Read Passage of Arms for Free Online

in the same language.
    "Let us hope the bad times are ended for good."
    "Good business for one is good business for all," said Girija.
    "Very true." Now, Mr. Tan decided, they were coming to the point. Reference to mutual advantage was the accepted preliminary to a squeeze.
    "This tea is excellent, sir," said Girija.
    Mr. Tan instantly sent for more. This again postponed pointed discussion and further inanities were exchanged. Grudgingly, Mr. Tan had to admit to himself that the young man was handling the interview well. He found himself becoming interested.
    When they were alone again, he said: "Mr. Wright is a very good manager. It must be a pleasure to work for such a man."
    Girija nodded. "Indeed it is. He is, as you say, a fine manager. But he is also a man of good heart."
    "I can well believe that."
    "In fact," Girija went on, "when I asked him if he would allow me to come down to Kuala Pangkalan on personal business, he did not even question me before giving his permission."
    "One has always known that he values your services highly." Mr. Tan was making the pace again now. The use of the phrase 'values your services' would, he was sure, bring the matter to a head.
    "And yet," said Girija, "I was glad he did not ask me questions." He paused.
    Mr. Tan was silent. He was certain that the moment had arrived.
    Girija flashed a smile. "For if he had, I would have been forced to hurt his feelings or to lie. I would not wish to do either of those things."
    "Both are offences against good taste," agreed Mr. Tan sententiously.
    "Mr. Wright has been my father," said Girija. "How could I tell him that, being in need of the wisest advice on a matter of great importance, I was turning not to him but to Mr. Tan Siow Mong?"
    Mr. Tan said nothing. He had nothing relevant to say. He was hurriedly revising his estimate of the situation. If the clerk were choosing this way of leading up to a request for money, he must have some absurdly large sum in mind.
    Girija leant forward earnestly. "Nowhere in Kuala Pangkalan is there a wiser head in important matters of business," he said. "It is well known."
    Mr. Tan noted the qualifying phrase, 'in important matters of business'. He said: "You pay me an undeserved compliment."
    "My friend," continued Girija, "could think of no one else whose advice on this matter would be so valuable."
    "Your friend?" Mr. Tan was becoming confused again and in consequence also a little annoyed; but his tone remained polite.
    "You do not know him, sir," said Girija; "and he knows you only from your high reputation. When I said that I would ask your advice on this important matter that is troubling him, he begged me not to mention him by name. The matter is highly confidential."
    "Most business matters are." Mr. Tan spoke dryly. He guessed that 'confidential' in this context probably meant 'criminal'.
    Girija's smile became tentative. For the first time, Mr. Tan saw him ill at ease, and decided to offer a word of reassurance. It would be irritating if the man took fright and left without revealing the object of his visit.
    "If your friend respects my wisdom," he remarked, "he must also acknowledge my discretion."
    Girija's smile went back into place and his eyes met Mr. Tan's. "Of course. But he is a nervous man. You will see why when I explain." He paused to choose his words before going on. "It appears that some years ago during the emergency, when the terrorists were bringing in arms from the north, my friend found some of these arms—rifles, machine-guns, ammunition." He looked up to see how Mr. Tan was taking this.
    Mr. Tan smiled; but very faintly. "And so he turned them over to the police?"
    "That, of course, is what he should have done." Girija shrugged. "But, as I said, my friend is a nervous man. He did not wish to call attention to himself. At the time, it seemed best to do nothing. Now, he is in a difficulty."
    "Yes?"
    "My friend is in need of money. He thought of these arms. If he told the police about