Scene.—Vice-Consul sitting at big desk in his office. On one haad a pile of chit books awaiting attention and on the other a mass of papers on the subject of sheng ko Jand in Pootung about which he 1s trying to draft a despatch to the Chinese authorities—something that will make them see the error of their sways, yet couched in diplomatic Janguage.
He writes "this attempt to deprive British subjects of—their property without any compensation whatever is sheer robbery He pauses—"sheer robbery" is per-chaps rather strong; after all, they are only asking for land to be given free for roads; so he scratches it out and substitutes "is not in accordance with the practice of modern municipal government'"' when ting-a-ling goes the telephone bell.
A Chinese voice says "Is that Blitiss Consulate?"
"Yes"
"Wait a minute please."
Patience has to be cultivated in a Consulate and the Vice-Consul does wait. Presently.
A sweet girlish voice:—'Hello dear, is that you?"
Vice-Consul:—''No, I don't think so. This is the Land Office. Who is it speaking, please?"
The Voice:—'Oh! I'm so sorry, I thought it was Mr.—."
Vice-Consul:—'Fraid not. Try the Passport Office."
Tue Burpen or Weatri.
He prepares to resume his despatch: "I suggest therefore that a joint commission be apjointed to assess the value of the land required " when the door opens and in comes Mr. Wester, the local millionaire.
Mr. Wester:—"Good morning. You know, I lent some money en mortgage the other day, and my lawyers, Flatt & Ca., fixed up all the documents for me. Of course, they are very reliable people, and it is probably all in order, but mistakes sometimes occur, and I thought I would just look in and see if the mortgage was properly registered."
Vice-Consul:—"All right, Mr. Wester.
You can search the register if you like. The fee is $3."
Mr. Wester:—$3 is it? Well, Flatt & Ca. are very reliable people aren't they? It's probably all right, so I don't think I'll trouble you. Exchange is dropping a lot, isnt it? Have you got much money, Mr. Smith?"
Vice-Consul:—"No. Wish I had. Are you proposing to give me some?"
Mr. Wester:—''Oh no. I was only going to say you are very lucky. {t gives you an awful lot of worry. 1 am always making loans. and sll that happens is that the other people get the money, and I only get a scrap of paper. Well, suppose I must be going. You haven't got anything to give away, have you?"
With a curious sideways jerk of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.