This evidence I thought was conclusive, and in accordance with
your instructions I proceeded to Mr. Isaacs in Dover Street. He
didn't seem too pleased at my suggestion, but when I pointed out
to him that one good turn deserved another, he agreed to give me
an introduction to Huang Chow.

I adopted a very simple disguise, just altering my complexion and
sticking on a moustache with spirit gum, hair by hair, and
trimming it down military fashion. Everything ran smoothly, and
I seemed to make a fairly favourable impression upon Lala Huang,
the Chinaman's daughter, who evidently interviews prospective
customers before they are admitted to the warehouse.

She is a Eurasian and extremely good looking. But when I found
myself in the room where old Huang keeps his treasures, I really
thought I was dreaming. It's a collection that must be worth
thousands. He showed me snuff-bottles, cut out of gems, and with
a little opening no bigger than the hole in a pipe-stem, but with
wonderful paintings done inside the bottles. He'd got a model of
a pagoda made out of human teeth, and a big golden rug woven from
the hair of Circassian slave girls. Excuse this, Chief
Inspector; I know it is what you call the romantic stuff; but I
think it would have impressed you if you had seen it.

Anyway, I bought a little enamelled box, in accordance with Mr.
Isaacs's instructions, although whether I succeeded in convincing
Huang Chow that I knew anything about the matter is more than
doubtful. He got up from a sort of throne he sits on, and led
the way up a broad staircase to a private room above.