Imperial China

‘I do admire your taste in furnishings, I must say, but don’t you think that tapestry’s a bit too recherché? I mean, I’m very flattered and all, but I did make it in a hurry, and the Han-Sen original was awfully grubby by the time it reached me.’

‘During one of your usual meddlings, I take it?’ asked the Toymaker, quite unfazed by the Doctor’s claim.

‘Not mine,’ replied the Doctor, idly. ‘As I recall, the British Fleet was busy shelling the city at the time. They were the ones doing the meddling.’

‘The Opium Wars?’

‘Yes. Right up your street, all that, wasn’t it?’

‘I wasn’t there.’

‘No, or I’m sure we would have met. With your interest in matters Eastern, the downfall of the Chinese Empire was a foregone conclusion anyway.’

‘You do me too much honour...’

‘Oh, I didn’t mean to,’ replied the Doctor, disingenuously, ‘after all, you lost, didn’t you? It would have suited you far more to keep the corrupt Empire going for another couple of thousand years. Lots of room for games in Imperial China, eh?’

‘Lots of room for games anywhere on this planet, Doctor. As you, and I, have remarked, the human race is a very ingenious little species.’

***

The Nightmare Fair, Chapter 8