Tsan Ti folded his hands complacently over his capacious stomach.
"Well, sufferin' bluffs!" murmured McGlory. "Charley Foo was the kind of a dark horse they were playing both ways. He told Grattan's man only what Tsan Ti wanted him to know; then why, in the name of all that's hard to figure out, did Tsan tell Charley to let it be known that the ruby was being sent to Motor Matt?"
"It was my wish that Grattan should know about the sending of the ruby," said this most amazing Chinaman.
"Then," went on McGlory, "you expected that Grattan would get on Motor Matt's trail and make a dead set to get back the Eye of Buddha."
"I thought it most likely, sagacious youth."
"Then," averred McGlory warmly, "you can't blame Motor Matt for losing the ruby."
"Am I blaming him, inconsiderate one?" returned Tsan Ti. "Have I said one scolding word, or emitted anything but praise? Motor Matt has done excellently well, and I shall engrave his deeds on the tablets of my memory."
"But the ruby is gone!" said Matt.
"Not so, highly esteemed but most deceived friend. Observe!"
With that, Tsan Ti opened his yellow silk blouse and revealed a small bag suspended by a chain from his neck. Opening the bag, he gave Matt and McGlory a swift glimpse of a shining, blood-red jewel.