The energies and truth of God go with us in every effort to hasten the reign of universal amity and freedom; but that era must be coeval with the time when ‘nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.’

I am, dear Sir

Ever truly yours

C. W. King

*

Suddenly one day it was over. The barricades came down and the shops on New and Old China Street began to open their doors and shutters.

But Fanqui-town was almost deserted now: only the sixteen merchants who had been refused permission to leave remained, with their employees.

The last period of detention, amidst the forlorn and empty factories, had been a trial for all who remained; there was great relief in the Achha Hong when it came to be known that the surrender of opium had finally been completed and everyone would soon be allowed to leave.

The day before their departure Neel did a last, solitary round of the enclave, bidding goodbye to Asha-didi and exchanging chin-chins with the linkisters, some of whom had become good friends. His last stop was at the print-shop: Compton led him into the inner courtyard and called for tea and snacks. They talked for a while of the still-unfinished Chrestomathy and then Compton handed him an envelope: ‘Have got one last proof for you, Neel. It is a present.’

‘What is it?’

‘Letter.’

‘But who is it from? And who is the writer?’

‘Letter is from Lin Zexu to Queen of England.’

Neel started in surprise. ‘Commissioner Lin has written a letter to Queen Victoria?’

‘Haih! Translation also has been made and printed. Ho-yih can read later.’

‘I will,’ said Neel, rising to go. ‘Thank you, Compton. Do-jeh!’

Mh sai!

At the door of the print-shop Neel came to a stop. ‘Listen, Compton, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask you.’

‘Yes, Ah Neel. Me-aa?’

‘That day, when you introduced me to your teacher, Chang Lou-si, you said something that puzzled me.’

‘What was it?’

‘You said that you had found out something about Seth Bahramji – about the bad things he has been responsible for.’

Compton nodded. ‘Yes. We found out because of Ho Lao-kin. You remember? Man who was executed?’

‘Yes.’

‘Before he die he very afraid, pale-face-white-lips, like gwai is after him. He talk a lot, lo-lo-so-so. Say many thing. He tell that it was Mister Moddie who first give him opium – that how he start in the business. That time Mister Moddie have woman here in Canton – aunt of Ho Lao-kin. Later he have son with her, ne? You savvy no-savvy all this, Ah Neel?’

‘I’ve heard something about it. Go on.’

‘This boy, when he grow up, he need work. Ho Lao-kin take him to Macau – help him join smuggler gang. He work for them some years but then he have trouble and want to leave. He ask his father to take to his country, but father say no, must stay here. Then things become very bad for him. Gang boss want to kill him, so he run away, come to Guangzhou, hide with his mother. Gang-men catch Ho Lao-kin and he tell them boy is with mother, on boat. They go there to catch him, but he is gone, ne? Only mother there.’