Like Frederick Townsend Ward, Yardley was an American adventurer. To Dai Li’s delight, he had no affection for the preachy, patronizing approach of the missionaries and “Old China Hands.” At a banquet in 1939, Yardley gave an eloquent defense of assassination, to which Dai Li responded, “Gan bei!” (Bottoms up!) But Yardley presented the Chinese with other problems. He organized orgies and kept a “comfort” cottage for his mistresses.
