Part 16 (1/2)
This she was sure he had done, for while the Chinese characters on the other doors were painted directly on the woodwork, in this case it was a piece of red paper, upon which the character had been written with a Chinese pen.
That it had been put there for her special benefit Alice did not doubt.
It was just like Dr. Garshaski, who was forever doing something dramatic in the old days.
He hurried Alice along the empty corridor and down a short flight of stairs.
Coming to a door, he let go his hold and knocked.
It was instantly opened by a very Chinese-looking Chinaman wearing a rich native dress.
The room was rather small, but well fitted up as a bed chamber, partly in Chinese and partly in American style. In the middle of the floor stood the box which was supposed to contain the Chinese princess.
”So you have come at last!” exclaimed the Chinaman in his own language.
”I thought you never would.”
”Patience, w.a.n.g Foo,” replied the doctor. ”We can't get there all in a moment.”
”But the princess may die. She may be dead now. I believe it. She ought to have been released long ago.”
”Patience, I tell you. I know my business. She is in no danger of death whatever.”
”And the woman you were to bring to look after her. She must have an attendant. She is not to be ill treated. She is of my own blood.”
”The woman is here.”
”What, a white woman?”
”Yes.”
”Of what use can she be?”
”I know her of old. She is an excellent nurse. None better.”
”But she cannot talk to the princess.”
”There you are quite mistaken. Better be careful what you say to her.
She speaks Chinese as well as you do.”
w.a.n.g Foo stared at Alice and asked her name.
He managed to grasp the Alice part, but the rest was quite beyond him.
”Hurry! Hurry,” he cried.
”Alice,” said the doctor, ”I am going to resurrect the princess now. Sit down in that easy-chair and make yourself at home.”
Alice silently obeyed. Thus far there seemed nothing so terrible coming out of the pa.s.sage through the door of death.
The doctor asked for a screw-driver, and w.a.n.g Foo produced one, with which he made short work of opening the box.