"I’ll leave a note saying that I went against your advice, so that in case anything happens to me my father won’t hold you responsible. You needn’t say any more: it’s fixed. You must make me look as much like a German as you can; darken my eyebrows, crop my hair. I can’t grow a moustache, worse luck." Feeling that an awkward situation might arise if he made any change in his appearance at Sui-Fu, he decided to run up to the creek below Pa-tang, and do on board the boat what little was possible to disguise himself. He set off when the Europeans were taking their midday meal, accompanied by Sing Wen, who would leave him at Pa-tang, and by Chin Tai and Lo San, the latter because he had already visited Meichow, and knew something of the conditions there. Very reluctantly the comprador proceeded to carry out his master’s instructions. An hour’s work with burnt cork and scissors changed the Englishman’s appearance passably to that of a young German. While Sing Wen was putting the finishing touches to his work, Burroughs saw Reinhardt’s launch pass the mouth of the creek in the direction of Pa-tang. "Not after me?" he said. "He’s probably going for his smoke; don’t you think so?" "Yes, sah: Massa Leinhadt velly fond smokee." "Well, I only wish I had his moustache. I’d give a hundred dollars down for one like it." He felt that all that was wanted to complete his transformation was a thick moustache like the one that Reinhardt brushed and tended with such affectionate care. "It’s a pity he has come, though," he went on. "I mustn’t start before dark, in case he sees the boat, or hears it. And I ought to keep that opium fellow’s mouth shut. Sing Wen, you’d better go and tell your disreputable relative that it’ll pay him to say nothing about me." "Velly good, sah," said the comprador. "Hai! My fo’get one ting. No hab got no chow-chow.[#]" [#] Food. "Well, bring some back with you. Make your brother’s brother-in-law understand clearly." The comprador went ashore. He was absent much longer than Burroughs anticipated. When he at length returned, his usually inexpressive face wore a look of smug satisfaction hardly to be accounted for by his purchases of food. "What a time you have been!" said Burroughs. "Have you made it all right with your brother’s brother-in-law?" "Yes, sah, allo lightee," replied the man, with a gleam of suppressed amusement. He laid his bundles in the boat, then approached his master, fumbled in the little bag he wore at his waist, and drew from it a small packet done up in rice paper, which he handed to Burroughs. "Allo lightee, sah," he repeated. Burroughs opened the packet with a mild curiosity, and started. There lay a thick brown moustache, brushed up and waxed at each end, and neatly attached to a strip of light flexible gauze. "Where on earth did you get this?" he asked, fingering the stiff hair. "Pa-tang, sah. My catchee he fo’ hundled dolla."