“Japanese, you say?  Why do you mention Japanese?”

“The American, Mr. Handyside, tells me the skulls are of Japanese workmanship.  He argues also that the wrestling tricks of which Winter and I, and Mrs. Forbes in lesser degree, have had some experience, are Japanese.  More than that, a Jap was arrested outside my place early this morning.”

“Mr. Winter said something about it, but he spoke only of Chinamen.”

“I have Furneaux’s authority for the statement that the prisoner is a Jap, and belongs to a society calling itself the ‘Sons of Nippon.’”

“But confound it, I have no quarrel with Japan.  If anything, I am one of her best friends.”

“I must get Handyside to propound one of his favorite theories.  He says that a powerful and growing party among our allies in the Far East means to keep China in a condition of anarchy until Japan is prepared, financially and in armament, to take a commanding share in the ultimate settlement.  But, at best, the few Japanese adventurers in league with Wong Li Fu hardly count.  Once he is laid by the heels this feud will evaporate into thin air.”

“If it doesn’t, I must ask the Government to provide safe quarters for my family in the Tower,” muttered Forbes, rising and pacing the room in the same thoughtful, care-laden way as he had paced it when Theydon first told him of Edith Lester’s end.

“You said Wong Li Fu knew that Mrs. Forbes had been rescued from her bonds last night,” went on Theydon.  “I suppose Winter told you that.  Was he only assuming the fact, or have there been developments at Croydon?”

“A motor car drove up to the gate openly at ten o’clock this morning.  A police sergeant, jumping to the conclusion that one of his own chiefs or a representative of Scotland Yard was paying the place a visit, incautiously showed himself in the doorway, whereupon the car raced away.  It was an unfortunate and, perhaps, costly blunder, but the man is hardly to be blamed.  The very audacity of the gang is their best safeguard.”

A luncheon gong clanged in the hall.  Both men started, and then laughed.

“You see,” cried Forbes.  “These rascals have got us on the jump.  I don’t know how long my servants will stand the racket.  They are most loyal, and Tomlinson vows that not a syllable has been breathed outside by any of our domestics.  But the women’s nerves are on edge.  A scullery maid dropped a decanter a little while since, and the crash drew bloodcurdling shrieks from the kitchen.  Come, let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.  The quotation is not a felicitous one.  Indeed, it is distinctly ominous, but it seems to meet the conditions.”

He threw open the door, and saw the three ladies descending the stairs.

“Helena,” he cried sternly, “the doctor said you were not to stir out of your room.”

“My dear, the doctor is a mere man, and fancies that a woman is not fitted for warfare.  He is quite mistaken.  When aroused we can be terrible.”