But I had just seen him coming from the house of Chan Cho Lan.

My apprehension was only faint because he was there giving me his frank open smile. But I knew my fears would grow when I was alone, and I had to say something.

“You’ve been to Chan Cho Lan’s house.” For a moment he looked startled and I went on: “I saw you coming out not very long ago.”

“Oh that… yes.”

“I thought you’d been to see about the rose quartz figurine?”

“I have. I called in at Chan Cho Lan’s later… on the way home in fact.”

“Do you often go there?”

“Oh, now and then.”

I looked at him challengingly. “Why?”

He came to me and put his hands on my shoulders. “The lady is a power in Hong Kong. She knows a great many people.”

“Rich mandarins who are anxious to make… alliances?”

“Exactly. Rich mandarins who are also looking for valuable pieces or perhaps wish to sell them from collections which have been in their families for centuries. This is how we find our most exciting pieces.”

“So you go there to meet these people?”

“I seize every opportunity. So does Adam.”

“Does Toby go too?”

Joliffe laughed. “Dear old Toby. Elspeth would never allow him to set foot in the place. She’d be terrified he’d be seduced.”

“And should I be terrified on your account?”

He held me to him. “Not in the least,” he said. “You know I’m completely yours.”

Of course I believed him.


* * *

Jealousy is insidious. One laughs at the idea that the loved one could be unfaithful; one tells oneself that to have imagined it is due to an intensity of love. But the doubts would come to me suddenly, and I would ask myself how much I really knew of Joliffe. This much I did know: he was extremely attractive—not only to me but to others. Lilian Lang would make sly references to this fact whenever I met her; and in Elspeth’s prim smile there was a touch of righteous pleasure because those who made their beds had to lie on them.

Joliffe’s first wife was discussed. I knew these women half believed that it was not illness which drove her to take her life but some failing in Joliffe.

Elspeth believed that once marriage vows had been exchanged they should be adhered to, no matter what happened. In her eyes Joliffe was unreliable and the fact that I had preferred him to her brother meant that I was a fool.

She had no more patience with fools than with rogues and therefore she implied that I deserved all that was coming to me.

When Lottie came to me with an invitation from Chan Cho Lan I accepted it eagerly.

This strange woman was of greater interest to me than ever. I wanted to see her at close quarters, perhaps even talk with her.

“She wish you take Jason,” said Lottie.

Jason was delighted at the prospect and we set out with Lottie.

The pigtailed servant opened the gate for us and there stood the house in its courtyard—charming in the sunlight with its three stories one protruding over another and its ornamental roof.

This was a different occasion from the last for we were the only visitors. I wondered why she had wanted to see me, and the thought occurred to me that Joliffe may have told her that I had been anxious to know why he came here.

In the hall we waited. We heard in the distance the tinkling indeterminate timbre of Chinese music and then a servant came to conduct us into Chan Cho Lan’s presence.

She was seated on a cushion and rising, gracefully swayed towards us.

She joined her closed hands and lifted them three times to her head.

“Haou? Tsing Tsing,” she said in her soft musical voice.

She looked at Jason and gave him the same greeting. He now understood that he must return it in the same way.

She said something to Lottie who told me: “Chan Cho Lan say you have very fine son.”

We sat down; she clapped her hands, the long nail shields tapping against each other.

A servant ran in and she spoke to him so quickly that I could not follow. I guessed she was asking that tea be brought to her guests.

But it was not tea that came in. It was another servant holding by the hand a small boy.

He was exquisite, that boy; his black hair was combed flat about his head; his eyes were bright and like Lottie’s were more round than almond shaped; his skin was the same magnolia petal shade. He was dressed in blue silk trousers and jacket.

Chan Cho Lan looked at him impassively.

Then she signed and he came forward and bowed low to us.

Jason and he studied each other curiously. There was a deep silence in the room. Chan Cho Lan was watching the boys intently as though comparing them.

Jason said to the boy: “How old are you?”

The boy laughed. He did not understand.

“Is Chin-ky,” said Chan Cho Lan.

I said I had heard the name before.

“Is name for great warrior,” Lottie explained. “He be great warrior one day.”

Chan Cho Lan talked rapidly to the boy who looked at Jason rather shyly.

“Chan Cho Lan say Chin-ky should show Jason his kite.”

At the mention of the kite Jason was immediately interested.

“What sort of kite have you, Chin-ky? Have you a dragon one? I have a dragon one. My father and I can fly them higher than anyone else.”

Chin-ky laughed. He was clearly fascinated by Jason who seemed so much bigger than he was himself.

Chan Cho Lan spoke to Lottie who rose.

“Chan Cho Lan say I take them to play in the courtyard.” She waved her hand and I saw the courtyard beyond the window.

I nodded and Lottie went out with the boys.

As she did so, tea was brought in.

Chan Cho Lan and I sat by the window. The boys appeared. They were carrying a kite which was almost the size of Chin-ky. Lottie sat down on a seat there and watched them.

My cup was brought to me by Chan Cho Lan’s servant. I sipped the beverage. It was hot and refreshing.

She said: “Your son… my son.”

“He is a beautiful boy, your Chin-ky,” I said.

“Two beautiful boy. They play happy.”

The dried fruits were brought to me. I helped myself to one with a two-pronged little fork.

“Play kite,” she said. “East and West. Yet…”

She did not seem to be able to go on. Yet I had the idea that she was trying to tell me something.

Jason and Chin-ky were able to communicate better than we were. Their heads were close as they released the kite. They stood legs apart watching it as it soared upwards, and as I watched them I thought how much alike they were.

Chan Cho Lan seemed to read my thoughts. She said: “They look… one like other?”

“Yes,” I said. “I was thinking that.”

“Your son… my son…” She pointed at me and then at herself. She smiled nodding her head.

“Two boys… boys better than girl child. You glad.”

“I rejoice in my son,” I said.

She understood that and nodded.

Somewhere in the house a gong sounded. It was like a knell because her next words were: “My son… your son… both have English father.”

She smiled nodding but there was a glitter in her eyes which was malevolent.

Oh God, I thought, what is she telling me?

And then far off in the house I heard the gong again.

I was not sure how long we sat there watching the children in the courtyard. Jason was shrieking wildly as the kite mounted and Chin-ky leaped about in an ecstasy of pleasure. Every now and then he would pause to look at Jason and they would both laugh as though at some shared secret.

I was so much aware of her—her delicate perfume, the graceful swaying body, the tiny tiny feet in little black slippers, the beautifully expressive hands. I felt awkward and clumsy beside her. She was exquisite; she had been trained to captivate men. Everything about her was alien. I thought of my mother who had wanted me to be big and strong and who had bought new shoes for me when she couldn’t afford them so my feet would have plenty of room for growing. It seemed a strange thought to have on such an occasion but then I was trying to shut out that suspicion which had come to me.

She was trying to tell me something and I dared not ask myself too insistently what it was. I knew that Joliffe came here. I had seen him, emerging from this house. He had only told me he had been here when I pressed him to. How often did he come here? What was his relationship with this alien yet beautiful and fascinating woman? He had been in Hong Kong at intervals since he was a boy. He knew so much more about it than I did. He visited this woman. Why? Was he telling me the truth? How could I know?

And when he was not with me and I remembered what had gone before, hideous suspicions insisted on creeping into my mind.

And this strange enigmatical woman, why had she invited me here? Why had she arranged for her son to play with mine while we watched them? Why had she wished me to see them together? Was it to show me the resemblance—yes there was an undoubted resemblance—between her son and mine?

They both had English fathers. Was she implying that they shared the same one?

At last the visit was over. Chan Cho Lan sent a servant to bring Jason in from the courtyard. He came reluctantly. Gracefully, Chan Cho Lan was indicating that we were expected to go.

Jason chattered about Chin-ky as we went back to The House of a Thousand Lanterns. He was nice but funny, he commented. His kite wasn’t quite as good as Jason’s own, but almost. “He can’t fly it as high as my father can,” he said complacently.