He received his rent, which he put away with an appearance of indifference, expressed sorrow on hearing that Leslie was going away for even a short time, but joy at the thought that the journey might benefit his honorable health.
He was really fond of Leslie, this old Japanese gentleman; but the worst of the flowery Japanese language is that it remains always, so to speak, at boiling point, and towards friend or perfect stranger is the same. You can’t cool it, and you can’t warm it.
Whilst they were talking Kiku came in; her eyes were red and she had a snuffle in her voice.
She had been, it seems, to see the poor girl who was dying, O Toku San; Campanula was with her.
“Ah, yes,” said Mr. Initogo, as his daughter retired upstairs. “Most sad, poor girl. A man whom she loved left her, and she is dying of it, just as a flower dies from want of water.”
Leslie looked at his watch: it was after twelve. He hastened from the shop of Mr. Initogo, and securing a riksha drove to the Nagasaki Hotel on the Bund.
CHAPTER XXVIII
M’GOURLEY’S LOVE AFFAIR