By a stroke of luck we found the Chief of Police at Headquarters, and he telephoned to Aberdeen for more information.
Ping Sang had been discharged two hours ago, and was taken aboard the Amoy junks, one of which was just then sailing.
He listened impatiently whilst the Chief of Police spoke through the telephone.
"Has she left the harbour?" ... "Well, can't you follow her?" ... "How about the steam-boat?" ...
"She is already out of the harbour," he said, turning to us and hooking up the telephone-receiver, "and their steam-boat is under repairs and they cannot stop her. I'll send one of our patrol boats from here to cut her off."
"My destroyers must be ready by this time," interposed Helston, "and if you will make out search warrants, I'll catch her before she can get across to the mainland."
"The warrants would take some time," answered the official, "and I should have to see the Governor. The patrol boat shall get away immediately."
But for once Helston made up his mind. "Warrants or no warrants, I'll search every junk under way to-night," he said, and strode impatiently out of the room.
"I don't care what you do, outside the harbour limits," said the Chief of Police to me as I followed Helston; "and it's a very dark night, and no one will be any the wiser."
Ho Ming coming with us, we went down to the Victoria Hotel, and after some difficulty—for all we knew of the Englishman was that he walked with a limp—found that he had not returned in time for dinner, as was his custom.