Lala Huang was silent for some time while they paced on through
the dusk. Then:

"How strange!" she said in a low voice.

"I am sorry I mentioned it," declared Durham. "But how was I to
know it was your friend?"

"He was no friend of mine," returned the girl sharply. "I hated
him. But it is strange nevertheless. I am sure he intended to
rob my father."

"And is that why you think it strange?"

"Yes," she said, but her voice was almost inaudible.

They were come now to the narrow street communicating with the
courtway in which the great treasure-house of Huang Chow was
situated, and Lala stopped at the corner.

"It was nice of you to walk along with me," she said. "Do you
live in Limehouse?"

"No," replied Durham, "I don't. As a matter of fact, I came down
here to-night in the hope of seeing you again."

"Did you?"

The girl glanced up at him doubtfully, and his distaste for the
task set him by his superior increased with the passing of every