"Very much, if I can earn it without offending my conscience."
"It won't. Here goes. I've come all these miles for this young fellow; but I don't cotton to the idea of lallygagging four weeks in this burg. I've an idea it'll be that long before the chap gets up. My proposition is for you to keep an eye on him, and the moment he puts on his clothes to send me a telegram, care of the Hong-Kong Hotel. Understand me. Double-crossing wouldn't do any good. For all you might know, I might have someone watching you. This time he couldn't get far. He will have to return to Hong-Kong."
"Not necessarily. There is a railroad."
"He won't be taking that. The only safe place for him is at sea; and if he had kept to the sea, I shouldn't have found him so easily. Well, what about it?"
"I accept."
"As an honest Chinaman?"—taking out the offensiveness of the query by smiling.
"As an honest Chinaman."
O'Higgins produced his wallet. "Fifty now and fifty when I return."
"Agreed. Here are the jade carvers. Would you like to see them at work?"
"Lead on, Macduff!"