282 ARISTOCRATS OF THE GARDEN 



have a friend he have learned him English for two 

 years at Hongkong, if you wish to get a interpreter 

 he can do. 



"Your small servant 



"Limay." 



Who Limay was I had not the slightest idea but 

 was grateful to him nevertheless. The bearer of the 

 note was himself the applicant. He was a Chinese of 

 very unprepossessing appearance who smoked opium 

 freely and had been discharged from the Telegraph 

 service for incompetency, but he spoke a little Eng- 

 lish. I engaged him on the spot, for a chance to 

 reach Dr. Henry presented itself. Not being 

 anxious to do more work than he could help my "in- 

 terpreter" rounded up an Annamese who could cook 

 and I engaged him, too. On August 23d we left in a 

 native boat for Manhao. The river was in flood. 

 The journey up the Red River due to its flooded con- 

 dition was slow and not without excitement. Three 

 days out I was overtaken by Monsieur Marty who 

 owned the line of river steamers between Hanoi and 

 Laokai and another line plying to Hongkong where 

 he resided. Monsieur Marty was anxious for com- 

 pany and induced me to travel in his boat. To 

 other accomplishments he added those of a good cook 

 and I was really most fortunate in joining him more 



