pute! Carry on, Sergeant."

"This cab," continued Sowerby, when Dunbar interrupted him.

"Cut out the part about the cab, Sowerby," he said. "We've found that
out from M. Max. Have you anything to report about the yellow car?"

"Yes," replied Sowerby, unperturbed, and turning over to the next
page. "It was hired form Messrs. Wickers' garage, at Canning Town, by
the week. The lady who hired it was a Miss Dorian, a French lady. She
gave no reference, except that of the Savoy Hotel, where she was
stopping. She paid a big deposit and had her own chauffeur, a colored
man of some kind.

"Is it still in use by her?" snapped Dunbar eagerly.

"No, Inspector. She claimed her deposit this morning and said she was
leaving London."

"The cheque?" cried Dunbar.

"Was cashed half an hour later."

"At what bank?"

"London County & Birmingham, Canning Town. Her own account at a Strand
bank was closed yesterday. The details all concern milliners,
jewellers, hotels and so forth. There's nothing there. I've been to
the Savoy, of course."

"Yes!"

"A lady named Dorian has had rooms there for six weeks, has dined there
on several occasions, but was more often away than in the hotel."

"Visitors?"

"Never had any."

"She used to dine alone, then?"

"Always."

"In the public dining-room?"

"No. In her own room."

"_Morbleu!_" muttered Max. "It is she beyond doubt. I recognize her
sociable habits!"

"Has she left now?" asked Dunbar.

"She left a week ago."

Sowerby closed his note-book and returned it to his pocket.

"Is that all you have to report, Sergeant?" asked the Assistant
Commissioner.

"That's all, sir."

"Very good."

Sergeant Sowerby retired.

"Now, sir," said Dunbar, "I've got Inspector Kelly here. He looks
after the Chinese quarter. Shall I call him?"

"Yes, Inspector."

Presently there entered a burly Irishman, bluff and good-humoured, a
very typical example of the intelligent superior police officer,
looking keenly around him.

"Ah, Inspector," the Assistant Commissioner greeted him--"we want your
assistance in a little matter concerning the Chinese residential
quarter. You know this district?"

"Certainly, sir. I know it very well."

"On this map"--the Assistant Commissioner laid a discoloured
forefinger upon the map of London--"you will perceive that we have
drawn a circle."

Inspector Kelly bent over the table.

"Yes, sir."

"Within that circle, which is no larger in circumfer