Mrs. Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha Read Online Free PDF Page B

Sheng Ti?”
    “Of course,” she said, handing over Bishop’s memo again. “
Is
Sheng Ti here?”
    The man studied the memo. “How
exactly
did you get this?” he asked.
    Mrs. Pollifax drew a deep breath and sailed in. “Well, I knew the name of the American with whom Sheng Ti was leaving China, you see, and so I tracked him down, and he told me that Sheng Ti had been left in Hong Kong, and he gave me an address—in Washington, of all places!” she added innocently. “And finally—after many very insistent letters and calls—it was all very strange—I was given this.”
    The man stared at the memo and nodded. “You could have received this from only one source, no one else could possibly know of Sheng Ti’s presence here.”
    “He
is
here, then!”
    “Oh yes,” he said smoothly, handing her back the memo with a smile, “but it has of course been infinitely mysterious to us, your knowing of his presence. You are visiting Hong Kong for how long?” he asked politely.
    “A week. To see the flowers. I myself have won a number of prizes for my geraniums and—”
    “Yes,” he said, interrupting her and leaning forward, “but you must drop the idea of seeing Sheng Ti, if you please. He is quite well—working hard—and I really have to insist that he not be distracted by seeing you.”
    “Not see him!” cried Mrs. Pollifax in her best shocked voice. “But I’ve come so far, and I thought—my garden club thought—”
    “But he is very happy here,” Detwiler assured her smoothly. “Perhaps later, another year, but he is useful to me and once he has learned more English he will be even more useful. I intend,” he said softly but firmly, “to keep him here. For the moment, anyway,” he added in a more conciliatory voice.
    Mrs. Pollifax said darkly, “He hoped to go to school, are you sending him to school? And to learn a trade, too, and—”
    He said gently, “On that score you may rest. He is being taught English, yes, and also something of jade and diamonds. Come and see,” he said, rising and pointing to the workbench. “There are perhaps a hundred thousand U.S. dollars’ worth of diamonds here, something you may never see again.
    Mrs. Pollifax started to protest, knowing very wellthat she was being diverted, but, feeling that she had at least entered the dragons’ den and met the head dragon, she allowed herself the diversion. “May I inquire your name?” she asked sweetly. “I believe you already know mine is Mrs. Pollifax.”
    He said absently, “Detwiler, but just look at this stone, will you? Five carats—beautifully cut and polished.”
    “You sell them here in your shop?” she asked.
    “Oh no, they’re sent all over the world. These particular stones were cut in Antwerp and sent here to Hong Kong to be polished … Hong Kong imports millions of dollars’ worth of diamonds to be finished. These … who knows? Lotus has the invoices and could tell us but they will go to many places: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Japan …” He shrugged. “But allow me to give you a small souvenir of your visit to Hong Kong. Not a diamond, of course, but something still rather special. To not leave disappointed.”
    “Oh?”
    “Or empty-handed—I insist.” He moved to the shelves of ivory and jade objects, picked out a jade figurine, shook his head, returned it to the shelf and selected another, holding it out to Mrs. Pollifax. “Ivory,” he said softly. “Is it not beautiful?”
    “A Buddha!” she gasped. “How lovely!” The figure was roughly twelve inches tall and a masterpiece of intricate carving, the Buddha seated in the traditional lotus position, the hands carved in exquisite detail. On his head he wore an unusual headdress that rose to a peak—a triumph of craftmanship in its delicate lacelike detail—while the folds of his robe fell in very simple lines and the face was utterly serene.
    “Please—it is yours,” he told her. “It is as valuableas Sheng Ti is to me, and as