"Ah yes, ze days of school must end. Zey are good days, especially ze sport. You will find good golf in Shanghai. No doubt you go to join Mr. Burroughs?" "The Mole does--Ted, you know: we called him the Mole at school because he’s Burroughs; but I’m going to a German firm: of course you know them--Ehrlich Söhne." Burroughs was a trifle annoyed that his companion was so communicative: but "It’s just like Pidge," he said to himself. "Indeed!" said the German, in response to Errington’s last remark. "Zat is my own firm. I am delighted zat I shall have you for a colleague. It is a good firm: naturally I say so; but every one says ze same. You will have opportunities zat few ozer firms can offer. Zere are great prospects." He proceeded to dilate upon the vast business conducted by his firm; their transactions in silk and cotton and grass-cloth fibre; their difficulties with the Customs and with river pirates, and so on, incidentally giving many descriptions of the ways of Chinamen, which the boys listened to with interest. "You know Mr. Ting, of course?" said Errington presently. "Ting Chuh? oh yes, of course," replied the German; and Burroughs, closely observant, noticed a scarcely perceptible constraint in his manner. "An excellent man of business; a little difficult, perhaps. I remember, he was your fazer’s comprador, Mr. Errington. You have nozink now to do wiz him?" "Not officially, if that’s what you mean: but he’s kept up a correspondence with me, and it was he that got me this crib with your firm." "Indeed! Zen zat is a great compliment to ze firm, and, if I may say so, also to you. Ting is a good man of business, highly respected. To place you wiz us shows zat he has a great opinion of us, and also of you. Zis information interests me extremely." From this time forth Mr. Reinhardt was often in the boys’ company. He was always very pleasant, and they wondered more and more why the majority of the passengers avoided him. But when he began to teach Errington some card games of which he had never before heard, Burroughs felt uneasy. On the first occasion, when he was asked to join them, he declined, and they did not ask him again. Knowing how easily Errington was led, and remembering indications of his having inherited his father’s propensity for speculation, he ventured one night to enter a mild protest. "I say, Pidge," he said, "I don’t think I’d play cards much with Reinhardt if I were you." "Why on earth not? Sixpence is our highest stake: are you afraid of my ruining myself?" "Of course not, but--well, Reinhardt isn’t liked on board; there may be something shady about him." "Come, that’s dashed unfair. You know nothing against the man. For goodness’ sake, don’t get starchy and puritanical."