“Oh, yes! Pao is cat, Kang is mouse.”
“Hmm!”
“Yes indeed! But it is nothing to me. Nothing in world! I have laid before His Excellency desires of my heart. He expresses willing courtesy. If I may make voyage freely he will make best of it. And not unlike myself he has perceived half-notion that if I turn to you for wisdom advice you will not turn cold shoulder and throw me down.” Catching the opposition behind Brachey's slightly knit brows, he added hastily, “I have no need. That is to say, I'm not broke. And—with this thought plan I have made transferrence of certain monies to Hongkong Bank at Shanghai where no revolution or hell of a row can snatch it from my outstretched hands. With but a nod from your head, sir, and also with permission of His Excellency, I could make sneak out of province as your servant.”
Brachey, after some thought, said he would take the proposal under consideration.
During the walk back to the inn he contrived to hold the interpreter's chatter closely to the ferment in the province.
Kang, it appeared, was openly backing the Lookers now. His yamen enclosure swarmed with ragged soldiers from the West who foraged among the shops for food and trinkets, and beat or shot the inoffensive Chinese merchants by way of emphasizing rather casually their privileged status in the capital city. Down the river, near Hung Chan, a more considerable concentration of the strange troops was taking place. Hung Chan was also the rendezvous for the local young men who had been initiated into the Looker bands. Rumors were flying of a general massacre to come of the white and secondary (or native) Christians. There was even talk of a political alliance with the organizers of rebellion in the South against the Imperial Manchu Government and of a triumphant march to the coast. A phrase that might be translated as “China for the Chinese” had come into circulation.
Brachey grew more and more thoughtful as he listened.
“If Pao is so strong, why does he permit matters to go so far?” he asked.
Mr. Po laughed. “His Excellency will in his own good time get move on himself.”
“Hmm!”