"Well, sir," replied Inspector Kelly, his eyes twinkling--"if we shut
up all these places we should never know where to look for some of
our regular customers! As I mentioned, we found the wanted Chinaman,
three parts drunk, in one of the rooms."
"It's a sort of lodging-house, then?"
"Exactly. There's a moderately big room just behind the shop,
principally used by opium-smokers, and a whole nest of smaller rooms
above and below. Mind you, sir, I don't say this is the place you're
looking for, but it's the most likely inside your circle."
"Who is the proprietor?"
"A retired Chinese sailor called Ah-Fang-Fu, but better known as
'Pidgin.' His establishment is called locally 'The Pidgin House.'"
"Ah." The Commissioner lighted a cigarette. "And you know of no other
house which might be selected for such a purpose as I have mentioned?"
"I can't say I do, sir. I know pretty well all the business affairs of
that neighbourhood, and none of the houses inside your circle have
changed hands during the past twelve months. Between ourselves, sir,
nearly all the property in the district belongs to Ah-Fang-Fu, and
anything that goes on in Chinatown _he_ knows about!"
"Ah, I see. Then in any event he is the man we want to watch?"
"Well, sir, you ought to keep an eye on his visitors, I should say."
"I am obliged to you, Inspector," said the courteous Assistant
Commissioner, "for your very exact information. If necessary I shall
communicate with you again.
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