As he did so, with a lightning movement of which the most astute
observer could never have supposed him capable, Sam Tuk whipped a
loaded rubber tube from his sleeve and struck Kerry a shrewd blow
across the back of the skull.
The Chief Inspector, without word or cry, collapsed upon his knees,
and then fell gently forward--forward--and toppled face downwards
before his assailant. His bowler fell off and rolled across the dirty
floor.
Sam Tuk sank deeply into his chair, and his toothless jaws worked
convulsively. The skinny hand which clutched the piece of tubing
twitched and shook, so that the primitive deadly weapon fell from its
wielder's grasp.
Silently, that set of empty shelves nearest to the inner wall of the
vault slid open, and Sin Sin Wa came out. He, too, carried his hands
tucked in his sleeves, and his yellow, pock-marked face wore its
eternal smile.
"Well done," he crooned softly in Chinese. "Well done, bald father of
wisdom. The dogs draw near, but the old fox sleeps not."
CHAPTER XXXVII
SETON PASHA REPORTS
At about the time that the fearless Chief Inspector was entering the
establishment of Sam Tuk Seton Pasha was reporting to Lord Wrexborough
in Whitehall. His nautical disguise had served its purpose, and he had
now finally abandoned it, recognizing that he had to deal with a
criminal of genius to whom disguise merely afforded matter for
amusement.
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