Command respect, respect for all of us--" The last was barely audible, for by this time the _ki-sang_ had stuffed his mouth to speechlessness.
As I have said, I had the will and the fearlessness, and I racked my sea- cuny brains for the wit.

A palace eunuch, tickling my neck with a feather from behind, gave me my start.

I had already drawn attention by my aloofness and imperviousness to the attacks of the _ki-sang_, so that many were looking on at the eunuch's baiting of me.

I gave no sign, made no move, until I had located him and distanced him.

Then, like a shot, without turning head or body, merely by my arm I fetched him an open, back-handed slap.