red an exclamation of triumph.

Crossing the littered floor, and picking his way amid broken cane
chairs, tea-chests, discarded garments and bedlaths, he threw open the
cupboard door. Before him hung a row of ragged clothes and a number
of bowler hats. Directing the ray of the torch upon the unsavory
collection, he snatched coats and hats from the hooks upon which they
depended and hurled them impatiently upon the floor.

When the cupboard was empty he stepped into it and began to bang upon
the back. The savagery of his expression grew more marked than usual,
and as he chewed his maxillary muscles protruded extraordinarily.

"If ever I sounded a brick wall," he muttered, "I'm doing it now."

Tap where he would--and he tapped with his knuckles and with the bone
ferrule of his cane--there was nothing in the resulting sound to suggest
that that part of the wall behind the cupboard was less solid than any
other part.

He examined the room rapidly, then passed into another one adjoining
it, which was evidently used as a bedroom. The latter faced towards
the court and did not come in contact with the wall of the neighboring
house. In both rooms the windows were fastened, and judging from
the state of the fasteners were never opened. In that containing the
cupboard outside shutters were also closed. Despite this sealing-up
of the apartments, traces of fog hung in the air. Kerry descended the
stairs.

Snapping off the light of his torch, he stood, feet wide apart, staring
at Sin Sin Wa. The latter, smiling imperturbably, yellow hands resting
upon knees, sat quite still on the tea-chest. Constable Bryce was
seated on a corner of the table, looking curiously awkward in his tweed
overcoat and bowler hat, which garments quite failed to disguise the
policeman. He stood up as Kerry entered. Then:

"There used to be a door between this house and the next," said Kerry
succinctly. "My information is exact and given by someone who has often
used that door."

"Bloody liar," murmured Sin Sin Wa.

"What!" shouted Kerry. "What did you say, you yellow-faced mongrel!"

He clenched his fists and strode towards the Chinaman.

"Sarcee feller catchee pullee leg," explained the unmoved Sin Sin Wa.
"Velly bad man tellee lie for makee bhoberry--getchee poor Chinaman in
tlouble."

In the fog-bound silence Kerry could very distinctly be heard chewing.
He turned suddenly to Bryce.

"Go back and fetch two men," he directed. "I should neve