The Secretary motioned me to a distant part of the deck and said abruptly:
"I will give you five thousand rupees for the—for the"——
"Merocar."
He started as though shocked by a bolt of lightning.
"I dare not talk—I cannot remember—but I dare not talk. Will you sell it me for five thousand rupees, Sahib? It is all I have, but I will give it freely."
"It is yours."
He went below and soon returned with the amount in bills of exchange upon the bank at Hong Kong.
He carried his purchase to his stateroom, amid the laughter of passengers and sailors, who did not conceal their merriment that any man would pay such a price for a wicker basket, and my cunning and hypnotic knavery were thoroughly established.
I remained a few days in Singapore, converting my bills partly into cash and partly into exchange on London and New York.