“You think Mr Leardon like to take Ching see Queen Victolia?” he said to me one day in confidence.
“I’m afraid not,” I replied seriously.
“Ching velly solly,” he said. “Plenty lich man now! plenty plize-money! Ching wear silk evely day in Queen Victolia countly. You no tink captain take Ching?”
“I’m sure he would not,” I said.
“Ching velly good interpleter; velly useful man.”
“Very; you’ve been a splendid fellow, Ching!”
He smiled, and a fresh idea struck him.
“You tink Queen Victolia like Ching teach lit’ plince and plincess talk Chinese?”
Again I was obliged to damp his aspirations, and he sighed.
“What shall you do when we are gone, Ching?” I said.