“I was passing the Embassy, and I saw a number of distracted servants--one of whom you sent to find a policeman,” he explained. “Naturally the servants being commonplace Chinamen and inveterate gossips, were ready to talk to one of their race.” This was plausible enough. Tillizinni, at any rate, could find no fault with the explanation. He wondered why this Chinese exquisite should have sought him at three o’clock in the morning. “It is very sad,” continued L’ang T’si Soo, shaking his head, “that one so learned as his Excellency should have been cut off so ruthlessly.” “It is sadder to me,” said Tillizinni, “that the ‘Star above the Yamen’ should also have been sacrificed.” What made him say this he could not understand. There was no reason at all why he should mention the second man. The effect on his visitor was electrical. He rose instantly and noiselessly from his chair, the monocle dropped from his eye, and the eyelids lowered till the detective saw no more than two straight, glittering slits of black. “‘Star above the Yamen’?” he repeated. “What do you mean?” All the suaveness, all the languid drawl had gone out of his voice: it was harsh and metallic. The white-gloved hands were clenched till the delicate kid was stretched to breaking point. He stood erect and tense; there was something animal in his poise, something tigerish in his attitude. “What I mean,” said Tillizinni slowly, “is just this. In addition to the Ambassador, a man was killed--shot from behind, evidently by his confederates. As I have reconstructed the crime, the murderers were disguised in the livery of the Embassy, and made their escape in the confusion. ‘Star above the Yamen’ was probably killed because his murderers desired something which he had. He has been identified by this.” The detective took a sheet of paper from his pocket, and handed it across the desk to the other. Soo looked at the Chinese characters long and earnestly. “It is copied from the man’s _hong_, which was given to Captain Talham this afternoon by the man himself.” With a supreme effort T’si Soo recovered his self-possession. Without a word he handed back the sheet, fixed his eyeglass mechanically and relaxed into his chair. “That is interesting,” he said calmly. “Once I knew a ‘Star above the Yamen,’ but this is evidently another man. The characters change a little as between North and South China, and my friend does not use this _hong_.” Tillizinni’s observant eye saw the tip of the visitor’s tongue pass over the dry lips. “Doubtless you wonder why I have come,” said the Chinaman, “and it is only fair to you that I should explain who I am. Your companion----” “My companion?” asked Tillizinni sharply.