“Very well,” replied the other, rising languidly to his feet and thrusting the notes into his pocket; “very well. You must let me have entire possession of this room for the next two days, and provide such assistance and implements as I may require.” As he was leaving the room he stopped to smell a tuberose that stood on a bamboo flower-stand. The passing act seemed to give him an idea, for he turned suddenly to Quong Lung, saying: “See to it, Quong Lung, that you provide plenty of punk-sticks for the eventful night. You will need them, I am thinking. And be good to this green brother,” pointing to the tuberose. IV. Concerning Cherries and Tuberoses. An hour before the time set for the arrival of Wau Shun, Ray called Quong Lung into the room wherein he had labored almost incessantly during the past two days. “All’s done,” he said, “save only the payment of my dues.” “Proceed,” returned Quong Lung, laying ten double eagles on the table and seating himself on his favorite ebony chair. Ray eyed him curiously while he pocketed the money, and the Chinaman, who seemed to notice everything, rose quickly from the chair and said, with a smile: “‘How oft the sight of means to do ill deeds, Makes ill deeds done!’ Eh Jim? Now show me your trick.” “Should somebody you dislike sit on the chair you have just left, Quong Lung, pressure on this button”--pointing to an innocent-looking cherry painted on a panel that hung on the wall--“would connect the chair with the electric-light wires that pass over your house, and make your objectionable guest the recipient of--say, three thousand volts.” “And then?” “And then--slightly altering the words of your favorite poet, to describe the result--‘his heart would once heave, and forever stand still’; and nobody would know how your highbinder died.” As Ray left the room, he was again attracted to the tuberose. After smelling it, he turned round and called to Quong Lung, saying: “But you will not leave this innocent in the room, Quong Lung; its odor would be ruined by the punks you will burn, and by other savors.” Then gravely saluting Quong Lung, James Ray left the Chinaman’s house, and made his way to the office of the chief of police of San Francisco, for even a dope-fiend has a fragmentary conscience. V. The Greater Discipline. While Ray told his story to the chief of police, with all the circumstances and detail that would exonerate him and implicate Quong Lung, the latter met Wau Shun at his outer door, and, holding him by the hand, escorted him to his chamber, which was dim with the smoke of many burning punks, the odor of which filled the air. “Those who are true to me, Wau Shun, will always find that my ‘ways are ways of pleasantness, and all my paths are peace,’” said Quong Lung, softly, misquoting the Psalmist.