The Japanese smiled.
"You are very good," said he. "But it is Dr. Morse whom I wish to see."
The voice was soft and purring; it was as though he were speaking to a child.
"If you will be kind enough to call him," suggested the speaker, "I will be obliged to you."
"That," said Ashton-Kirk, "is a thing which I should readily do if it could have any effect. But it would not. Dr. Morse is dead."
There was complete silence for a moment; a tall clock ticked solemnly at one side; its strokes now seemed to grow quicker and louder, like the heart-beats of a man fighting down an increasing excitement.
"Dead!" said the small man in a throaty voice.
"Not that, surely!" spoke the other, and one hand went out, as though in protest.
"He is dead," said the secret agent. "And more, he has been murdered."
"No, no," cried the small man. "That is horrible!"