The big Chinaman scanned the speaker’s face in the gloom and grunted an expression of assent. He pressed a button beside the door.
A minute passed; then came a buzzing sound. The door pushed open as Moose pressed against it. The gang leader entered, with Garry at his heels.
Here was a strange passageway. Gloomier than the other corridor and narrower, it led to a short flight of steps.
The men went up to a landing, with a door at the left. Then they descended the same number of steps. The passage turned to the right at a right angle.
Along this they walked; then arrived at another turn to the right. This portion of the passage brought them to an abrupt ending, with a closed door at the right.
Shargin knocked. There was another buzz. The door opened. The gangsters stepped into a strange, dimly lighted den.
THIS room, square in shape, was situated completely within the four passages which the visitors had followed. That, in itself, was an oddity; but the appearance of the room was even more remarkable.
It was a peculiar medley of Oriental lavishness and Occidental practicability.
The main furnishings of the room were Chinese. The paneled walls were decorated with painted dragons. The chairs, the single couch, and all the trappings, were bizarre. Taborets, splendid in color, served as stools.
Yet, in the midst of this Pekinese setting was a roll-topped desk with swivel chair and a dial telephone of French style.