Miss Mephistopheles

nd found it of infinite service to him in his difficult profession. He was always on the lookout for queer cases, and when he discovered one that piqued his curiosity, he never rested unti

a scrap of paper--these were the sign-posts which led him to a satisfactory conclusion, and he never neglected any opportunity of exercising his faculties. By this

o a casual spectator, it appeared to be a mere vulgar burglary, in which the thieves had got off with their plunder, and until his interview with Caprice the detective had supposed it to be so. But when he went o

educing different theories from the circumstances, he tried to get a point from whe

verandah when Caprice mention

appearan

nducement to st

me. He said he would be revenged because she did not give him more than a sovereign, and there wo

e room where the

as Villiers had been several times to

ow Villiers had s

usband of Madame Midas, whom she had treated so basely. The refusal to

le well authenticated fact to go on, but all the circumstances of the case seemed to point

so Naball knew exactly where to find him, and, putting on an overcoat, he sallied forth in the direction of the slums in Litt

ose den he was accustomed to pass his evenings. Naball therefore intended to watch for Villiers, and find out, if possible, when,

tarry night, but the cool, fresh air was tainted in this locality by the foul miasma which pervaded the neighbourhood, and

ment, Naball listened to hear if there was any European within. The monotonous chant of a Chinese beggar could be heard coming down the alley, and every now and then the sc

f this, and cast a feeble light around--on a pile of bamboo canes and baskets heaped up against the wall; on strange-looking Chinese stools of cane-work; on bizarre ivory carvings set on shelves; and on a low raised platform at the end of the room, whereon the opium-smokers reclined. Above this ground-floor were t

substance, contained in a small pot, he twirled the needle rapidly, spinning round the glutinous mass like treacle. Then he placed it in the flame of the lamp, and turned it slowly round and round for a short time until it was ready; then, having placed it in the small hole of the opium pipe, which he held ready in his other hand, he

ilk--was coiled on top of his head; and his dress, consisting of a dull blue blouse, wide trousers of the same colour, and thick, white-soled Chinese slippers, by no means added

not seeing Villiers, addressed himself to the

he white man who com

ght--me no have seen," replied

ut this one is short--black hair and whiskers--

n thus elegantly described was doubtful

bee," he

crown, upon which Ah Goon

re i

ch for Ah Goon's cup

" he answered, in a sing-

O

h Goon, and turned towards the door. Just as he reached it there was a noise of

where are you?" and there ca

placed his finger on his lips to ensure silence, a pan

into the room, stopping for a minute on the

catching sight of the Chinaman,

ured that individual, c

f yours," shrieked Villiers, not heeding him; "

ed the Chinaman, edging awa

"why, I've only had twenty pounds from y

s winning after all. Kitty did not steal her jewels

and would have laid his hand on the shoulder of the sh

er?" he asked, i

uspiciously at him; but the detective being muffled up in a heavy

want?" he sai

strolling round the Chinese quarter out of cu

y at Ah Goon, who had complacently resumed his occup

detective, careless

illiers, with a snarl. "I s'pos

ou've got good s

ed angrily at

ou're talking abou

othly; means "borrowing money on

or opened violently, and a bold, handsome woman, dressed in a bri

re you are preparing that pisin of yours. Oh, I must 'ave one pipe to-night,

m of her dress sparkled a small crescent of diamonds set in silver. The wom

id scowling. "Lay a fin

aman jumped up and threw themselves on the two, trying to separate them. The woman got Villiers' hands off her, and started to sing out free

from her with an oath, and it fell at Naball's feet. In a momen

inese, all chattering in their high shrill voices like magpies, surged into the room. Ah Goon, with many gesticulations, began to explain, Villiers to swear, and the woma

as the thief after all. Humph! I'm not so sure of that. Well, I'll find out the truth