“No know. Keepee watchee and catchee.”
I sat thinking for a few moments, and I made up my mind to go and tell the first lieutenant, but found the Chinaman looking at me smiling the while.
“You likee this?” he said, holding out a tiny thin stoppered bottle, covered with Chinese characters.
“Like it? No. What for?”
“Velly good. Headache: lub lit’ dlop here. Toothache: lub lit’ dlop there. Got pain anywhere, lub lit’ dlop.”
I took out the stopper and smelt it.
“Smell velly good; all nicee.”
“Why, it smells of peppermint drops,” I said carelessly.
“Yes, smell beautiful, all peppimint. Velly gleat stlong. Muchee lit’ dlop, so.”
He took the bottle, drew out the stopper, and covered the neck with one finger, turned the vial upside down, and then rubbed the tiny drop of moisture upon his temples, replaced the stopper, and gave it back to me.