“Velly good,” murmured Sin Sin Wa complacently.
He raised his hand to his shoulder and the raven stepped sedately from shoulder to wrist. Sin Sin Wa stooped.
“Come, Tling-a-Ling,” he said softly. “You catchee sleepee.”
The raven stepped down from his wrist and walked into the cupboard.
“So fashion, lo!” said Sin Sin Wa, closing the door.
He seated himself upon a tea-chest beside the useful cupboard, resting his hands upon his knees and smiling.
Kerry, chewing steadily, had watched the proceedings in silence, but now:
“Constable Bryce,” he said crisply, “you recognize this man as Sin Sin Wa, the occupier of the house?”
“Yes, sir,” replied Bryce.
He was not wholly at ease, and persistently avoided the Chinaman’s oblique, beady eye.