CHAPTER VI
MR. TING SPEAKS OUT
During the whole of the winter there had been much speculation among theEuropean residents in the treaty ports as to the cause of the unrestdisturbing many different parts of the country. Disorder of one kind oranother is always smouldering in China. Sometimes it is due to theoppression of the officials, sometimes to hatred of the foreigners,often to obscure causes which not even the older white residents in thecountry can understand.
For some time past there had been risings in various districts whichpuzzled even the acutest and most experienced. A rumour had graduallyarisen that they were due partly to the secret societies which supportedpredatory bands in many parts of the empire, partly to direct incitementfrom without. Germany had always expected far greater things from herpossession of Kiauchou than had actually sprung from it. Her appetitefor colonial extension had grown by what it fed on, and been whettedespecially by her successful deals with France over Morocco. Hercolonial party hungered after a big slice of the Middle Kingdom, butwhile China was at peace with herself and the rest of the world, therewas little that Germany could do, without risking armed opposition onthe part of other interested Powers.
From time immemorial it has been the custom of strong states desiringterritorial aggrandisement to make an opportunity of fishing in troubledwaters. Many people in China now said that German agents were at workin more than one part of the empire, stirring up the forces ofdisruption which were always latent in the country. Whether rightly orwrongly, Burroughs had begun to suspect, from various small matters thatfell under his observation, that Reinhardt was such an agent. Hiscomprador reported that the German had been seen in communication withthe river pirate who had been captured in the attack on Mr. Ting. Hesaid that it was whispered in native circles that German money hadbribed the officials to connive at the bandit's escape. At firstBurroughs merely smiled at these reports, but they were so persistentthat, taken in connection with Reinhardt's frequent unexplainedabsences, they at last made an impression upon him. Perhaps there wassomething in them after all.
From the newspapers which he received regularly from Shanghai he learntthat the German fleet in Chinese waters was to be strengthened by theaddition of several river gunboats, for the protection of Germansubjects who might be threatened by the growing disorder. Inasmuch asthe disturbances were not as yet serious--no more alarming than theoutbreaks that occur about every five years in one part oranother--Burroughs shrewdly suspected that in this case the wish wasfather to the thought. It was becoming a favourite move of Germandiplomacy to send a gunboat to some centre of disorder, which could onlybe removed by some one paying compensation. When, therefore, thesmouldering disaffection broke into an active rising about a hundred andfifty miles up the river from Sui-Fu, a German gunboat was moved up asfar as she could proceed with safety, and several launches were sentstill farther.
The total German population for whose lives the German Governmentprofessed to have such a tender regard consisted of Reinhardt and two orthree compatriots at Sui-Fu, together with about an equal number atstations on other parts of the river. No similar move had beenconsidered necessary by any of the other Powers. The Chinese Governmentprotested, explaining that the disorders were slight, and would be atonce suppressed. But the Germans refused to go back, and China was notcertain enough of the unanimity of the other powers to risk a war withGermany unaided.
The Chinese officials saw that it was of the greatest importance to keepthe peace along the river, so that the Germans should have absolutely noexcuse for intervening.
When the movement of the German vessels took place, Reinhardt was absentfrom Sui-Fu. Errington had been established for some weeks at Chia-lingFu. On Reinhardt's reappearance at his station it was rumoured amongthe Chinese that he had actually been in the camp of therevolutionaries, whose leader was none other than the river pirate ofMr. Ting's adventure. There was a very persistent report that theinsurgents were well supplied with money, a circumstance sufficientlyremarkable in itself to lend support to the suspicion that the Germanswere secretly backing the insurrection.
Errington meanwhile, in his new position at Chia-ling Fu, had gone frombad to worse. The city itself was more attractive than Sui-Fu; it wassituated at the junction of the Min with two other rivers, amidst veryfertile and picturesque country. Errington might have found much tointerest him if he had cared to make friends with the missionaries, orwith the Englishmen in the town. But his connection with a German firmbrought him necessarily into closer contact with the little Germancolony, among whom there was a careless, card-playing section. Cardswere practically the only recreation; and Errington, deprived of anysteadying influence, fell more and more under the fascination ofgambling. Absence for a time from Reinhardt dulled his suspicions ofthat gentleman's honesty, and when the German paid occasional visits toChia-ling Fu he found Errington as ready as ever to associate with him.At the card-parties luck was steadily against the Englishman, and incourse of time he was heavily in debt to Reinhardt and others. He wentto the money-lenders again; but they declined to give him any furtherassistance, and began to press him in regard to the amounts he alreadyowed them.
Reinhardt also happened to be pressed for money. An Americanglobe-trotter of great means came to Sui-Fu, and was persuaded byReinhardt to join his card-parties. He proved more than a match for theGerman, who, piqued at his losses, played higher and higher, until atthe end of a fortnight he was many hundred dollars to the bad.
One day he ran up to Chia-ling Fu in his launch, and called onErrington. After a little general conversation, he said casually--
"By ze way, zose little sums you owe me--will it be convenient to payup?"
"I'm rather stoney just now," replied Errington, with an uneasy laugh."Can you give me a little time?"
"Sorry, my boy, I would if I could; but I also am stoney. I must haveze money. But zere is a way for you. Why not go to Mr. Ting? I do notsay it is true, but zere are many who believe zat Ting has still moneysof your late fazer, my old friend. A compatriot of mine, a man I know,once heard your fazer say in ze Shanghai Club zat whatever happened tohim, ze boy--zat is you, naturally--would be provided for. Ting, saidhe, would see well to zat."
"My guardian in England told me I had next to nothing," said Errington,much surprised; "and my education was so expensive that by the time Icame of age there'd be precious little left."
"I know nozink about zat. I know only what my friend told me. Howstands ze matter? You owe me five hundred dollars; I cannot afford inzese times to wait for ze money; zerefore I say, apply to Mr. Ting."
Errington thought over the suggestion. The suspicions already planted byReinhardt had not taken very deep root, but this fresh hint that Mr.Ting might be actually turning to his own use money that did not belongto him made Errington resolve to broach the matter at the firstopportunity.
Mr. Ting at intervals travelled up the river on business. It happenedthat he came to Chia-ling Fu a few days after Reinhardt had made hissuggestion. He called on Errington, as he had often done before, gavehim news of friends in Shanghai, and showed no sign of any change offeeling towards his old employer's son.
Errington was restless and ill at ease all through the interview. Hisnatural pride revolted against the course he was forcing himself totake. At last, just as Mr. Ting was leaving, he said hesitatingly andwith a shamefaced air--
"Could you--would you mind lending me a thousand dollars?"
The Chinaman showed no surprise.
"You find your pay not enough?" he said. "It was incleased, was itnot?"
"Yes, but----"
"And you are a young man," Mr. Ting went on. "You have no wife norpickins. I think with your pay, and your commission--velly good, if Ihear tlue--you can live velly well. Plaps you tell me what you want somuch money for."
Errington began to walk up and down the room. He was struggling withhimself: sho
uld he make a clean breast of it? Shame, an ill conscience,and the suggestions of Reinhardt combined to tie his tongue.
"Betting?" said Mr. Ting quietly. He put on his spectacles, a curioustrick of his at serious moments.
"No, I don't bet."
"Card-playing?"
"There's no harm in an occasional rubber, is there?" said Errington, histemper rising.
"Gambling?" went on the remorseless Chinaman.
And then the storm burst.
"What right have you to question me?" demanded the boy furiously. "Youare not my guardian. You profess to be a friend of mine, and when I askyou for a slight favour you preach at me. You're rolling in money, andwon't lift a finger to help a fellow. I don't want your money, thoughif what people say is true, the amount I asked you for is a precioussmall portion of what I might claim from you as a right, and no favour."
"Hai! What fo' you talkee so fashion? What foolo pidgin you talkee thistime?" cried Mr. Ting. In his indignation at what was in truth a chargeof bad faith the Chinaman lapsed for a moment into the pidgin English ofhis childhood. Then, recovering his composure, he said with quietdignity: "You are the son of a gentleman who was my master and my flend,and I cannot say to you what I would say to any other man who insultedme so. I do not gludge the sum that you wish to bollow, but I am sollythat you want money for leasons that you will not tell, and which I mustthink are no cledit to you. But I tell you now, I will lend you enoughmoney to pay all you owe, if you will give me a plomise, the word of agentleman, that you will make no more debts in the same fashion."
Errington looked at him for a moment; then, muttering "Pledge my freedomto a Chinaman!" he flung out of the room in a rage.