Trent smiled an amiable contradiction of his real feelings.
"Shall we sit down?" He halted.
"No. I merely wish a moment of your time to explain my actions of last night, and to ask a question."
The orchestra was playing, and the music came as a bitter-sweet reminder to Trent.
"Well?" and the word was almost abrupt.
"I presume you think me very inquisitive"—Hsien Sgam's eyes were upon him, watching him closely—"and I have been. But I had a purpose. I wished to sound you, as they say in America; to find out if your business connections were permanent, and—well, other things, too."
Silence followed.
"Suppose," the Mongol resumed, "I were to say that plans for such a—you recall what we discussed the other evening? Well, suppose I were to say I spoke the truth: that there is a possibility of my dream crystallizing into reality; also that we need men who have had military experience, who can command. Soldiers of fortune, as it were, to cast their lots with a worthy cause...."
Trent's eyes evenly met his. He smiled, very slightly.
"Are you—making an offer?" he asked quietly.