He had parted from the Home office agent in the early hours of
the morning, and their parting had been one of mutual despair which
neither had sought to disguise.
It was a coincidence which a student of human nature might have
regarded as significant, that whereas Kerry had taken his troubles
home to his wife, Seton Pasha had sought inspiration from Margaret
Halley; and whereas the guidance of Mary Kerry had led the Chief
Inspector to hurry in quest of Rita Irvin's spaniel, the result of
Seton's interview with Margaret had been an equally hurried journey to
the big jail.
Unhappily Seton had failed to elicit the slightest information from
the saturnine Mareno. Unmoved alike by promises or threats, he had
coolly adhered to his original evidence.
So, while the authorities worked feverishly and all England reading of
the arrest of Mareno inquired indignantly, "But who is Kazmah, and
where is Mrs. Monte Irvin?" Sin Sin Wa placidly pursued his
arrangements for immediate departure to the paddyfields of Ho-Nan, and
sometimes in the weird crooning voice with which he addressed the
raven he would sing a monotonous chant dealing with the valley of the
Yellow River where the opium-poppy grows. Hidden in the cunning vault,
the search had passed above him; and watchful on a quay on the Surrey
shore whereto his dinghy was fastened, George Martin awaited the
signal which should tell him that Kazmah and Company were ready to
leave.
Pages:
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341