All at once he saw a way out of the threatening doldrums.

Some trustworthy Chinaman to watch, for a small bribe, while he, James Boyle O'Higgins, enjoyed himself in Hong-Kong, seeing the spring races, the boxing matches, and hobnobbing with Yankee sailors.

Canton was something like a blind alley; unless you were native, you couldn't get anywhere except by returning to Hong-Kong and starting afresh.
Satisfied that he had solved his difficulty, he proceeded to his room.

At nine-thirty he climbed into the chair and signified to Ah Cum that he was ready.
"You speak English better than I do," said O'Higgins, as the coolies jogged across the bridge toward the gate.

"Where did you pick it up ?" "I believe I told you; at Yale." O'Higgins laughed.