It was a favourite inn, and was already crowded.

The best room was in possession of Chinese travellers, who were on the road like myself.

They were dozing on the couches, but what must they do when I entered the room but, thinking that I should wish to occupy it by myself, rise and pack up their things, and one after another move into another apartment adjoining, which was already well filled, and now became doubly so.

Their thoughtfulness and courtesy charmed me.

They must have been more tired than I was, but they smiled and nodded pleasantly to me as they left the room, as if they were grateful to me for putting them to inconvenience.