The muscles of Soames' jaw tightened at sound of the name, and he avoided the gaze of the crossed eyes. “And the real purpose of my visit here this morning is to acquaint you with the little contrivance by which we ensure our privacy here. Once you are acquainted with it, you can take the air every evening at suitable hours, on application to Mr. Ho-Pin.” Soames coughed dryly. “Very good,” he said in a strained voice; “I am glad of that.” “I knew you would be glad, Soames,” declared the smiling Gianapolis; “and now, if you will step this way, I will show you the door by which you must come and go.” He stood up, then bent confidentially to Soames' ear. “Mr. King, very wisely,” he whispered, “has retained you on the premises hitherto, because some doubt, some little doubt, remained respecting the information which had come into the possession of the police.” Again that ominous word! But ere Soames had time to reflect, Gianapolis led the way out of the room and along the matting-lined corridor into the apartment of the golden dragon. Soames observed, with a nervous tremor, that Mr. Ho-Pin sat upon one of the lounges, smoking a cigarette, and arrayed in his usual faultless manner. He did not attempt to rise, however, as the pair entered, but merely nodded to Gianapolis and smiled mirthlessly at Soames. They quitted the room by the door opening on the stone steps--the door by which Soames had first entered into that evil Aladdin's cave. Gianapolis went ahead, and Soames, following him, presently emerged through a low doorway into a concrete-paved apartment, having walls of Portland stone and a white-washed ceiling. One end consisted solely of a folding gate, evidently designed to admit the limousine. Gianapolis turned, as Soames stepped up beside him. “If you will glance back,” he said, “you will see exactly where the door is situated.” Soames did as directed, and suppressed a cry of surprise. Four of the stone blocks were fictitious--were, in verity, a heavy wooden door, faced in some way with real, or imitation granite--a door communicating with the steps of the catacombs. “Observe!” said Gianapolis. He closed the door, which opened outward, and there remained nothing to show the keenest observer--unless he had resorted to sounding--that these four blocks differed in any way from their fellows. “Ingenious, is it not?” said Gianapolis, genially. “And now, my dear Soames, observe again!” He rolled back the folding gates; and beyond was a garage, wherein stood the big limousine. “I keep my car here, Soames, for the sake of--convenience! And now, my dear Soames, when you go out this evening, Said will close this entrance after you. When you return, which, I understand, you must do at ten o'clock, you will enter the garage by the side door yonder, which will not be locked, and you will press the electric button at the back of the petrol cans here--look! you can see it!--the inner door will then be opened for you. Step this way.”