Fuller looked in; the secret agent nodded and the young man stepped briskly toward the hall door. In another moment a thick-set man in a sergeant's dress entered the room, and with him were two patrolmen.
"How are you?" said the sergeant, nodding to the three men. "Members of the family?"
In a few moments the status of the Japanese was explained; the sergeant listened to their story of the prowler with satisfaction.
"There's the party we want," said he. "Had a bag, did he? Humph! Full of swag, I'll bet." He then took Okiu's name and address. "A headquarters man will go on this case, of course," continued the sergeant, "and he'll want to hear you tell about that. And in the meantime," stuffing his note-book into his breastpocket, "I'll have to ask you all to go. We've got to look things over, and get the hang of it all, and you can see how too many people would be in the way."
As Ashton-Kirk and Fuller emerged from the house, they found the two Japanese standing by the gate. Dixon, who had been waiting all this time, threw on the power at sight of his employer, and the engine of the big French car began to hum in the silence.
"Good-night," said Okiu, gently, a smile upon his smooth face. "I shall see you again, sir."
Ashton-Kirk waved his hand in answer; and as the car started off, and he and Fuller settled themselves back, the latter said:
"Did you notice the way that fellow said that? It sounded to me much as though he had something against you, and meant to get square."
"Perhaps," returned Ashton-Kirk quietly, "that is what he meant. One can never tell."