I did not, however, grudge the poor fellow what he got from me, as I considered myself to be somewhat in his debt for the information he had afforded me.
"As for the rest of my story, it may be briefly told.

I followed the advice of the shopkeeper, and applied to a bookseller, who wrote to his correspondent in London.

After a long interval, I was informed that if I wished to learn Chinese, I must do so through the medium of French; there being neither Chinese grammar nor dictionary in our language.

I was at first very much disheartened.

I determined, however, at last to gratify my desire of learning Chinese, even at the expense of learning French.