which the haphazard events of a few hours had produced. Was the Far
East bound up in some mysterious way with Mrs. Lester's death? Did the
crime possess a political significance? If so, an explanation by
Forbes was more than ever demanded.

"Your informant was not mistaken about the Chinese Embassy, I
suppose?" he said.

"No, sir. He's always in that district. His garage is at the back of
Great Portland Street. He knows most of them there Chinks by sight."

"Then that gray car can hardly have been our gray car," commented
Theydon, deeming it wise to prevent the sharp-witted taxi-driver from
jumping at conclusions.

"I'm afraid not, sir. Still, I just took the liberty--"

"I'm very much obliged to you, of course. I said half-a-crown, didn't
I? Here you are. Keep an eye open for XY 1314 and let me know if you
hear or see anything of it."

"Thank you, sir." Then Evans lifted his eyes to the block of
buildings. "A nasty business this murder which was done 'ere the other
night, sir," he went on. "One 'ud hardly b'lieve it possible for such
things to tike plice in London nowadays."

Much as he was disinclined for gossip of the sort at the moment,
Theydon saw that he must endeavor to dissociate the gray car and the
crime from their dangerous juxtaposition in the man's mind, so he
spoke about Mrs. Lester's attractive appearance, harped on the