ence that a
shilling as you observe, lies a house used by a certain group of
people. It has been suggested to me that these people may be Chinese
or associates of Chinese."

"Well, sir," said Inspector Kelly, smiling broadly, "considering the
patch inside the circle I think it more than likely! Seventy-five or
it may be eighty per cent of the rooms and cellars and attics in
those three streets are occupied by Chinese."

"For your guidance, Inspector, we believe these people to be a
dangerous gang of international criminals. Do you know of any
particular house, or houses, likely to be used as a meeting-place by
such a gang?"

Inspector Kelly scratched his close-cropped head.

"A woman was murdered just there, sir," he said, taking up a pen from
the table and touching a point near the corner of Three Colt Street,
"about a twelve-month ago. We traced the man--a Chinese sailor--to a
house lying just about here." Again he touched the map. "It's a sort
of little junk-shop with a ramshackle house attached, all cellars and
rabbit-hutches, as you might say, overhanging a disused cutting which
is filled at high tide. Opium is to be had there and card-playing
goes on, and I won't swear that you couldn't get liquor. But it's
well conducted as such dives go."

"Why is it not closed?" inquired the Assistant Commissioner, seizing
an opportunity to air his departmental ignorance.

"Well, sir," replied Inspector Kelly, his eyes twinkling--"if we shut
up all these places we should never know where to look for some of
our regular customers! As I mentioned, we found the wanted Chinaman,
three parts drunk, in one of the rooms."

"It's a sort of lodging-house, then?"

"Exactly. There's a moderately big room just behind the shop,
principally used by opium-smokers, and a whole nest of smaller rooms
above and below. Mind you, sir, I don't say this is the place you're
looking for, but it's the most likely inside your circle."

"Who is the proprietor?"

"A retired Chinese sailor called Ah-Fang-Fu, but better known as
'Pidgin.' His establishment is called locally 'The Pidgin House.'"

"Ah." The Commissioner lighted a cigarette. "And you know of no other
house which might be selected for such a purpose as I have mentioned?"

"I can't say I do, sir. I know pretty well all the business affairs of
that neighbourhood, and none of the houses inside your circle have
changed hands during the past twelve months. Between ourselves, sir,
near