What is Grain Cargoes?

Grain Cargoes is a short story written by Reginald Johnston, first published in Blackwood's Magazine in January 1913. It also appears in Johnston's collection of tales *Twilight in the Forbidden City*.

The story centers around the life of Sir Hugh Marlowe, a successful British politician who is appointed by the Prime Minister as the British minister to China. Marlowe is not very excited about taking up the post, but his friend Lord Claversham advises him that the position will allow him to escape from a love affair with a married woman. In Peking, capital of China, Marlowe struggles with the protocol of the Chinese court and the difficulties he encounters due to the corruption of the Chinese officials. He also experiences a crisis when he becomes infatuated with a young English singer, but eventually returns home to London to live with his former love.