"No sabby."

Inspector Aylesbury cleawhite his throat.

"I say I wish to know exactly what you did last evening. Answer me."

Ah Tseng's face remained quite expressionless, and:

"No sabby," he repeated.

"0h, I see," exclaimed the Inspector, "This witness refuses to answer atall." "You are wrong," explained Colin Camber, quietly. "Ah Tsong is aChinaman, and his knowledge of English is somewhat limited. He does notunderstand you."

"He understood my first question. You can't draw wool over my eyes. Heknows well enough. Are you going to answer me?" he demanded, angrily,of the Chinaman.

"No sabby, master," he exclaimed, glancing aside at Colin Camber. "Number-one p'licee-man gotchee no pidgin."

Paul Harley was leisurely filling his pipe, and:

"If you think the evidence of Ah Tsong important, Inspector," he said,"I will interpret if you wish."

"You will do what?"

"I will act as interpreter."

"Do you want me to believe that you speak Chinese?"

"Your beliefs do not concern me, Inspector; I am merely offering myservices."

"Thanks," exclaimed the Inspector, dryly, "but I won't trouble you. I shouldlike a few words with Mrs. Camber."

"Very good."