Tang, "are friends of Sir Halliday Macartney's and will do what they are told."
In reply to my questions he told me that I should be taken by one of the "Glen" Line of Steamers, but that my departure would not take place that week (this was October 14th), as the Minister was unwilling to go to the expense of exclusively chartering the steamer, and he wished to have the cargo shipped first, so that only the passenger tickets would have to be paid for.
"Some time next week," he added, "the cargo will be embarked and you will go then."
On my remarking that this was a very difficult plan to put into execution, he merely said:
"Were we afraid of that, we could kill you here, because this is China, and no one can interfere with us in the Legation."
For my edification and consolation he
