be tied up with the coolie and opium game, but it’s a cinch he’ll let The Whistler do whatever he likes if only The Whistler will run his guns across. So, you see, you have been gypped!”
“But—”
“But nothing! You’re helping Chang by taking part in the coolie traffic. And, my guess is, your servants were killed, not because they were spies, but because they wouldn’t sell you out.”
She was white-faced and unsteady on her feet. I didn’t let her recover.
“Do you think Chang trusts The Whistler? Did they seem friendly?”
I knew he couldn’t trust him, but I wanted something specific.
“No‑o‑o,” she said slowly. “There was some talk about a missing boat.”
That was good.
“They still together?”
“Yes.”
“How do I get there?”
“Down these steps, across the cellar—straight across—and up two flights of steps on the other side. They were in a room to the right of the second-floor landing.”
Thank God I had a direct set of instructions for once!
I jumped up on the table and rapped on the ceiling.
“Come on down, Garthorne, and bring your chaperon.”
“Don’t either of you budge out of here until I’m back,” I told the boob and Lillian Shan when we were all together again. “I’m going to take