"So you make a profit on your rum, Sin Sin Wa," he said ironically,
"at the same time that you keep in the good graces of the police?"
Sin Sin Wa's expression underwent a subtle change at the sound of his
native language. He moved his hands and became slightly animated.
"A great people of the West, most honorable sir," he replied in the
pure mandarin dialect, "claim credit for having said that 'business is
business.' Yet he who thus expressed himself was a Chinaman."
"You surprise me."
"The wise man must often find occasion for surprise most honorable
sir."
Sir Lucien lighted a cigarette.
"I sometimes wonder, Sin Sin Wa," he said slowly, "what your aim in
life can be. Your father was neither a ship's carpenter nor a
shopkeeper. This I know. Your age I do not know and cannot guess, but
you are no longer young. You covet wealth. For what purpose, Sin Sin
Wa?"
Standing behind the Chinaman, Sir Lucien's dark face, since he made no
effort to hide his feelings, revealed the fact that he attached to
this seemingly abstract discussion a greater importance than his tone
of voice might have led one to suppose. Sin Sin Wa remained silent for
some time, then:
"Most honorable sir," he replied, "when I have smoked the opium,
before my eyes--for in dreams I have two--a certain picture arises.
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