As soon as Prince Tuan returned to The Palace, the Viceroy informed him that he was making arrangements to leave immediately for Peking.
Stanton Ware, watching the pockmarked face of the Prince, thought that the information annoyed him, but he knew it would be impossible to stop the old man from doing what he wished.
With what was obviously an effort, he accepted it with good grace.
As the Viceroy left the room to give instructions to his own servants, Stanton Ware said, bowing low,
“I must also be on my way, Your Highness. I have a long distance to travel and I have already trespassed for too long on your most generous hospitality.”
“It has been a pleasure to have you,” the Prince replied, “and I cannot allow you to leave with such precipitate haste. We have had so little time togeth
