For a few moments the two men stood gazing at one another, each taking the other’s measure. Then the Chinaman spoke, using excellent English.
“I am the Governor of this fortress of Asan,” he began coldly, “and have just been informed of your presence here. You would have been brought before me on your arrival, but it chanced to be the hour of my afternoon rest. Who and what are you?”
“My name is Murray Frobisher,” answered the Englishman, “and I was formerly a lieutenant in the British Navy.”
“Ha!” exclaimed the Governor. “You say ‘formerly’. I take it, then, that you are no longer in your country’s service, and that it is not known to your Government that you have turned gun-runner in order to supply arms to rebels against their lawful sovereign?”
“You are correct in both suppositions,” answered Frobisher. “You tax me with gun-running; and I plead guilty to the charge. I certainly was bringing arms to the rebels, as you term them; but my conscience is quite clear upon that point. It is well known that the Korean Government has been treating its subjects in a most outrageous manner; and if some of them with more pluck than the rest have made up their minds to put an end to such tyranny, more power to them, say I, and may somebody else be more fortunate than myself in providing them with weapons wherewith to uphold their liberties and rid themselves of the rulers who are oppressing them.”
The Chinaman looked at Frobisher for a moment, and then gave vent to a harsh, sneering laugh.
“Well spoken, my young friend!” he mocked. “You have told me something that I wanted to know; and now perhaps you will answer a few more questions. I would very strongly advise you to do so, since it may save you a good deal of—inconvenience, shall I say?”
“You may ask what you please,” retorted Frobisher, “but I do not promise to answer.”
“I shall ask the questions, nevertheless,” said the Governor; “and if you will not speak now, other means of obtaining replies can doubtless be found. First of all, what ship brought those arms; who was her captain; what quantity of arms and ammunition did the consignment consist of—some have been lost in transit, I understand—and, finally, how many more shiploads are being sent out here from your country?”
Frobisher laughed, but made no reply.