Shin?"

Hartley wished that he had not; he frequently wished that he had never
seen that man.

Mhtoon Pah bent near the Head of the Police and spoke in low, sibilant
tones:

"He is a butcher's mate, _Thakin_. He is a slayer of flesh. He kills in
the shambles. Oh, it is true. I saw him slit the mouth of a dog with his
knife for his own mirth--"

"Swine!" said Hartley.

"Why he left there and went to live with Leh Shin is unknown. He has
secrets. He knows the best mixtures of opium, he knows--"

"I don't want to hear what he knows."

"He knows where Absalom is."

"You only think that," said Hartley, roughly. "It is a dangerous thing
to make these assertions. It is only your idea, Mhtoon Pah."

The Burman groaned aloud and held the rag between his hands.

"Put that down," said Hartley. Mhtoon Pah's very agony of desire to find
the boy was almost disgusting, and he turned away from the sight. "There
is no use your staying here, and no use your coming, unless there is
more of this devil's work," he pointed to the blood-stained cloth.