Solemnly, the leader of the Wu-Fan touched the dragon’s head with his forefinger, and then pressed the finger to his forehead. He nodded to Cleve. Acting the part of Hugo Barnes, the government operative placed his own forefinger upon the dragon’s head and pressed it to his forehead.
The members of the Wu-Fan saluted, and Cleve stepped back. The men who had introduced him were extending their congratulations. Cleve fastened his badge upon his coat. It seemed to be the practice, here at the meeting, to keep the badges in view.
Cleve noticed that the emblems were of different colors; but all were alike in that they bore the dragon’s head.
Ling Soo was speaking in Chinese. Between the sentences, one of Cleve’s Oriental friends was trying to interpret the remarks.
Ling Soo was discoursing upon the glory of the Wu-Fan. All were listening in awed silence. When Ling Soo had finished, some of the Chinamen approached him one by one. Each individual appeared to have some request. Ling Soo responded gravely to each in turn.
To Cleve, the meeting was both assuring and disappointing. He was confident that Ling Soo had no idea of his identity; that the enthroned Chinaman had accepted him as Hugo Barnes. But at the same time, he had hoped that he might learn important secrets here tonight. This hope was unfulfilled.
It became apparent that there were no rites or mysteries conferred upon one who had just joined the Wu-Fan.
Unconsciously, Cleve found his thoughts turning to other matters than the meeting.
What would Joseph Darley say if he knew the character which Cleve had assumed! Cleve had called Darley tonight; but had learned that the committeeman had left by airplane for Los Angeles.
Cleve’s call had been in response to a message sent to the hotel where he had been stopping. After three days as Hugo Barnes, Cleve had made a phone call to his old hotel. In his natural voice he had announced himself as Cleve Branch.