While the detective was speaking, Forbes’s face, already haggard, had grown desperate.

“I care little for my own life,” he said, “but I shall stop short of no measures to protect my wife and daughter.”

“I certainly recommend that an armed guard should be on duty day and night in any house where you may happen to be living at the moment,” replied Furneaux airily.  “I really think that if your safety alone were at stake I would do you a good turn by arresting you on suspicion.”

“On suspicion of what crime?”

“Of killing Mrs. Lester, to be sure.”

“I regard you as a clever man, Mr. Furneaux, so may I remind you that this is neither the time nor the place for a display of gross humor?”

Theydon expected that Furneaux would flare into anger at this well-deserved rebuke; but, much to his surprise, the detective treated the matter argumentatively.

“Personally, I have looked on you from the outset as an innocent man,” he said placidly.  “But, just to show how circumstantial evidence may be twisted into plausible error, let me point out that nearly all the known facts conspire against you.  Have you considered how dexterously a prosecuting counsel would treat your admission that Mrs. Lester was the one person in England who knew of your connection with the revolutionary party in China?  And how would you set about convincing a stolid British jury that you were acting in the interests of law and order in concealing your visit to No. 17 on the night of the murder?  These fine-drawn speculations, however, are a sheer waste of breath.  Suppose we concoct an advertisement for the Times?”

“Do you mean that I am to parley with these ruffians?”

“Of course you are.”

“But the Home Secretary agreed with me that no action should be taken until the Chinese Legation had considered the matter.”

“And, pray, what can the Legation do?”

“They have their own sources of information.  When all is said and done, Orientals are best fitted to deal with Orientals.”

Furneaux laughed sarcastically.

“If I remember rightly, the way in which the Chinese Embassy dealt with one of your pet reformers some years ago did not win general approval.  No, Mr. Forbes, we must try and circumvent the wily Chinese by other methods than torture and imprisonment.  Of what avail will it be if this fellow, Wong Li Fu, is laid by the heels?  Isn’t it more than certain that he has plenty of determined helpers?  Do you imagine that he killed Mrs. Lester?  Not a bit of it.  He will be able to produce the clearest proof that he was miles away from Innesmore Mansions on Monday night.  Now, let’s see how we can get him to show his hand a little more openly.  How would this be?  ’Y.  M.—­ Terms can be arranged.  J. C. F.’  The terms are, of course, that the whole gang be hanged or sent to penal servitude and deported.”