Hampden would like to do business with you." The signature of the
dealer followed.

The boy turned and passed along a dim and perfectly unfurnished
passage which the opening of the door had revealed, while Mr.
Hampden stood upon the step and lighted a cigarette.

In less than a minute the boy returned and beckoned to him to
come in. As he did so, and the door was closed, he almost
stumbled, so dark was the passage.

Presently, guided by the boy, he found himself in a very
business-like little office, where a girl sat at an American
desk, looking up at him inquiringly.

She was of a dark and arresting type. Without being pretty in
the European sense, there was something appealing in her fine,
dark eyes, and she possessed the inviting smile which is the
heritage of Eastern women. Her dress was not unlike that of any
other business girl, except that the neck of her blouse was cut
very low, a fashion affected by many Eurasians, and she wore a
gaily coloured sash, and large and very costly pearl ear-rings.
As Mr. Hampden paused in the doorway:

"Good morning," said the girl, glancing down at the card which
lay upon the desk before her. "You come from Mr. Isaacs, eh?"

She looked at him with a caressing glance from beneath half-
lowered lashes, but missed no detail of his appearance. She did
not quite like his moustache, and thought that he would have