“I don’t say you’re right,” he rapped back.  “But if I come to see you, I shall leave a sealed statement in possession of the officer in charge here.”

“To this I have no objection,” the guttural voice replied, “but I beg of you to bring the evidence with you.”

“I’m not to be bought,” warned Kerry.  “Don’t think it and don’t suggest it, or when I get to you I’ll break you in half.”

His red moustache positively bristled, and he clutched the receiver so tightly that it quivered against his ear.

“You mistake me,” replied the speaker.  “My name is Zani Chada.  You know where I live.  I shall not detain you more than five minutes if you will do me the honour of calling upon me.”

Kerry chewed furiously for ten momentous seconds, then: 

“I’ll come!” he said.

He replaced the receiver on the hook, and, walking across to the charge desk, took an official form and a pen.  On the back of the form he scribbled rapidly, watched with curiosity by the officer in charge.

“Give me an envelope,” he directed.

An envelope was found and handed to him.  He placed the paper in the envelope, gummed down the lapel, and addressed it in large, bold writing to the Assistant Commissioner of the Criminal Investigation Department, who was his chief.  Finally: 

“I’m going out,” he explained.

“After what I’ve said?”

“After what you’ve said.  I’m going out.  If I don’t come back or don’t telephone within the next hour, you will know what to do with this.”

The Limehouse official stared perplexedly.

“But meanwhile,” he protested, “what steps am I to take about the murder?  Durham will be back with the body at any moment now, and you say you’ve got a clue to the murderer.”

“I have,” said Kerry, “but I’m going to get definite evidence.  Do nothing until you hear from me.”

“Very good,” answered the other, and Kerry, tucking his malacca cane under his arm, strode out into the fog.

His knowledge of the Limehouse area was extensive and peculiar, so that twenty minutes later, having made only one mistake in the darkness, he was pressing an electric bell set beside a door which alone broke the expanse of a long and dreary brick wall, lining a street which neither by day nor night would have seemed inviting to the casual visitor.

The door was opened by a Chinaman wearing national dress, revealing a small, square lobby, warmly lighted and furnished Orientally.  Kerry stepped in briskly.

“I want to see Mr. Zani Chada.  Tell him I am here.  Chief Inspector Kerry is my name.”

The Chinaman bowed, crossed the lobby, and, drawing some curtains aside, walked up four carpeted stairs and disappeared into a short passage revealed by the raising of the tapestry.  As he did so Kerry stared about him curiously.