"H'm," said Kerry. "Sorry to interrupt your devotions. Light us."
"Allee velly proper," crooned Sin Sin Wa.
He took up the Joss tenderly and bore it across the room. Opening a
little cupboard set low down near the floor he discovered a lighted
lantern. This he took out and set upon the dirty table. Then he placed
the image on a shelf in the cupboard and turned smilingly to his
visitors.
"Number one p'lice!" shrieked the raven.
"Here!" snapped Kerry. "Put that damn thing to bed!"
"Velly good," murmured Sin Sin Wa complacently.
He raised his hand to his shoulder and the raven stepped sedately from
shoulder to wrist. Sin Sin Wa stooped.
"Come, Tling-a-Ling," he said softly. "You catchee sleepee."
The raven stepped down from his wrist and walked into the cupboard.
"So fashion, lo!" said Sin Sin Wa, closing the door.
He seated himself upon a tea-chest beside the useful cupboard, resting
his hands upon his knees and smiling.
Kerry, chewing steadily, had watched the proceedings in silence, but
now:
"Constable Bryce," he said crisply, "you recognize this man as Sin Sin
Wa, the occupier of the house?"
"Yes, sir," replied Bryce.
He was not wholly at ease, and persistently avoided the Chinaman's
oblique, beady eye.
Pages:
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281