“Oh, don’t offend the lieutenant,” put in Nickerson, as Gilbert remained silent. “If he doesn’t want your money, put it up.”
“I don’t wish to offend anybody, and I will put it up,” said Nuggy Polk, stiffly. “But, if he wants ten or twenty dollars, he is welcome to it.”
“Thanks, but you can’t hire me to take it,” laughed Gilbert. “Let us talk about something else. Tell me about Richmond. I am always interested in news from Virginia. You told me, I believe, that you are in the importing trade.”
“Yes, my father and I run the Richmond Importing Company. We export as well as import.”
“And you have some trade in China, so you said.”
“Yes, a large trade,—with Shanghai and Tien-Tsin.”
“I am afraid that your trade is going to suffer on account of this war.”
“That depends upon how you look at it. My belief is that this war won’t amount to shucks.”
“Exactly my idea,” broke in Jerry Nickerson. “The soldiers will go there and relieve the ministers, and that will be the end of it. No foreign power will dare to make war on China because of the other powers.”
“I am of the opinion that the war is already on around Taku and Tien-Tsin,” answered Gilbert. “The forts at the mouth of the Pei-Ho have been taken, and that will probably madden the Chinese beyond endurance.”