“Two millions sterling.”

“As a gift or a loan?”

“If they failed, I lost every farthing, of course.  If they succeeded, I was to recoup myself by financing the new government.”

“But I gather that they have neither failed nor succeeded.  China has a constitution, but the Presidential election was conducted on lines suspiciously akin to those recently adopted in Mexico.”

“Nevertheless negotiations are now on foot for a big loan.”

“If you died, what would become of the two millions?”

“They would be lost irretrievably.”

Furneaux sat back in his chair.

“That gives one furiously to think,” he said.  “The gray car comes back into the picture.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know.  But I’ll tell you what—­ the man who first spoke of a Chinese puzzle as a metaphor for something downright bewildering knew what he was talking about.”

Forbes put a hand to his forehead in an unconscious gesture of hopelessness.

“My brain is reeling,” he muttered.  “To think that in the London of today we should live in abject terror of a band of Mongolian ruffians!  Why do you remain here, man?  You vaunt the prowess of your department—­ why are you not scouring every haunt of Chinamen in the East End?  Spread your net widely enough, and you will surely get hold of some minor scoundrel who will talk for fear or money.  Bribe him to the point where he cannot refuse to speak.  Wong Li Fu is the only man I fear.  Put him where he can accomplish no mischief, and the rest of his crew will be powerless!”

“When you come to count up the achievements of my friend Winter and myself—­ in the face of stupid but none the less disheartening obstacles—­ we have not done so badly in two days,” said Furneaux complacently.

“Can I drive you anywhere?  My car is waiting.”

“No, thanks.  The truth is, Mr. Forbes, I look on you as a disturbing influence.  A man who can talk as calmly as you about dropping two millions on a crazy project to introduce Western methods into China is not fitted for the phlegmatic and judicial atmosphere of Scotland Yard.  If I want any money I’ll come to you.  If not, and all goes well at No. 11 Fortescue Square, the next time I’ll trouble you will be when you are asked to identify Wong Li Fu, dead or alive.”

Forbes seemed hardly to be aware of Furneaux’s words.  He went out.  Theydon accompanied him, and, as they descended the stairs together, the older man said brokenly: 

“It is my wife and daughter for whom I fear.  I can hardly control my senses when I think of these yellow fiends contemplating vengeance on me through them.  Theydon—­ do you believe in that detective?  He is either a vain fool or a genius.  By the way, I forgot to ask him how he found out that I had received the warning delivered by this morning’s post.”

“I’ll try and worm an explanation out of him.  If he tells me I’ll telephone you later.  He is an extraordinary creature, but abnormally clever at his work, I am sure.  For my own part, I feel disposed to trust him implicitly.  I wish you had met his colleague, Chief Inspector Winter.  He is the sort of man whose mere presence inspires confidence.”