Well, Mr. Knox,
Huang Chow was the biggest dealer in illicit stuff in all the
East End--and this battered thing at our feet is--Ah Fu!"
"Huang Chow's servant?"
"Exactly!"
I stared, uncomprehendingly, and:
"In what way does this throw light on the matter?" I asked.
Durham--a very intelligent young officer--smiled significantly.
"I begin to see light!" he declared. "The gentleman who made off
just as I arrived on the scene probably had a private quarrel
with the Chinaman and was otherwise not concerned in any way."
"I am disposed to agree with you," I said guardedly.
"Of course, you've no idea of his identity?"
"I'm afraid not."
"We may find him," mused the officer, glancing at me shrewdly,
"by applying at the offices of the Planet Line, but I rather
doubt it. Also I rather doubt if we'll look very far. He's
saved us a lot of trouble, but"--peering about in the shadowy
corners which abounded--"didn't I see somebody else lurking
around here?"
"I'm almost certain there was someone else!" I cried. "In fact,
I could all but swear to it."
"H'm!" said the detective. "He's not here now. Might I trouble
you to walk along to Limehouse Police Station for the ambulance?
I'd better stay here.
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