By-and-by drizzling rain came on and compelled us to seek shelter in the only inn in a poor out-of-the-way hamlet.

But I could not stop here, because the best room in the inn was already occupied by a military officer of some distinction, a colonel, on his way, like ourselves, to Tengyueh.

An official chair with arched poles fitted for four bearers was in the common-room; the mules of his attendants were in the stables, and were valuable animals.

The landlord offered me another room, an inferior one; but I waved the open fingers of my left hand before my face and said, "_puyao! puyao!_" (I don't want it, I don't want it).

For I was not so foolish or inconsistent as to be content with a poorer quarter of the inn than that occupied by the officer, whatever his button.