H. Bedford-Jones

“ This was Smith's first inkling of the supposed supernatural powers of Ardzrouni. In a whispered aside, Florence Wemyss explained the matter to him, whereat he grimaced and then broke into a laugh. Meanwhile Ardzrouni spoke to the nobles.
"I shall leave here," he said, "as soon as this rebellion is quieted; until then, I remain. Protest is useless, my friends. The son of heaven does not change his mind. Colonel Chou, I appoint you my successor, and adopt you as my son." ”

“ Besides, I have no intention of forcing you out."
That sad smile flitted across the face of the dark man.
"My friend, for me the dream is ended, and realities have begun. I have had my little fling; I am through."
"Win, lose, or draw?" ”

“ He fell to work over the little lamp, chuckling with delight.
"Liu Ku said that gold and jade were unlucky," he muttered. "Egad, I'm inclined to think just the opposite!"
He would have altered his opinion had he followed Smith.
The latter, taking over charge of the place from the exhausted Chou, perceived at once why the crafty eunuch had launched no attack. Within the compound were more than a hundred men, all archers and nobles, and the rooms of the palace itself were crowded with women and children of the nobles. For all of these there was no more food than would last a day. ”