`` mr. hammond , if you will instruct me what else , but a spy , i am to consider a man who has assuredly reported every minute detail of my affairs-he was a guest in my father 's house ! -and those of the service to a foreign power- '' `` to your relations , who surely had some right to an interest , '' hammond said , as brazen as gong su himself , but hastily altered his course , seeing that laurence was by no means to be persuaded along these lines , `` -to his own government , to whom he surely offers his first allegiance ; and in any case , '' he dashed on , `` in any case , you must see the utmost significance-if prince mianning invites us to china officially- '' `` prince mianning has issued no invitation but one hypothetical , '' laurence said , `` and left the power of making it in the hands of this- '' `` -servant of the throne , '' hammond said loudly , overriding , `` and plainly one of trusted probity and judgment to have been given such license , for , captain , there can only be one purpose in asking us to make such a journey : they wish to discuss an alliance . ''