'Now listen closely,' said Philipson, 'for I am going to give you your instructions. The people of this inn think we are on a pleasure trip from Hankow, and you must do nothing to undeceive them. You will slip out secretly to the railway station and catch the down train, which leaves this place at midnight. That will get you into Shanghai by seven in the morning. It is probable that the station will be watched, so be on your guard. You will let your ricsha-boy pull you away in the direction of the European quarter--which he will do of his own accord since you are a foreigner--but not until you come to the river will you tell him to go to the Marco Polo Hotel, and not too loudly then. That is where my friend was staying before we left. You will clean up and have breakfast, then see the manager in your own room and explain to him that my friend has been called away to Canton on urgent business and that you have come to settle his account, pack his belongings, and put them into store. My friend will give you a note and detailed instructions as to what he wants done. This will take you till ten o'clock. You will then go out and buy a good second-hand suit case without any initials on it--or at least you must studiously avoid one with your own.' Poyning had sat quite still, with an air of some concentration. He now looked up inquiringly. 'Because your initials happen to be the same as my own,' added Philipson rather brusquely. 'Saunders Philipson is my name, and my friend is Ronald Mirlees--so steer clear of R.M. too. You will then go to Obermeyers, on the Bund, and buy a good chronometer and a sextant. You will then go to the Bank of Cathay, where you will cash a big cheque for me--or rather exchange it for a letter of credit on the Bank's Chungking branch: I will give you a note to the manager. You will then return to the Marco Polo Hotel and confine yourself to your room till after dark. Then take a ricsha down to Bubbling Well and proceed to the New Highgate Road on foot. The last bungalow on the right hand side is mine. You will approach with extreme caution, taking particular care that you are not shadowed. Go not to the front door, but to the side, and give five sharp taps--like this.' Philipson knocked with his knuckles on the table, repeating the signal twice. 'My boy, Lo Eng, will let you in. He speaks good English, so you will have no difficulty with him. You will tell him I have gone away for an indefinite period, and that he is to shut the house and return to his people; if he does not hear from me in six months, he is to hand over my belongings to the manager of the Bank of Cathay, who is my executor. Lo Eng is to give you a packet of papers marked "B," and in proof of good faith you will show him this seal. You will then get away from the bungalow unobserved, return to the hotel and settle up there, and catch the eleven o'clock train back. It is of the utmost life-and-death