Inch by inch from the opening protruded the head of
Ah-Fang-Fu!
"If the Chinaman offers any resistance," Max went on, speaking very
rapidly--_"morbleu!_ you have the means to deal with him! In a word,
admit the police. _Sh!_ what is that!"
A moaning voice from one of the bunks came.
_"Cheal kegur-men, mas ka dheer!"_
"A native adage," whispered Stuart. "He is dreaming. 'There is always
meat in a kite's nest.'"
_"Eh bien!_ very true--and I think the kite is at home!"
The head of Ah-Fang-Fu vanished. A moment later the curtains opened
again slightly and the old woman came out, ushering the brown man. He
saluted her and unbarred the door, going out.
"Fo-Hi," came dimly.
There was no definite answer--only the sound of a muttered colloquy;
and suddenly the brown man returned and spoke to the old woman in a
voice so low that his words were inaudible to the two attentive
listeners in the distant corner.
"Ah!" whispered Max--"what now?"
"Shall we rush the curtain!" said Stuart.
"No!" Max grasped his arm--"wait! wait! See! he is going out. He has
perhaps forgotten something. A second fish in the net."
The Oriental went up the steps into the shop. The old woman closed
and barred the door, then opened the matting curtain and disappeared
within.
"I was right," said Max.
But for once in his career he was wrong.
She was out again almost immediately and bending over a bunk close to
the left of the masked opening.
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