:55:10
Well, Miss Davis.
:55:12
What have I done to deserve the
honour of your visit at this hour?
:55:17
You've ordered
the murder of Mah-Li.
:55:19
Well, couldn't we speak
of something more pleasant?
:55:25
Here I have some
excellent brandy.
:55:29
It's supposed to be
over 1,000 years old.
:55:32
Would you like to try it?
:55:33
You're murdering her just to
satisfy a cruel, jealous revenge.
:55:40
May I?
:55:49
Mah-Li has been betraying
military secrets to my enemies.
:55:52
Can't you silence her
in some other way?
:55:56
Yes.
:55:58
In the old days,
:56:00
in the days of the Manchus...
:56:03
I could have had
her tongue cut out.
:56:06
But now, since you missionaries
have taught her to read and write,
:56:09
she's a constant menace
as long as she's alive.
:56:16
I feel sorry for you, General Yen.
:56:18
A powerful man like you
afraid of a poor little slave.
:56:23
The only way to get
loyalty is to compel it.
:56:26
Take Captain Li,
for example.
:56:29
He's the only son of a very powerful
family which claims to support my rule.
:56:34
All right, I believe them.
:56:37
But as evidence
of their good faith,
:56:39
I made them place him
in my hands as a hostage.
:56:43
Now, if they would betray me,
:56:47
the life of Captain Li enables
me to save my own face.
:56:50
That's the way
we get loyalty in China.
:56:53
That's why China is 2,000 years
behind the times. Don't you see...?
:56:56
Why are you so
interested in Mah-Li?