low, fellows; we don't know how many ears may be listening behind that carving."

"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.