something in the story, after all, when I heard you say she was delayed.
That is just what I was going to tell you--there is no truth in that
report. Some person, who I cannot say, also gave me misinformation
regarding the _Kut Sang_. I feared that you might have had the same
experience. That, however, is only a part of it--what I want to tell you
is that it is now possible to buy a ticket in the _Kut Sang_."

"I already have my ticket," I said. "So we will be fellow-passengers, and
I hope you will pardon my throwing you down the stairs; but I was running
after a beggar or a thief."

"Indeed! Do you know the rascal, or did you see him so that you can give
a comprehensive description of him to the police?"

"A little red-headed man," I said, watching him closely. "Did you see him
before you started up the stairs?"

He burst out in a dry, mirthless cackle of laughter, and slapped his
knees, much as if he had heard a good joke.

"If you will come in to tiffin with me, Mr. Trenholm, I will tell you
about him."

Assuming affability, I accepted his invitation, and we went into the
dining-room together and found a table to ourselves in the corner. I was
rather pleased at having an opportunity to study him, especially at his
own suggestion, and I made up my mind that before the lunch was over I
would have solved the mystery of who or what the missionary was, and why
he had the little red-headed man at my heels since I had arrived in
Manila that morning, and why he had attempted to keep me out of the