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of； I arranged myself unobtrusively at his side； and maintaining an
exhibition of my most polished and genial conversation； I sought to
penetrate deeply into his esteem。
〃Gaze in this direction； Kong；〃 he said at length； calling me by name
with auspicious familiarity； 〃I am a benighted stranger in this hyer city；
and so are you； I rek'n。 Suppose we liquor up； and then take a few of the
side shows together。〃
〃The suggestion is one against which I will erect no ill…disposed
barrier；〃 I at once replied； so inflexibly determined not to lose sight of a
person possessing such engaging attributes as to be cheerfully prepared
even to consume my rice spirit in the inverted position which his words
implied if the display was persisted in。 〃Nevertheless；〃 I added； with a
resourceful prudence； 〃although by no means undistinguished among the
highest literary and competitive circles of his native Yuen…ping； the one
before you is incapable of walking in the footsteps of a person whose
accumulations are greater than he himself can appreciably diminish。〃
〃That's all right； Kong；〃 exclaimed the one whom my last words
fittingly described； striking the recess of his lower garment with a gesture
of graceful significance。 〃When I take a fancy to any one it isn't a matter
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of dollars。 I usually carry a trifle of five hundred or a thousand pounds in
my pocket…book； and if we can get through thatwhy； there's plenty more
waiting at the bank。 Say； though； I hope you don't keep much about you； it
isn't really safe。〃
〃The temptation to do so is one which this person has hitherto
successfully evaded；〃 I replied。 〃The contents of this reptile…skin case〃
and not to be outshone in mutual confidence I here displayed it openly
〃do not exceed nine or ten pieces of gold and a like number of printed
obligations promising to pay five pieces each。〃
〃Put it away； Kong；〃 he said resolutely。 〃You won't need that so long
as you're with me。 Well； now； what sort of a saloon have we here？〃
As far as the opinion might be superficially expressed it had every
indication of being one of noteworthy antiquity； and to the innately modest
mind its unassuming diffidence might have lent an added charm。
Nevertheless； on most occasions this person would have maintained an
unshaken dexterity in avoiding its open door； but as the choice admittedly
lay in the hands of one who carried five hundred or a thousand pieces of
gold we went in together and passed through to a compartment of retiring
seclusion。
In our own land； O my orthodox…minded father； where the unfailing
resources of innumerable bands of dragons； spirits； vampires； ghouls；
shadows； omens； and thunderstorms are daily enlisted to carry into effect
the pronouncements of an appointed destiny； we have many historical
examples of the inexorably converging legs of coincidence； but none； I
think； more impressively arranged than the one now descending this
person's brush。
We had scarcely reposed ourselves； and taken from the hands of an
awaiting slave the vessels of thrice…potent liquid which in this Island is
regarded as the indispensable accompaniment to every movement of
existence； when a third person entered the room； and seating himself at a
table some slightly removed distance away； lowered his head and
abandoned himself to a display of most lavish dejection。
〃That poor cuss doesn't appear to be holiday…making；〃 remarked the
sincerely…compassionate person at my side； after closely observing the
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other for a period； and then； moved by the overpowering munificence of
his inward nature； he called aloud； 〃Say； stranger； you seem to have got it
thickly in the neck。 Is it family affliction or the whisky of the
establishment？〃
At these affably…intentioned words the stranger raised his eyes quickly；
with an indication of not having up to that time been aware of our
presence。
〃Sir；〃 he exclaimed； approaching to a spot where he could converse
with a more enhanced facility； 〃when I loosened the restraint of an
overpowering if unmanly grief； I imagined that I was alone； for I would
have shunned even the most flattering sympathy； but your charitably…
modulated voice invites confidence。 The one before you is the most
contemptible； left…handed； and disqualified outcast in creation； and he is
now making his way towards the river； while his widow will be left to take
in washing； his infant son to vend evening printed leaves； and his graceful
and hitherto highly secluded daughters to go upon the stage。〃
〃Say； stranger；〃 interposed this person； by no means unwilling to
engrave upon his memory this newly…acquired form of greeting； 〃the
emotion is doubtless all…pressing； but in my ornate and flower…laden
tongue we have a salutation； 'Slowly； slowly； walk slowly；' which seems to
be of far…seeing application。〃
〃That's so；〃 remarked the one by my side。 〃Separate it with the teeth；
inch by inch。〃
〃I will be calm； then；〃 continued the other （who； to avoid the
complication of the intermingling circumstances； may be described as the
more stranger of the two）； and he took of his neckcloth。 〃I am a merchant
in tea； yellow fat； and mixed spices； in a small but hitherto satisfactory
way。〃 Thus revealing himself； he continued to set forth how at an earlier
hour he had started on a journey to deposit his wealth （doubtless as a
propitiation of outraged deities） upon a certain bank； and how； upon
reaching the specified point； he discovered that what he carried had eluded
his vigilance。 〃All gone： notes； gold； and pocket…bookthe savings of a
lifetime；〃 concluded the ill…omened one； and at the recollection a sudden
and even more hig