f Si-Fan?" asked Detec

ancient monolith which for unnumbered ages had looked across desert sands to the Nile, and now looked down upo

ith laughe

natives of Eastern

ce, sir?" said the detective; his words

name, or perhaps the sigil, of an extensive secret society w

ubordinate, who still stood looking out. Detective-sergeant Fletcher was one of Scotland Yard's coming men. He had information

your possession. It stands now upon the table there. It was brought from Tibet by a man who evidently thought that it had something to do with the Si-Fan. He is dead, possibly by the agency of members of this

ith nodded

y!" he

possession of such facts as are known to him, and I believe t

letcher," said Smith. "What

the other, and turned brisk

et, searching eyes. There was decision in the square, cleft chin and s

mongst our Asiatic visitors. I am fairly familiar with the Easterns who use

d doubt Detective-sergeant

im to have been a high official of this dangerous society? However, I think we may get in touch with some other notabi

pe, dropped the match on the carpet and set

and slowly rose to his feet-"what do

y; his words had proved more dr

ich, no doubt, you will have heard; it has no official

is burly figure towering over

l those places pretty well patrolled, and until this present busine

is Joy-Shop

uth. "It's a gambling-house, an unlicensed drinking-shop, and

es who use the place. Needless to add, they don't know my real business! Well, lately several of them have asked me if I kn

gan to pace the

ut this Si-Fan mystery, I realized that he might very possibly be the man for whom you're looking-and a golden oppo

tention," sn

e at the Joy-Shop. Roughly speaking, she turned up at

ed excitement; he was pacing quickly up and dow

oking, after a tigerish fashion. I have done my best"-he smiled slightly-"to get in her good books, and up to

uously referring to the rest of the

return to London, but I thought it might lead to something anyway, so I promise

ning in time to adopt a suitable disguise. Petrie"-he turned impetuously to me-"I fear I shall have to go without you; but

ed at hi

eau, whilst I slip my coat on, perhaps Weymouth, on his way out, will be good enough to order a taxi