of these wretches, one of whom claimed relationship. I was determined however, to find her if she were to be found, whatever the cost might be.

Having satisfied myself that she was not in the house, I drove off to the Central French Police Station and, sending in my card, obtained an interview with the Chief Inspector who, after taking my deposition, apologetically informed me that under the circumstances he was quite unable to assist me in any way, as the missing lady was a Chinese subject and not my wife. He surmised, however, that she had been kidnapped for the sake of her money, and in order to prevent her from marrying me. Apologizing for having troubled him, I was about to leave when a thought seemed to strike him.

"I regret our inability to help you," he said, "but here is the address of a very clever Chinese detective who has retired from the force. I have no doubt he would be pleased to take up a case like this if well paid for his trouble."

Thanking the officer, I immediately went in search of the man who might prove of inestimable value to me in unravelling this mystery.

V. WITH A DETECTIVE.

FTER picking my way through a labyrinth of narrow back

が

streets and alleyways, near the walls of the Chinese city,

I found the unpretentious residence of the ex-detective.

Fortunately he was at home, and I was shown upstairs to his private parlour, which was filled from floor to ceiling with interesting and suggestive trophies of the chase in the shape of ancient and modern firearms, from a gingall to a Martini-Henry and a matchlock horse-pistol to a Colt'revolver, neatly hung amongst a miscellaneous collection of cross-bars, skeleton keys and queues of beheaded criminals. Each article was carefully ticketed and encased. Gags, short swords, and life-preservers were there in great variety with au assortment of other Chinese instruments too numerous to mention, and the photographs of their owners, methodically classed and numbered for reference.

Ah Shun, for such was this worthy man's name, was strong and powerfully built, and of medium height, possessing a pleasing countenance, in which good humour, intelligence, and a fair amount of pluck and determination were discernible. His dress was of the simplest, and his manner was easy, and decidedly jocular-in fact, he always seemed to smile when he ought to have looked serious.

Before going into the case he stated his terms-three dollars a day, and all expenses paid. I agreed to this, as it was not unreasonable, and judiciously bestowing a few compliments as to his reputation, and backing them up with a ten-dollar note, I enlisted him in my service.

I now stated my case, placing him in possession of the minutest.

details bearing upon it. He smilingly listened to all I said, occasionally giving a grunt or some other manifestation of his interest or capacity for grasping the situation. He was chary, though, about giving an opinion on the matter until he had made inquiries; but he considered it quite possible that she had been kidnapped. He felt perfectly sure, however, that she would not be kept at the aunt's house, although it seemed more than probable that this relative was implicated in her abduction. He considered it a very interesting case, and well worthy of his attention, especially as several wealthy ladies had disappeared within the past two years under somewhat similar circumstances, only one of whom had been found.

He then accompanied me to a small shop close by, where I could obtain a disguise for myself. Acting under his advice, I ordered two complete suits of Chinese clothes to be made-one of very common material, as worn by the lower classes, and the other of silk, to wear when impersonating a native gentleman, and shoes to match.

Before parting, he told me to hold myself in readiness to be called at any moment of the night or day; and to be prepared to risk or defend my life or hers if circumstances demanded it; as it was a very dangerous case-such a large sum of money hanging in the balance, and perhaps very dangerous criminals being employed by her abductors. So I took the precaution of buying an extra revolver. I could hardly bear to imagine poor Sêou Jâe in the hands of such people, and work or rest were alike quite out of the question.

I went home, and nothing worthy of mention happened until the fifth night after this at 11.30 p.m. I was then retiring to rest, when the quietude of the house was suddenly disturbed by a succession of slight but rapid knocks on the back-door, or servants' entrance. Soon afterwards the boy announced the arrival of "my friend, Mr. Tom, from Canton," who wished to see me immediately.

Who my nocturnal visitor could be puzzled me considerably. Mr. Tom, alias Ah Shun, the detective, had, unknown to the servant, crept upstairs after him, and now, without further cere

mony, entered my room, a broad smile illuming his rubicund face as he closed the door on the surprised and indignant boy.

“Fidè, fidè! (make haste, make haste!) he said, forgetting for a moment and addressing me in Chinese as he urged me to assume the disguise of a coolie, arm myself with two loaded revolvers, and prepare to follow him at once, as he had struck the trail, and hoped to rescue Sêou Jâe that night and run her captors to earth. He had brought my Chinese clothes with him.

Grasping his hand I thanked him warmly for having exerted himself so much in the matter.

There was no time to waste, so I put on the dowdy-looking garments, and he dexterously disfigured my face with a piece of burnt cork and a skin-coloured paste of his own, changing the curvature of my eyebrows in such a remarkable manner that, with the addition of a few effective lines and smudges, the cast of my features became Chinese, and I looked every inch a low-born denizen of no particular occupation, or fixed abode: and Ah Shun looked equally questionable.

A dilapidated round hat, with scraggy queue fastened inside, completed my singular disguise; and my own dear mother would not have recognized me.

"You must not hold me responsible for any misfortune that may occur to you to-night," he said, regarding me for a moment seriously and stedfastly as he added, "much depends upon your prudence. Are you ready to obey me without faltering, to ask no questions, and perhaps risk your life?"

Having satisfied him on these points, he advised me to let him go out by the back door, while I left by the front one. Whoever gained the north-west entrance to the gardens first was to wait for the other. Leaving the house, I strolled leisurely along, adopting the peculiar swaggering gait of the Chinese, so as not to attract notice, and joined Ah Shun at the appointed rendezvous, he having arrived first.

We now passed through the deserted gardens, which looked enchanting in the moonlight. Our reasons for passing that way were to find out if we were followed and to throw any spy off guard. Seating ourselves in the most isolated part of the grounds.