“As long as you need me, madam,” said the man courteously.
“We are looking for a coat,” said Richard.
“Hadn’t you told him?” asked Eleanor, a little astonished. She sat up in her chair.
“No. I waited—to be sure.”
The Chinese eyes regarded him, incurious and quiet.
“We saw a coat, several years ago,” said Richard, addressing them. “A coat that we should like to find—or one like it.”
“A mandarin coat?” asked the man quietly.
“No-o—I don’t think so. It was longer——”
“Blue, with gold things on it—Dragons,” said Eleanor eagerly, “and marks down the front like this—” She drew a few lines on the paper beside her.
“Ah—!” The man’s breath gave a little whistling sound....