"I thought you were the proper person to tell."
"Then you know?" asked Kerry, unable to conceal his eagerness.
"Yes," sighed Mollie. "Unfortunately--I know. Oh Inspector, how can I
explain it to you?"
"Don't trouble, miss. Just give me the address and I'll ask no
questions!"
His keenness was thrilling, infectious. As a result of the night's
"beating" he had a list of some twenty names whose owners might have
been patrons of Kazmah and some of whom might know Mrs. Sin. But he
had learned from bitter experience how difficult it was to induce such
people to give useful evidence. There was practically no means of
forcing them to speak if they chose, from selfish motives, to be
silent. They could be forced to appear in court, but anything elicited
in public was worse than useless. Furthermore, Kerry could not afford
to wait. Mollie replied excitedly:
"Oh, Inspector, I know you will think me simply an appalling person
when I tell you; but I have been to Mrs. Sin's house--'The House of a
Hundred Raptures' she calls it--"
"Yes, yes! But--the address?"
"However can I tell you the address, Inspector? I could drive you
there, but I haven't the very haziest idea of the name of the horrible
street! One drives along dreadful roads where there are stalls and
Jews for quite an interminable time, and then over a sort of canal,
and then round to the right all among ships and horrid Chinamen.
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