work of but a moment. The
hollowing out of the chamber within, no doubt, took longer. A glance
about for a scrap of paper or other material, to hold the bits of soap
as he slowly dug them out with his penknife, revealed the handkerchief
lying close at hand upon the floor where Miss Temple had dropped it.
Soon the thing was done--the great emerald snugly placed in its
improvised case, and the edges of the two halves of the soap softened
with water and pressed tightly together until they were once more
united. Then it was only necessary to use the soap once to wash his
hands, and the telltale line between the two halves would disappear.
That his plan had indeed been an ingenious one, subsequent events
proved, for the room was searched, twice by the police, once by myself
and Major Temple, and once by Li Min, yet of all the people bent upon
discovering the jewel, not one had given the cake of soap, lying so
obviously and properly in its china dish, more than a cursory glance.

Then I thought, what next? No doubt Ashton had turned off the gas and
climbed into bed. I say climbed advisedly, for the bed, one of those
old-fashioned four posters with a feather mattress under the hair one,
was far higher from the floor than are our modern beds, and to
facilitate getting into it, there stood beside it a little, low, wooden
stool, by which one ascended to its snowy heights.

Presently, over my imaginings, I felt myself growing unaccountably
sleepy and tired. I realized that the strain of the long day had been a
heavy one. In spite of the feelings of horror with which the room had at
first inspired me, I could see no reason for going without a good
night's rest. There was no priceless jewel concealed upon the premises,
to bring down upon me either the vengeance of Buddha or the murderous
attacks of my fellow men. I laughed a little at my earlier fears as I
rose in bed, reached over to the chandelier and turned out the light.
The sighing and moaning of the wind, and the dashing of the rain against
the window panes were the last sound I heard as I passed into a heavy
and restless sleep.

I must have slept for several hours, during which I tossed about, a prey
to broken and tortured dreams. At one time I seemed to be again in the
underground temple of Buddha, and the glittering green figure of the
deity seemed to grow and swell until it filled the whole room, forcing
me down and ever down until I seemed to be choking under its enorm