e left me alone with the occupant.

"Of all the filthy places I have ever seen--and I have had the ill-luck
to discover a good many in my time--that one eclipsed them all. On the
bed, propped up by pillows and evidently in the last stage of collapse,
was the man called China Pete. When we were alone together he pointed to
a box near the bed and signified that I should seat myself. I did so, at
the same time taking occasion to express my sorrow at finding him in
this lamentable condition. He made no reply to my civilities, but after
a little pause found strength enough to whisper. 'See if there's anybody
at the door.' I went across, opened the door and looked into the
passage, but save the boy, who was now sitting on the top step of the
stairs at the other end, there was not a soul in sight. I told him this,
and having again closed the door, sat down on the box and waited for him
to speak.

"'You did me a good turn, Mr. Wetherell, over that trial,' the invalid
said at last, 'and I couldn't make it worth your while.'

"'Oh, you mustn't let that worry you,' I answered soothingly. 'You would
have paid me if you had been able.'

"'Perhaps I should, perhaps I shouldn't, anyhow I didn't, and I want to
make it up to you now. Feel under my pillow and bring out what you find
there.'

"I did as he directed me and brought to light a queer little wooden
stick about three and a half inches long, made of some heavy timber and
covered all over with Chinese inscriptions; at one end was a tiny bit of
heavy gold cord much tarnished. I gave it to him and he looked at it
fondly.

"'Do you know the value of this little stick?' he asked after a while.

"'I have no possible notion,' I replied.

"'Make a guess,' he said.

"To humour him I guessed five pounds. He laughed with scorn.

"'Five pounds! O ye gods! Why, as a bit of stick it's not worth five
pence, but for what it really is there is not money enough in the world
to purchase it. If I could get about again I would make myself the
richest and most powerful man on earth with it. If you could only guess
one particle of the dangers I've been through to get it you would die of
astonishment. And the irony of it all is that now I've got it I can't
make use of it. On six different occasions the priests of the Llamaserai
in Peking have tried to murder me to get hold of it. I brought it down
from the centre of China disguised as a wandering beggar. That business
connected with the murd