"I sent a message to you, Mr Herrick," he cried angrily, and I could
then guess that he had been coming to see why I had delayed. "I have
something to say to you, sir, respecting the company you keep, and the
society you affect, which I am given to understand is not that which
conduces to good dishipline."
"Oh, that's what Mr Smith thinks, sir," I said coolly.
"Oh, indeed!" he cried sarcastically.
"Yes, sir; he said something about it to me this morning, but he does
not know."
"Indeed!" he cried, growing black as a thundercloud; "then I am to take
it, sir, that you do?"
"I hope so, sir; I try to know."
"Then you know, sir, possibly why it was that when I sent you a summons
I am kept waiting?"
"Yes, sir; I was delayed a little--"
"Oh, thank you. I am glad to hear that, Mr Herrick. Perhaps you have
something else of importance to communicate?"
"Yes, sir, very."
"Thank you. I am sorry I cannot ask you to sit down."
"Don't name it, sir," I said quietly, while he began to breathe very
hard.
"I was down with Ching the interpreter, sir, this morning--"
"Were you really, Mr Herrick?" he said sarcastically. "Dear me, I hope
he is much better?"
"Yes, sir, he's nearly all right. I was coming to you when I met Mr
Barkins, and Smith." I couldn't say Mr Smith, I felt so exasperated
against him.
"What a curious coincidence, Mr Herrick! If I had known I might have
spared myself the trouble of sending."
"Yes, sir."
"And pray, may I know for what reason I was to be honoured?"
"Of course, sir," I said coolly enough, for I was enjoying the way in
which he was working himself up for an explosion to fall upon my
unfortunate head. "The fact is, sir--"
"Oh, it is a fact, is it?"
"Yes, sir--Ching has friends ashore."
"And wants leave of absence? Are you his envoy?"
"Oh no, sir. One of his friends sent him an important letter this
morning by the vegetable boat."
"Eh? letter?" said Mr Reardon, beginning to grow interested.
"Yes, sir. This friend is a kind of a merchant or something; and he has
news of two big junks--piratical junks--lying in this very river."
"The dickens he has! Here, Herrick, come down to my cabin."
He took my arm and marched me quickly to the ladder and down to his
cabin. On the way I caught sight of Barkins and Smith watching us, and
I gave them a nod.
"Now, my lad, sit down," cried Mr Reardon excitedly. "Let's hear."