Reclosing the trap by means of
the awl which he had screwed into it, he removed the awl and
placed it in his pocket.
Then, sliding gently down the sloping roof, he dropped back into
the deserted court.
VIII
A CAGE OF BIRDS
"No," said Lala, "we have never had robbers in the house." She
looked up at Durham naively. "You are not a thief, are you?" she
asked.
"No, I assure you I am not," he answered, and felt himself
flushing to the roots of his hair.
They were seated in a teashop patronized by the workers of the
district; and as Durham, his elbows resting on the marble-topped
table, looked into the dark eyes of his companion, he told
himself again that whatever might be the secrets of old Huang
Chow, his daughter did not share them.
The Chinaman had made no report to the authorities, although the
piled up furniture beneath the skylight must have afforded
conclusive evidence that a burglarious entry had been made into
the premises.
"I should feel very nervous," Durham declared, "with all those
valuables in the house."
"I feel nervous about my father," the girl answered in a low
voice. "His room opens out of the warehouse, but mine is shut
away in another part of the building.
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