Yeh Ling shook his head.
“Then you have not the slightest idea who was the murderer?”
Again the inscrutable gaze of Yeh Ling met his.
“I have an idea,” he said deliberately, “I know the murderer. I could lay my hands upon him without the slightest difficulty.”
XXVI
Tab gasped.
“You’re not joking?”
“I am not joking,” said Yeh Ling quietly. “I repeat I know the murderer. He has been within reach of me many times.”
“Is he a Chinaman?”
“I repeat he has been within reach of me many times,” said Yeh Ling, “but there are reasons why I should not betray him. There are many reasons why I should kill him,” he added reflectively. “You are going to see Miss Ardfern?” He changed the subject abruptly. “Do not go there in the afternoons, or if you do, approach from the front of the house. Miss Ardfern is taking lessons in revolver shooting and one of my men, who has been watching the house from the lower meadows, has had several narrow escapes.”