MR. TING SPEAKS OUT
During the whole of the winter there had been much speculation among the
European residents in the treaty ports as to the cause of the unrest
disturbing many different parts of the country. Disorder of one kind or
another is always smouldering in China. Sometimes it is due to the
oppression of the officials, sometimes to hatred of the foreigners,
often to obscure causes which not even the older white residents in the
country can understand.
For some time past there had been risings in various districts which
puzzled even the acutest and most experienced. A rumour had gradually
arisen that they were due partly to the secret societies which supported
predatory bands in many parts of the empire, partly to direct incitement
from without. Germany had always expected far greater things from her
possession of Kiauchou than had actually sprung from it. Her appetite
for colonial extension had grown by what it fed on, and been whetted
especially by her successful deals with France over Morocco. Her
colonial party hungered after a big slice of the Middle Kingdom, but
while China was at peace with herself and the rest of the world, there
was little that Germany could do, without risking armed opposition on
the part of other interested Powers.
From time immemorial it has been the custom of strong states desiring
territorial aggrandisement to make an opportunity of fishing in troubled
waters. Many people in China now said that German agents were at work
in more than one part of the empire, stirring up the forces of
disruption which were always latent in the country. Whether rightly or
wrongly, Burroughs had begun to suspect, from various small matters that
fell under his observation, that Reinhardt was such an agent. His
comprador reported that the German had been seen in communication with
the river pirate who had been captured in the attack on Mr. Ting. He
said that it was whispered in native circles that German money had
bribed the officials to connive at the bandit's escape. At first
Burroughs merely smiled at these reports, but they were so persistent
that, taken in connection with Reinhardt's frequent unexplained
absences, they at last made an impression upon him. Perhaps there was
something in them after all.
From the newspapers which he received regularly from Shanghai he learnt
that the German fleet in Chinese waters was to be strengthened by the
addition of several river gunboats, for the protection of German
subjects who might be threatened by the growing disorder. Inasmuch as
the disturbances were not as yet serious--no more alarming than the
outbreaks that occur about every five years in one part or
another--Burroughs shrewdly suspected that in this case the wish was
father to the thought. It was becoming a favourite move of German
diplomacy to send a gunboat to some centre of disorder, which could only
be removed by some one paying compensation. When, therefore, the
smouldering disaffection broke into an active rising about a hundred and
fifty miles up the river from Sui-Fu, a German gunboat was moved up as
far as she could proceed with safety, and several launches were sent
still farther.
The total German population for whose lives the German Government
professed to have such a tender regard consisted of Reinhardt and two or
three compatriots at Sui-Fu, together with about an equal number at
stations on other parts of the river. No similar move had been
considered necessary by any of the other Powers. The Chinese Government
protested, explaining that the disorders were slight, and would be at
once suppressed. But the Germans refused to go back, and China was not
certain enough of the unanimity of the other powers to risk a war with
Germany unaided.
The Chinese officials saw that it was of the greatest importance to keep
the peace along the river, so that the Germans should have absolutely no
excuse for intervening.
When the movement of the German vessels took place, Reinhardt was absent
from Sui-Fu. Errington had been established for some weeks at Chia-ling
Fu. On Reinhardt's reappearance at his station it was rumoured among
the Chinese that he had actually been in the camp of the
revolutionaries, whose leader was none other than the river pirate of
Mr. Ting's adventure. There was a very persistent report that the
insurgents were well supplied with money, a circumstance sufficiently
remarkable in itself to lend support to the suspicion that the Germans
were secretly backing the insurrection.
Errington meanwhile, in his new position at Chia-ling Fu, had gone from
bad to worse. The city itself was more attractive than Sui-Fu; it was
situated at the junction of the Min with two other rivers, amidst very
fertile and picturesque country. Errington might have found much to
interest him if he had cared to make friends with the missionaries, or
with the Englishmen in the town. But his connection with a German firm
brought him necessarily into closer contact with the little German
colony, among whom there was a careless, card-playing section. Cards
were practically the only recreation; and Errington, deprived of any
steadying influence, fell more and more under the fascination of
gambling. Absence for a time from Reinhardt dulled his suspicions of
that gentleman's honesty, and when the German paid occasional visits to
Chia-ling Fu he found Errington as ready as ever to associate with him.
At the card-parties luck was steadily against the Englishman, and in
course of time he was heavily in debt to Reinhardt and others. He went
to the money-lenders again; but they declined to give him any further
assistance, and began to press him in regard to the amounts he already
owed them.
Reinhardt also happened to be pressed for money. An American
globe-trotter of great means came to Sui-Fu, and was persuaded by
Reinhardt to join his card-parties. He proved more than a match for the
German, who, piqued at his losses, played higher and higher, until at
the 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 on
Errington. After a little general conversation, he said casually--
"By ze way, zose little sums you owe me--will it be convenient to pay
up?"
"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 have
ze money. But zere is a way for you. Why not go to Mr. Ting? I do not
say it is true, but zere are many who believe zat Ting has still moneys
of 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 to
him, ze boy--zat is you, naturally--would be provided for. Ting, said
he, 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 I
came of age there'd be precious little left."
"I know nozink about zat. I know only what my friend told me. How
stands ze matter? You owe me five hundred dollars; I cannot afford in
zese times to wait for ze money; zerefore I say, apply to Mr. Ting."
Errington thought over the suggestion. The suspicions already planted by
Reinhardt 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 belong
to him made Errington resolve to broach the matter at the first
opportunity.
Mr. Ting at intervals travelled up the river on business. It happened
that he came to Chia-ling Fu a few days after Reinhardt had made his
suggestion. He called on Errington, as he had often done before, gave
him news of friends in Shanghai, and showed no sign of any change of
feeling towards his old employer's son.
Errington was restless and ill at ease all through the interview. His
natural pride revolted against the course he was forcing himself to
take. At last, just as Mr. Ting was leaving, he said hesitatingly and
with 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 it
not?"
"Yes, but----"
"And you are a young man," Mr. Ting went on. "You have no wife nor
pickins. I think with your pay, and your commission--velly good, if I
hear tlue--you can live velly well. Plaps you tell me what you want so
much money for."
Errington began to walk up and down the room. He was struggling with
himself: should 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 curious
trick of his at serious moments.
"No, I don't bet."
"Card-playing?"
"There's no harm in an occasional rubber, is there?" said Errington, his
temper rising.
"Gambling?" went on the remorseless Chinaman.
And then the storm burst.
"What right have you to question me?" demanded the boy furiously. "You
are not my guardian. You profess to be a friend of mine, and when I ask
you for a slight favour you preach at me. You're rolling in money, and
won't lift a finger to help a fellow. I don't want your money, though
if what people say is true, the amount I asked you for is a precious
small 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 this
time?" cried Mr. Ting. In his indignation at what was in truth a charge
of bad faith the Chinaman lapsed for a moment into the pidgin English of
his childhood. Then, recovering his composure, he said with quiet
dignity: "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 insulted
me so. I do not gludge the sum that you wish to bollow, but I am solly
that you want money for leasons that you will not tell, and which I must
think are no cledit to you. But I tell you now, I will lend you enough
money to pay all you owe, if you will give me a plomise, the word of a
gentleman, that you will make no more debts in the same fashion."
Errington looked at him for a moment; then, muttering "Pledge my freedom
to a Chinaman!" he flung out of the room in a rage.