Wang-Pu said one evening, as they sat drinking rice wine, ‘It is a rare thing, to have a dream for which one would happily give one’s life. We are fortunate men.’

‘You’d give your life for a railroad?’ Collis said.

Wang-Pu nodded. ‘Yes, and I believe you would, too.’

‘I don’t know,’ said Collis. ‘I think I’d rather stay alive, and go by boat.’

Wang-Pu put down his porcelain cup. ‘Maybe. But what is a little death compared to a great fame?’

At last February came, and it was time for Collis and Theodore to pack. Charles in particular was irritated that Collis was going to go away for so long, but the store was in good order, and Collis promised that he wouldn’t stay away for longer than three months, at least if he could help it. He borrowed a sea chest from Wang-Pu, and made sure that he packed his best evening coat and his white collars. Washington, after all, was a highly social place. On a fresh Wednesday morning, Wang-Pu drove Collis in the company’s wagon down to the Sacramento River, where he met up with Theodore, and together they boarded the paddle-steamer Occidental and set sail.

The California took them to Panama City. The sky was overcast, and the weather after Sacramento was sultry and almost unbearable. There was a day before the train left for Aspinwall, and Collis went up to the Hospital of the Sacred Heart. In the dark hallway, under the crucifix, he asked a young Flemish nun for Sister Agnes. The hall smelled, as before, of soap and boiling vegetables. The nun shook her head and said, ‘Je regretted …’

He stood in the hospital cemetery with his hat in his hand while Theodore Jones waited with his arms folded, looking down at the grey curve of Panama harbour. The stone bore only her name, and didn’t mention how young she was, or that her father had run a patisserie in Lokeren, or that she had once given courage in the hospital to a young American who had come through Panama with a woman, not his wife, who was suffering from yellow fever. It didn’t mention that one month later, she had gone down with yellow fever herself, and had died in great pain.

Theodore came over after a few minutes and stood beside him. ‘It’s very said,’ he said sympathetically.

Collis swallowed and nodded. ‘She was so damned young. And pretty, too.’

‘There’s no point in getting yourself upset. She knew what the risks were, after all.’

‘I’m still upset. My whole life seems to be spent standing over graves.’

‘Everybody’s life is.’

Collis lowered his eyes. ‘I guess that’s something about the West I haven’t gotten used to yet.’