"Supposition that you'll find to be absolute truth, my good friend!" retorted Mirandolet, calmly. "I know the Chinese--better than you think. As soon as I heard of this affair tonight, I came to you to put you up to the Chinese trick of secreting things of value in their pigtails--it did not occur to me that the diamond might be there in this case, but I thought you would probably find something. But when we reached this mortuary, and I heard that a Japanese had been here, presenting your card when he had no business to present it, I guessed immediately what had happened--and now that you tell me that you told him all about this affair, well--I am certain of my assertion. Mr. Detective--go after the diamond!" He turned as if to leave the place, and Ayscough followed. "He mayn't been after the diamond at all!" he said, still resentful and incredulous. "Is it very likely he'd think it to be in that dead chap's pigtail when the other man's missing? It's Chang that's got that diamond--not Chen." "All right, my friend!" replied Mirandolet. "Your wisdom is superior to mine, no doubt. So--I wish you good-night!" He strode out of the place and turned sharply up the street, and Ayscough, after a growl or two, went back to the mortuary keeper. "How long was that Jap in there?" he asked, nodding at the death chamber. "Not a minute, Mr. Ayscough!" replied the man. "In and out again, as you might say." "Did he say anything when he came out?" enquired the detective. "He did--two words," answered the keeper. "He said, 'That's he!' and walked straight out, and into his car." "And when he came he told you I'd sent him?" demanded Ayscough. "Just that--and showed me your card," assented the man. "Of course, I'd no reason to doubt his word." "Look here, George!" said Ayscough, "you keep this to yourself! Don't say anything to any of our folks if they come in. I don't half believe what that doctor said just now--but I'll make an enquiry or two. Mum's the word, meanwhile. You understand, George?" George answered that he understood very well, and Ayscough presently left him. Outside, in the light of the lamp set over the entrance to the mortuary, he pulled out his watch. Twelve o'clock--midnight. And somewhere, that cursed young Jap was fleeing away through the London streets--having cheated him, Ayscough, at his own game! He had already reckoned things up in connection with Yada. Yada had been having him--even as Melky Rubinstein had suspected and suggested--all through that conversation at Gower Street. Probably, Yada, from his window in the drawing-room floor of his lodging-house, had watched him and Melky slip across the street and hide behind the hoarding opposite. And then Yada had gone out, knowing he was to be followed, and had tricked them beautifully, getting into an underground train going east, and, in all certainty, getting out again at the next station, chartering a cab, and returning west--with Ayscough's card in his pocket.