When he had made these purchases, he whispered some secret instruction in the ear of Chow, and sent him with the animals and articles back to the inn; after which he said, "Will the worthy innkeeper open his lips in a temple, and promise to keep to himself the secret he has discovered?" "Truly the noble youth does not doubt that the words of his servant are straight?" replied the man, evasively. "The worthy innkeeper must do this, or forfeit these two ounces of silver," replied Nicholas, exhibiting the money, which had the desired effect. "There is but one temple for this poor town, and that is upon the mountain without the walls." "To that we will proceed, if the worthy innkeeper will show the way." The man obeyed; they passed through the gates of the town into a narrow road, which led them to the foot of a high mountain, near the summit of which stood a small temple. "It would be better to seek an altar within the inner apartments of thy servant's inn, the gods would be equally as attentive to his promise, and the noble youth would be saved the necessity of climbing so steep a hill." "Truly this temple can not be used often, or some easier means of ascent would be made," said Nicholas. "The words of the noble youth are wise, for truly this temple is but used on the festivals of the first of the month." "When is the next festival, O worthy innkeeper?" "To-morrow." "Then ascend." Obeying, the innkeeper commenced climbing the narrow and slippery stairs cut in the hill side; when they reached the top and stood in the temple before a huge wooden god, who seemed to form part of the back wall of the temple, out of which he had been cut, Nicholas, pointing to one of the arms of the idol, said, "Truly, the god hath been neglected and requires painting." Turning his back to Nicholas to examine the idol, the man gave a shriek of alarm. Nicholas had taken a cord from his vest, thrown it over his arms, and made him as harmless as if he had been in a straight jacket. "What means the youth; is he a robber?" "Silence thou ungrateful hog," said Nicholas, pulling him toward the idol, to which he secured his body, legs and arms. "Now, thou dog, open thy lips, and say what fell into thine ears whilst thou wast listening at the door of the ladies' apartments." "Truly, thy mean servant could not hear much, for little was said by the princess." "Then how, thou trembling rogue, couldst thou know it was a princess who spoke?" "Thy servant divined that the lady must be of exalted rank; for in the first place, had she not been a great lady escaping from the province of Pekin, she would not have crossed the gulf in such weather, neither would so noble a youth as thyself have treated a sister with such exalted respect."