"Is Monsieur Brin there?" asked Jack instantly.
"No, master. He went to Harbin a week ago. He was very sad."
"Lucky for me! Then we'll go at once, Mr. Hi."
The neighbours had already been prepared to see Hi An's relative out-of-doors at last; the application to Mr. Imperfect-In-Every-Part-Of-His-Body had been abundantly successful. Most of them were engaged in their usual occupations at that time of day, and Jack attracted little notice as he walked through the streets at Hi An's side. At the hotel he was presented to a short, corpulent German, wearing gold spectacles and a battered wide-awake, and smoking a huge pipe.
"He belongey Sin Foo," said Hi An.
Jack made the kowtow in the most approved style. The German looked him up and down.
"So!" he said. "You been servant before?"
"Suttingly," replied Jack, remembering his fagging days at school.
"So! You strong?"
"My plenty stlong, masta!"