"I am awake," said Joicey, bitterly. "Mr. Hartley is looking for the boy, and if the boy were found, all search would stop,"—he eyed the Chinaman carefully, but the mask-like face did not change.
"And the little boy? Perhaps, Ruler and King, the little boy is gone dead."
"You ask me that, you devil?"
"It is for the servant to ask," said Leh Shin, dropping his lids for a second.
"Now, get out," said Joicey, between his clenched teeth. "And if you come here to me again, at night, I'll kill you."
"The Great One will not do that," said Leh Shin, placidly. "My assistant waits for me. It would be known as fire is known when the forest is dry. To-morrow or next day, if the police are gone, my little house will be open again." He spoke the words with deep emphasis.
"Get out," said Joicey, turning away his head.
Leh Shin looked at him with a sudden, oblique glance like the flash of a knife.
"Speak no more, Lord of men and elephants; the Durwan is now outside the door, and he listens."
"Good-night," said Joicey loudly, and he clicked off the light and went to bed.