That door of Sin Sin Wa's establishment which gave upon a little backyard was oiled both lock and hinge so that it opened noiselessly. Like a shadow, like a ghost, Sin Sin Wa crept forth7, closing the door behind him. He carried a sort of canvas kit-bag, so that one observing him might have concluded that he was “moving.”
Resting his bag against the end wall, he climbed up by means of holes in the neglected brickwork until he could peer over the top. A faint smell of tobacco smoke greeted him: a detective was standing8 in the lane below. Soundlessly, Sin Sin Wa descended9 again. Raising his bag he lifted it lovingly until it rested upright upon the top of the wall and against the side of the house. The night was dark and still. Only a confused beating sound on the Surrey bank rose above the murmur10 of sleeping London.
From the rubbish amid which he stood, Sin Sin Wa selected a piece of rusty11 barrel-hoop. Cautiously he mounted upon a wooden structure built against the end wall and raised himself upright, surveying the prospect12. Then he hurled13 the fragment of iron far along the lane, so that it bounded upon a strip of corrugated14 roofing in a yard twice removed from his own, and fell clattering15 among a neighbor's rubbish.
A short exclamation16 came from the detective in the lane. He could be heard walking swiftly away in the direction of the disturbance17. And ere he had gone six paces, Sin Sin Wa was bending like an inverted18 U over the wall and was lowering his precious bag to the ground. Like a cat he sprang across and dropped noiselessly beside it.
“Hello! Who's there?” cried the detective, standing by the wall of the house which Sin Sin Wa had selected as a target.
Sin Sin Wa, bag in hand, trotted19, soft of foot, across the lane and into the shadow of the dock-building. By the time that the C.I.D. man had decided20 to climb up and investigate the mysterious noise, Sin Sin Wa was on the other side of the canal and rapping gently upon the door of Sam Tuk's hairdressing establishment.
The door was opened so quickly as to suggest that someone had been posted there for the purpose. Sin Sin Wa entered and the door was closed again.
“Light, Ah Fung,” he said in Chinese. “What news?”
The boy who had admitted him took a lamp from under a sort of rough counter and turned to Sin Sin Wa.
“George came with the boat, master, but I signalled to him that the red policeman and the agent who has hired the end room were watching.”
“They are gone?”
“They gather men at the head depot21 and are searching house from house. She who sleeps below awoke and cried out. They heard her cry.”
“George waits?”
“He waits, master. He will wait long if the gain is great.”
“Good.”
Sin Sin Wa shuffled22 across to the cellar stairs, followed by Ah Fung with the lamp. He descended, and, brushing away the carefully spread coal dust, inserted the piece of bent23 wire into the crevice24 and raised the secret trap. Bearing his bag upon his shoulder he went down into the tunnel.
As the boy replaced the stone trap, Sin Sin Wa struck a match. Then, having the lighted match held in one hand and carrying the bag in the other, he crept along the low passage to the door of the cache. Dropping the smouldering match-end, he opened the door and entered that secret warehouse26 for which so many people were seeking.
Seated in a cane27 chair by the oil-stove was the shrivelled figure of Sam Tuk, his bald head lolling sideways so that his big horn-rimmed spectacles resembled a figure 8. On the counter was set a ship's lantern. As Sin Sin Wa came in Sam Tuk slowly raised his head.
No greetings were exchanged, but Sin Sin Wa untied28 the neck of his kit-bag and drew out a large wicker cage. Thereupon: “Hello! hello!” remarked the occupant drowsily29. “Number one p'lice chop lo! Sin Sin Wa—Sin Sin....”
“Come, my Tling-a-Ling,” crooned Sin Sin Wa.
He opened the front of the cage and out stepped the raven30 onto his wrist. Sin Sin Wa raised his arm and Tling-a-Ling settled himself contentedly31 upon his master's shoulder.
Placing the empty cage on the counter. Sin Sin Wa plunged32 his hand down into the bag and drew out the gleaming wooden joss. This he set beside the cage. With never a glance at the mummy figure of Sam Tuk, he walked around the counter, raven on shoulder, and grasping the end of the laden33 shelves, he pulled the last section smoothly34 to the left, showing that it was attached to a sliding door. The establishments of Sin Sin Wa were as full of surprises as a Sicilian trinketbox.
The double purpose of the timbering which had been added to this old storage vault35 was now revealed. It not only served to enlarge the store-room, but also shut off from view a second portion of the cellar, smaller than the first, and containing appointments which indicated that it was sometimes inhabited.
There was an oil-stove in the room, which, like that adjoining it, was evidently unprovided with any proper means of ventilation. A paper-shaded lamp hung from the low roof. The floor was covered with matting, and there were arm-chairs, a divan36 and other items of furniture, which had been removed from Mrs. Sin's sanctum in the dismantled37 House of a Hundred Raptures38. In a recess39 a bed was placed, and as Sin Sin Wa came in Mrs. Sin was standing by the bed looking down at a woman who lay there.
Mrs. Sin wore her kimona of embroidered40 green silk and made a striking picture in that sordid41 setting. Her black hair she had dyed a fashionable shade of red. She glanced rapidly across her shoulder at Sin Sin Wa—a glance of contempt with which was mingled42 faint distrust.
“So,” she said, in Chinese, “you have come at last.” Sin Sin Wa smiled. “They watched the old fox,” he replied. “But their eyes were as the eyes of the mole43.”
Still aside, contemptuously, the woman regarded him, and:
“Suppose they are keener than you think?” she said. “Are you sure you have not led them—here?”
“The snail44 may not pursue the hawk,” murmured Sin Sin Wa; “nor the eye of the bat follow his flight.”
“Smartest leg,” remarked the raven.
“Yes, yes, my little friend,” crooned Sin Sin Wa, “very soon now you shall see the paddy-fields of Ho-Nan and watch the great Yellow River sweeping45 eastward46 to the sea.”
“Pah!” said Mrs. Sin. “Much—very much—you care about the paddy-fields of Ho-Nan, and little, oh, very little, about the dollars and the traffic! You have my papers?”
“All are complete. With those dollars for which I care not, a man might buy the world—if he had but enough of the dollars. You are well known in Poplar as 'Mrs. Jacobs,' and your identity is easily established—as 'Mrs. Jacobs.' You join the Mahratta at the Albert Dock. I have bought you a post as stewardess47.”
Mrs. Sin tossed her head. “And Juan?”
“What can they prove against your Juan if you are missing?”
Mrs. Sin nodded towards the bed.
With slow and shuffling48 steps Sin Sin Wa approached. He continued to smile, but his glittering eye held even less of mirth than usual. Tucking his hands into his sleeves, he stood and looked down—at Rita Irvin.
Her face had acquired a waxen quality, but some of her delicate coloring still lingered, lending her a ghastly and mask-like aspect. Her nostrils49 and lips were blanched50, however, and possessed51 a curiously52 pinched appearance. It was impossible to detect the fact that she breathed, and her long lashes53 lay motionless upon her cheeks.
Sin Sin Wa studied her silently for some time, then:
“Yes,” he murmured, “she is beautiful. But women are like adder's eggs. He is a fool who warms them in his bosom54.” He turned his slow regard upon Mrs. Sin. “You have stained your hair to look even as hers. It was discreet55, my wife. But one is beautiful and many-shadowed like a copper56 vase, and the other is like a winter sunset on the poppy-fields. You remind me of the angry red policeman, and I tremble.”
“Tremble as much as you like,” said Mrs. Sin scornfully, “but do something, think; don't leave everything to me. She screamed tonight—and someone heard her. They are searching the river bank from door to door.”
“Lo!” murmured Sin Sin Wa, “even this I had learned, nor failed to heed57 the beating of a distant drum. And why did she scream?”
“Tchee, tchee,” crooned Sin Sin Wa, his voice sinking lower and lower and his eye nearly closing. “But still she lives—and is beautiful.”
“Beautiful!” mocked Mrs. Sin. “A doll-woman, bloodless and nerveless!”
“So—so. Yet she, so bloodless and nerveless, unmasked the secret of Kazmah, and she, so bloodless and nerveless, struck down—”
Mrs. Sin ground her teeth together audibly.
“Yes, yes!” she said in sibilant Chinese. “She is a robber, a thief, a murderess.” She bent over the unconscious woman, her jewel-laden fingers crooked59 and menacing. “With my bare hands I would strangle her, but—”
“There must be no marks of violence when she is found in the river. Tchee, chee—it is a pity.”
“Number one p'lice chop, lo!” croaked60 the raven, following this remark with the police-whistle imitation.
Mrs. Sin turned and stared fiercely at the one-eyed bird.
Sin Sin Wa smiled patiently.
“Too many,” he murmured. “For failure is nothing but the taking of seven risks when six were enough. Come—let us settle our affairs. The 'Jacobs' account is closed, but it is only a question of hours or days before the police learn that the wharf62 as well as the house belongs to someone of that name. We have drawn63 our last dollar from the traffic, my wife. Our stock we are resigned to lose. So let us settle our affairs.”
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1
psychical
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| adj.有关特异功能现象的；有关特异功能官能的；灵魂的；心灵的 | |
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credible
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| adj.可信任的，可靠的 | |
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insignificance
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| n.不重要；无价值；无意义 | |
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predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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potentate
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| n.统治者；君主 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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14
corrugated
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| adj.波纹的；缩成皱纹的；波纹面的；波纹状的v.（使某物）起皱褶(corrugate的过去式和过去分词) | |
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15
clattering
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式） | |
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16
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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17
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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18
inverted
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| adj.反向的，倒转的v.使倒置，使反转( invert的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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20
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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21
depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 | |
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22
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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23
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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24
crevice
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| n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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warehouse
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| n.仓库；vt.存入仓库 | |
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27
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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28
untied
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| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
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29
drowsily
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| adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地 | |
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30
raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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32
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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33
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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divan
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| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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37
dismantled
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| 拆开( dismantle的过去式和过去分词 )； 拆卸； 废除； 取消 | |
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38
raptures
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| 极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 ) | |
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39
recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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40
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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41
sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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42
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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43
mole
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| n.胎块；痣；克分子 | |
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44
snail
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| n.蜗牛 | |
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sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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46
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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47
stewardess
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| n.空中小姐，女乘务员 | |
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48
shuffling
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| adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式 | |
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49
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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50
blanched
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| v.使变白( blanch的过去式 )；使（植物）不见阳光而变白；酸洗（金属）使有光泽；用沸水烫（杏仁等）以便去皮 | |
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51
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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52
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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53
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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54
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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55
discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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56
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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57
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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58
prick
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| v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛 | |
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59
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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60
croaked
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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61
croaking
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| v.呱呱地叫( croak的现在分词 )；用粗的声音说 | |
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62
wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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63
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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64
rattled
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| 慌乱的，恼火的 | |
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