"I am not insensible to the advantages or rights of self-defense," he said dryly. "But I trust that you have found nothing incorrect in our attitude--if I may borrow a phrase from your diplomats. I would be unwilling to take any course objectionable to the country that is my host--possibly a somewhat unwilling host, if I may judge by the words I have heard to-night." Big Sam looked at me with the inscrutable irony of the Orient. "I can see no ground for complaint," I replied. "I have come to learn, not to reprove or to warn." "I am, as ever, at your service." "I was happy enough to meet our estimable friend Kwan Luey--under somewhat difficult and depressing circumstances, I may add--and he was so insistent in his assumption that I wished to see you that I thought it wise to test his theory before I went to sleep." The shadow of a smile swept across Big Sam’s face. "Kwan Luey has his moments of divination," he said, and then fell silent. "May I inquire what particularly I wished to see you about?" I asked at last. Big Sam’s eyes studied me keenly. "I warned you--not so long ago, Mr. Hampden--that strange events were preparing in your city. May I ask what is now your opinion on them? I am interested to hear." "I must congratulate you on the accuracy of your information, though I am still at a loss to surmise why you should have been selected for the confidence. And as for the disorders, they are but a temporary effervescence, which will die away, or be suppressed. But there is one thing permanent about them. They are a crude expression of the resolve of our race to hold the continent for itself." "Crude indeed!" said Big Sam with energy. "And will destroy itself by its own violence. I have here a paper showing the sentiment of your people in the Eastern States. It makes a protest against the policy that would exclude us." "I shan’t begrudge you the pleasure you can get out of that sort of comment. But I can assure you that race feeling will prevail." "Over private interest? I believe not. And the private interest of your governing classes is with the free admission of my people. But enough of that. Where is your charge--and mine--Moon Ying?" He threw this question at me as though he hoped to surprise some admission. "She is still with Miss Kendrick." "What arrangements have you made to protect her?" "Protect her? From what? Are the highbinders so desperate as to think of attacking Mr. Kendrick’s house? I trust you will warn them that this would be something far more serious than all Kearney’s oratory. It would mean the destruction of Chinatown." "I understand you," said Big Sam suavely. "I have no doubt that an attack by the tongs on Mr. Kendrick’s house would bring a terrible reprisal. Fortunately there are few among my people who do not understand that quite as well as you." "Nevertheless there is something you fear," I said, as Big Sam hesitated.