I did not interrupt, however, for Durham
immediately resumed:
"The drama was complicated by the presence of a fourth
character--the daughter of Cohenberg. Realizing that a small
fortune had slipped through his fingers, the old moneylender
dispatched his daughter in pursuit of Hi Wing Ho, having learned
upon which vessel the latter had sailed. He had no difficulty in
obtaining this information, for he is in touch with all the
crooks of the town. Had he known that the diamond had been
stolen by an agent of Huang Chow, he would no doubt have
hesitated. Huang Chow has an international reputation.
"However, his daughter--a girl of great personal beauty--relied
upon her diplomatic gifts to regain possession of the stone, but,
poor creature, she had not counted with Ah Fu, who was evidently
watching your chambers (while Hi Wing Ho, it seems, was
assiduously shadowing Ah Fu!). How she traced the diamond from
point to point of its travels we do not know, and probably never
shall know, but she was undeniably clever and unscrupulous. Poor
girl! She came to a dreadful end. Mr. Nicholson, here,
identified her at Bow Street to-night."
Now the whole amazing truth burst upon me.
"I understand!" I cried.
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