sort of lumber room, and contains a collection of old furniture,
carpets, etc., covered with dust half an inch deep. The dust-covered
floor and the rusty lock both show that it has not been entered for a
long time. The furniture belongs to the owners of the property, and was
evidently placed there years ago when the property was offered for
leasing."

"Then it would seem that we have exhausted all possible clews," I
observed. I did not think it worth while to take him into my confidence
regarding Li Min, or the perfumed soap; and the brass-headed poker which
I had found, and which I had placed in the drawer in my room, I had for
the moment completely forgotten.

"So it seems," he remarked, thoughtfully. "This is by long odds the
strangest case I have ever worked on. Possibly the two Chinamen we have
in London may be able to throw some light upon it."

As we rounded the corner of the house, on our way to the front door, we
suddenly saw Li Min dart out of the main entrance, closely pursued by
the officer to whom I had entrusted my luggage. The Chinaman carried in
his hand my Gladstone bag, and was running with incredible swiftness
toward the road. Before I had time to make a move, McQuade darted
forward and intercepted him, knocking from his hand with lightning-like
quickness a long knife which he drew from his blouse. The two of them
tumbled over upon the turf, McQuade rising first with my satchel in his
hand. He looked at it, and seeing my name upon it handed it to me with a
grim smile. "You must have a valuable kit here, Sir," he said, "or else
this fellow has taken leave of his senses." He nodded to his assistant,
who promptly stepped forward and snapped a pair of handcuffs upon the
sullen-looking Oriental.

"The whole outfit isn't worth five pounds," I said, laughing, and picked
up the satchel. As I did so the catch came open and my small collection
of flannel shirts, toilet articles, sketching materials, etc., tumbled
upon the grass. McQuade joined in my laugh, and assisted me in replacing
my effects. "Nothing much here, Sir," he said, but I did not fail to
notice that he observed each article closely as we repacked the satchel.

We drove back to town in the high cart, with one of Major Temple's
grooms at the reins beside me, and Li Min and the Sergeant upon the rear
seat. After depositing the Chinaman at the jail, we took a hurried lunch
at the Half Moon, and left for London on the early afternoon express,
arr