“But that woman looks familiar.” Gale did not move. Taking a small pair of binoculars from her pocket, she studied the scene, the temple, the window and the woman standing at a crude dressing table.
“This is eavesdropping,” she whispered. “All the same it must be excusable.
“Yes,” she whispered hoarsely ten seconds later, barely avoiding dropping her glasses. “Yes! It surely is.” Then she whispered four startling words:
“The woman in purple!”
“Let me look.” Than Shwe took the glass while they all shrank deeper into the shadows.
Than Shwe studied the woman and her surroundings for some time. When at last she returned the glasses to their owner, she said:
“This is a very bad woman.”
“What? Do you know her?” Gale whispered in surprise.
“Oh yes! For a long time.” Than Shwe shrank still deeper into the shadows.
“She is called Madam Stark, and comes from India, but she lived a long time in Burma. She is very dangerous.”