“Yeh Ling has really done himself proud,” said Tab admiring the table.
The girl nodded. She had hoped that Yeh Ling would have chosen another room, but she had no real feeling of repugnance and besides she had been here since Trasmere’s death.
“It is very thrilling to be dining alone with a young man,” she said, handing her wrap to the waiter, “and I can only hope the scandal of it doesn’t get into the newspapers!”
“Shall we see Yeh Ling?” asked Tab, halfway through the dinner.
She shook her head.
“He never appears. He has only been in this room twice to my recollection.”
“It is our first appearance together in public,” said Tab solemnly. “I can count on our boys, but if any of those Herald thugs hear and catch a glimpse of your expensive ring, there are going to be scare lines in that deplorable rag—the ‘Herald’ has no reticence on decency.”
She laughed softly and looked at the “expensive ring” that glittered and sparkled in the light of the shaded lamp.
“I asked Carver if he would come along after dinner,” said Tab, “but he is busy. He sent the most flowery and poetical messages to you—really Carver is a surprising person; there is a whole world of romance hidden behind that somewhat unpleasing exterior, if you will pardon the journalese.”
But if Carver could not come, they had a visitor. There came a tap and the door opened slowly.
“Great Moses!” said Tab springing up. “How the dickens did you know that we were here, Rex?”
“I spotted you,” said Rex Lander reproachfully, “slinking in at the side door like two guilty souls! May I offer my congratulations, Miss Ardfern, and lay at your feet the fragments of a broken heart?”
She laughed nervously at his jest.
“No, I can’t stay,” said Rex, “I have a party and, moreover, I am entertaining a man with terrific ideas on architecture. Isn’t that queer! Now that I am no longer arcing, I have conceived a passion for that unhallowed profession! Even old Stott is becoming an admirable personage in my eyes. Have you forgiven me, Miss Ardfern?”
“Oh yes,” she said quietly, “I have forgiven you a very long time ago.”
Rex’s baby eyes were very kindly, his plump face was wrinkled in a smile of amiable reflection.
“ ‘When a young man’s fancy—’ ” he began and caught a reflection in the mirror.
From where Tab and the girl sat they could see nothing. Rex saw reflected the half-open door and a figure that stood motionless outside. He spun round with an exclamation.
XXIX
“Good Lord, Yeh Ling, you gave me a fright! What a creeping old devil you are.”
“I came to see whether the dinner was successful,” said Yeh Ling softly. His hands were covered in his wide sleeves, a little black skull cap was pushed on the back of his head, his shabby silk suit and white soled slippers seemed remarkably out of place in that very modern setting.
“It was a great success, Yeh Ling,” said Tab, “wasn’t it?”
He turned to the girl and she nodded and her eyes met Yeh Ling’s and for the fraction of a second, held them.
“I think I’ll go,” said Rex awkwardly and gripped the girl’s hand again. “Goodnight, old man, you are a lucky old thief.” He wrung Tab’s hand and was gone.
“Was the wine to your liking?” said Yeh Ling’s soft voice.
“Everything was beautiful,” said Ursula. There was a touch of colour in her cheeks that had not been there before. “Thank you, Yeh Ling, you gave us a wonderful feast. We shall be late for the theatre, Tab,” she said, getting up hurriedly.
She was very silent in the car that drove them to the Athenaeum and Tab felt a little of the gloom which had suddenly come into their festivity.
“Yeh Ling is a creepy sort of fellow, isn’t he?” he said.
“Yes, I suppose he is,” was her reply and that was all she said.
Ten minutes later she was sitting in a box, intent upon a stage which she had once adorned and seemingly oblivious to everything except the play. Tab decided that she was a little temperamental and loved her for it.
Going out to smoke between the first two acts (she insisted upon his going) he saw Carver standing by a tape machine in the vestibule of the theatre. His attention was concentrated on a very prose account of a yacht race which was coming through, but he saw Tab out of the corner of his eye and signalled him.
“I am going home with you tonight,” he said surprisingly. “What time will you leave Miss Ardfern?”
“I am seeing her to her hotel immediately after the show.”
“You are not going to supper anywhere?” asked the other carelessly.
“No,” said Tab, “why do you ask?”
“Then I will be waiting at the Central Hotel for you. I wish to see you about a nephew of mine who wants to become a newspaper reporter. Perhaps you can give me a few hints.”
Tab glanced at him suspiciously.
“I have suspected you of many weaknesses, but never of nepotism!” he said. “You told me a few weeks back that you hadn’t a relation in the world.”
“I have acquired a nephew since then,” said Carver calmly, his eyes still upon the tape, “it is a poor kind of detective who can’t discover a nephew or two. I may fall down on a murderer, but when it comes to
