Stuart turned his eyes. On the platform at the head of the stairs a
Hindu was standing!
"Chunda Lal!" whispered Max. "Prepare for—anything!"
"Chunda Lal descended slowly. Ah-Fang-Fu continued to play Patience. The Hindu stood behind him and began to speak in a voice of subdued fervour and with soft Hindu modulations.
"Why do you allow them, strangers, coming here to-night!"
Ah-Fang-Fu continued complacently to arrange the cards.
"S'pose hab gotchee pidgin allee samee Chunda Lal hab got? Fo-Hi no catchee buy bled and cheese for Ah-Fang-Fu. He"—nodding casually in the direction of Bill Bean—"plitty soon all blissful."
"Be very careful, Ah-Fang-Fu," said Chunda Lal tensely. He lowered his voice. "Do you forget so soon what happen last week?"
"No sabby."
"Some one comes here—we do not know how close he comes; perhaps he comes in—and he is of the police."
Ah-Fang-Fu shuffled uneasily in his chair.