Out of his safe he took a blackwood box, beautifully carved, Cantonese.

Headbands, earrings, rings, charms, necklaces, tomb ornaments, some of

them royal, all of them nearly as ancient as the hills of Kwanlun, from

which most of them had been quarried--jade. He trickled them from palm to

palm and one by one returned the objects to the box. In the end he

retained two strings of beads so alike that it was difficult to discern

any difference. One was Kwanlun jade, royal loot; the other was a copy in

Nanshan stone. The first was priceless, worth what any fool collector was

ready to pay; the copy was worth perhaps a hundred gold. Held to the

light, there was a subtle difference; but only an expert could have told

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you what this difference was. The royal jade did not catch the light so

strongly as the copy; the touch of human warmth had slightly dulled the

stone.

Ling Foo transferred the copy to a purse he wore attached to his belt

under the blue jacket. The young woman would never be able to resist the

jade. She would return the glass instantly. A thousand gold, less the cost

of the jade! Good business!

But for once his Oriental astuteness overreached, as has been seen. And to

add to his discomfiture, he never again saw the copy of the Kwanlun,

representing the virtue of the favourite wife.

* * * * *

"I am an honest man," he said. "The tombs of my ancestors are not

neglected. When I say I could not get it I speak the truth. But I believe

I can get it later."

"How?" asked Cunningham. They were in the office, or bureau, of the Astor

House, which the manager had turned over to them for the moment.

"Remember, the arm of the British Government is long."

Ling Foo shrugged.

"Being an honest man, I do not fear. She would have given it to me but for

that officer. He knew something about jade."

Cunningham nodded.

"Conceivably he would." He jingled the gold in his pocket. "How do you

purpose to get the beads?"

"Go to the lady's room late. I left the jade with her. Alone, she will not

resist. I saw it in her eyes. But it will be difficult."

"I see. For you to get into the hotel late. I'll arrange that with the

manager. You will be coming to my room. What floor is her room on?"

"The third."

"The same as mine. That falls nicely. Return then at half after ten. You

will come to my room for the gold."




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