The crouching servant leered as his master spoke. His wicked face seemed to express interest in what Ling Soo had to say. The master went on.
“It is time that you should prove your strength, again,” resumed Ling Soo. “You have been lacking, Foy. You have not lived up to the name that I have given you — the name of Slayer. I am disappointed, Foy.
“I had marked the traitor — the man called Laird — for your knife. But Green Eyes spoke, and said that he would do that deed. Green Eyes can strike, Foy, but he cannot slay with the skill that you have shown. When Green Eyes kills — death may be slow. When you kill — death is swift.”
Foy, although unspeaking, seemed to agree with what Ling Soo had said. The master’s voice became more stern as he went on.
“I sent you to the room in the hotel,” he said. “To the room in which the traitor Laird had lived. A new man had come there. His actions showed that he was an enemy. I ordered you to slay. You did not slay.”
“The man was not there,” responded Foy, in a sullen voice.
“You said that he went in,” declared Ling Soo. “You did not see him come out.”
“He was not there,” repeated Foy.
“We may forget that man,” resumed Ling Soo, ignoring Foy’s protest. “He has not appeared since then. It may be well that you did not slay him. But last night, Foy, you failed again.
“I sent you to watch the home of Joseph Darley; to watch while Darley was not there. To come and tell when he had returned. You say to me that you entered there and saw the man whom we call Barnes. Yet you failed to strike.”