"An old hand," he said. "But there's another way." He glanced at
the officer in charge. "Hold him till the morning. He'll prove
useful."

From his waistcoat pocket he took out a slip of chewing gum,
unwrapped it, and placed the mint-flavoured wafer between his
large white teeth. He bit upon it savagely, settled his hat upon
his head, and, turning, walked toward the door. In the doorway
he paused.

"Come with me, Durham," he said. "I am leaving the conduct of
the case entirely in your hands from now onward."

Detective Durham looked surprised and not a little anxious.

"I am doing so for two reasons," continued the Chief Inspector.
"These two reasons I shall now explain."




III

THE SECRET TREASURE-HOUSE



Unlike its sister colony in New York, there are no show places in
Limehouse. The visitor sees nothing but mean streets and dark