• THE KING'S MAHOUT 3 



Choo Poll Lek, after a celebration which quite 

 dimmed the customary New Year festival. 



Meantime not only did the business develop, but 

 Lee Boon Jew, who was now one of Bangkok's 

 merchants, attained to such prominence among his 

 compatriots that by the time Choo was fifteen, Lee 

 had become Collector in the Bird Nest Depart- 

 ment of the Government Revenue Service; a post 

 for which he was eminently fitted by both name 

 and nature. 



The cares of office did not, however, necessitate 

 abandonment of the trade, grown now to an extent 

 that kept several large boats of his fleet solely and 

 constantly engaged in rattan and bamboo, for 

 which they made long trips up river. It was Lee's 

 dearest wish that his son should succeed to the 

 commercial enterprise which so confidently prom- 

 ised to make wealthy men of them both; espe- 

 cially since his most intimate associate, Ho Kee 

 Peck, had been recently appointed Farmer, under 

 the Government, of the Onion, Bees Wax and 

 Rattan Department. 



Truth to tell, Lee had dreamed rosy-hued celes- 

 tial dreams of Choo Poh Lek's opportunities, and 

 the possible prosperity that might easily come to 

 a business having two silent partners in the local 

 revenue service. Between the good offices of the 

 Bird Nest and of the Onion, Bees Wax and Rattan 



