Through the Ganlook Gates

"Ridiculous!" she cried. "I'll not permit it! You must go to a
hospital."

"If I enter the Ganlook gates it will be the same as entering the gates
of death," he protested.

"Nonsense! You have a fever or you wouldn't talk like that. I can
promise you absolute security."

"You do not understand, your highness."

"Nevertheless, you are going to a hospital," she firmly said. "You would
die out here in the wilds, so what are the odds either way? Aunt Fanny,
will you be careful? Don't you know that the least movement of
those bags hurts him?"

"Please, do not mind me, your highness. I am doing very well," he said,
smiling.

The coach brought up in front of a roadside inn. While some of the men
were watering the horses others gathered about its open window. A
conversation in a tongue utterly incomprehensible to Beverly took place
between Baldos and his followers. The latter seemed to be disturbed
about something, and there was no mistaking the solicitous air with
which they regarded their leader. The pseudo-princess was patient as
long as possible and then broke into the discussion.

"What do they want?" she demanded in English.

"They are asking for instructions," he answered.

"Instruct them to do as I bid," she said. "Tell them to hurry along and
get you a doctor; that's all."

Evidently his friends were of the same opinion, for after a long
harangue in which he was obdurate to the last, they left the carriage
and he sank back with a groan of dejection.