“That’s further still from Europe.”
“Singapore?”
“That’s better—on the way back.”
“I must thank you,” said Martin, “for giving me so much of your time.”
“Not a bit I am only sorry I can’t give you a job or put you on to one. But you see the position, don’t you?”
Martin smiled wryly. “I’m beginning to see it with painful clearness.”
“Good-bye and good luck,” said Mr. Tudsley.
“Good-bye,” said Martin.
Between then and the date of sailing of the next homeward bound steamer, Martin knocked at every door in Hong-Kong. Nobody wanted him. There was nothing he could do. There was no place for him on the very lowest rung of any ladder to fortune.
He sailed to Singapore.