132 VISIT TO A [Cuar. VIII. 
some flowers.” ‘ Lyloe, lyloe,” * said half a 
dozen of them at once, and I found, to my surprise 
and pleasure, that I was almost close to the gate 
of a very good nursery belonging to an individual 
who had a flower-shop in the city, and with whom 
I had had the conversation related above. It was 
now getting too dark to see the plants well, but I 
marked the spot, and returned on the following 
day. This time, however, I was not successful, 
for, as [ approached, a boy, who was on the watch, 
scampered away to the gardener’s house and gave 
notice of my appearance ; and long before I reached 
the gate it was closed and barricaded, and no per- 
suasion nor entreaty could remove their fears, or 
induce them to allow me to enter. The next day, 
and the next again, the very same thing took 
place, although I took different roads, in the hopes 
of finding the young sentinel off his guard. I was 
now obliged to have recourse to other means to 
gain my end. Her Majesty’s consul, Captain Bal- 
four, had from the first taken great interest in the 
success of my pursuits, and kindly offered me 
every assistance in his power, should I find any 
difficulties in my way. I therefore related the 
circumstance to him, and requested him to allow 
one of the Chinese officers attached to the consu- 
late to accompany me to the garden, and explain 
that my object was to purchase plants, and not to 
take any thing away against their will. From our 
* Come, come. 
