"Supposition that you'll find to be absolute truth, my good friend!" retorted Mirandolet, calmly. "I know the Chinese—better than you think. As soon as I heard of this affair tonight, I came to you to put you up to the Chinese trick of secreting things of value in their pigtails—it did not occur to me that the diamond might be there in this case, but I thought you would probably find something. But when we reached this mortuary, and I heard that a Japanese had been here, presenting your card when he had no business to present it, I guessed immediately what had happened—and now that you tell me that you told him all about this affair, well—I am certain of my assertion. Mr. Detective—go after the diamond!"
He turned as if to leave the place, and Ayscough followed.
"He mayn't been after the diamond at all!" he said, still resentful and incredulous. "Is it very likely he'd think it to be in that dead chap's pigtail when the other man's missing? It's Chang that's got that diamond—not Chen."
"All right, my friend!" replied Mirandolet. "Your wisdom is superior to mine, no doubt. So—I wish you good-night!"
He strode out of the place and turned sharply up the street, and
Ayscough, after a growl or two, went back to the mortuary keeper.
"How long was that Jap in there?" he asked, nodding at the death chamber.
"Not a minute, Mr. Ayscough!" replied the man. "In and out again, as you might say."
"Did he say anything when he came out?" enquired the detective.
"He did—two words," answered the keeper. "He said, 'That's he!' and walked straight out, and into his car."
"And when he came he told you I'd sent him?" demanded Ayscough.