“One moment, gentlemen! Otherwise you would miss the most interesting part of the show.”
They had but a very short time to wait, for the two Chinamen came running up as soon as they received the message:
“Come, quick, quick, the noble noble lord calls you!”
When the Chinamen reached the group, Verstork said to his friends:
“Now, then, gentlemen, let us go.”
“But,” said one of the Chinamen, in a somewhat insolent tone of voice, when he saw that his presence was wholly ignored, “But you sent for us, sir.”
“Hold your tongue, babah,” said Verstork, briefly; “we are going to pay a visit to your opium-den. You come along with us.”
“To the opium-den!” cried the babah, “then I will go, and—”
“You stay here with me; both of you,” said the Controller in a tone of authority which they dared not disobey.
The two Celestials interchanged looks; but they did not utter one word, and silently followed the gentlemen.