"You know, in London it is a bit hard to understand how things are out here."
"On the borders of the Empire, as 'twere."
"Humph! But your friend seems rather up on things."
How Colonel Gray had become aware of this fact puzzled me. I wondered if he was really the choleric-faced, stereotyped colonial official that he seemed to be.
I luxuriated in a cool tub in the suite secured for us by Gray, donned a suit of lightweight that the Colonel had helped me select in an arcade shop opposite the hotel, and dawdled over a dinner. Still somewhat weak, I ate lightly.
Afterwards I walked through the lobby and out onto the terrace of Shepheard's. It was comforting to have solid ground beneath my feet. With the setting of the sun the Egyptian heat had moderated, though the evening was muggy. However, in my tropicals I was comfortable enough. With no news from Holmes I was a bit at loose ends and debating whether to cross the street and view the arcade shops or return to my room when I saw him.
He was walking on the Sharia Kamel, squat, short-legged, and progressing at a fair rate of speed. It is said that to an Occidental all Chinamen look alike, but I disproved this by recognizing the man immediately. It was Loo Chan, the Chinese lawyer employed by Chu San Fu. As he passed under a street lamp I noted the perpetual sheen of his olive features and the drawn lips, revealing alarmingly white teeth so large and perfect as to seem false.
I did not even consider my next move but threw aside my cigarette and took after him. The lawyer was headed in the direction of the Ezbekiyeh Gardens and, with a flash of inspiration, I hastened to the other side of the street to continue my pursuit. My brain was working feverishly, trying to recall what I had heard of the exploits of Slippery Styles, whose uncanny skill at trailing men was a legend. There was sufficient traffic so that my presence was not noticeable and plenty of shop windows available to turn towards if the Chinaman happened to take a look over his shoulder.
Having acted instinctively, I now mentally paused to take stock of the situation. The fact that the London lawyer was in Cairo was at first surprising, but with Chu San Fu headed for the Nile, what more reasonable than that members of his criminal group were already in Egypt. Could I but locate Loo Chan's place of residence, I might be able to relay important information to Holmes on his arrival in Cairo. It occurred to me that it would be most comforting if the great detective were with me now as I walked the streets of a city virtually unknown to me on the heels of a member of a criminal conspiracy. But this was no moment for the faint-hearted, especially since my task was becoming more demanding.
We were on the outskirts of the European city, and ahead were the bazaars and narrow streets of the native quarter. Pedestrian traffic thinned out, and soon the thoroughfare we followed was deserted. Loo Chan continued forward, never once looking back, which might have seemed strange to a wiser dog on the scent. Then the Chinaman did pause and glance over his shoulder before turning into an alley. His move could not have happened at a worse time for I was, though on the opposite side of the street, badly positioned near one of the infrequent street lamps. However, Loo Chan made no note of me, turning purposefully into the dark alley, and it was then that some sense forced itself upon me.
"He's leading me into a trap," I thought. "Somehow he or a cohort spotted me at the hotel, and he has baited me into the open. Well, two can play that game," I thought with a surge of confidence.
I continued down the street, steeling myself not to even glance at the alley mouth into which the lawyer had ducked. At the next intersection, I turned to the right and passed the corner. The native quarter was deserted, all inhabitants having withdrawn to their lodgings. No surprise that, since Cairo was known to wake early. With no observers about, I accelerated into a trot that brought me, somewhat short-winded, to the next corner. I did not round it but rather peered towards where I felt the alley opening might be. If Loo Chan emerged, I would have him under observation whilst hidden myself. But there was no sign of the Chinaman. Now I faced an impasse. My best bet seemed to be to try to return to Shepheard's, but if the minions of Chu San Fu were after me, they could well overtake me in the darkened streets of this quarter of Cairo and no one would be the wiser. I had no weapon to forestall them and chided myself for leaving my revolver in my suitcase at the hotel. But then I had not anticipated a foray into nighttime Cairo after dinner.
Well, peering round a corner was getting me nowhere, so I took a deep breath and rounded it, cautiously making my way down the block. The alley did open on the street I had chosen and I slipped into it, feeling somewhat the better for the total darkness that enveloped me. I could see nothing but could not be seen either. Such was my thought. Loo Chan must have entered a building facing the alley. Perhaps after all he was not conscious that he was being followed. I could traverse the narrow footway, regain the street on the other side, and beat a hasty retreat, making note of the locale for a report to Holmes.
Keeping the fingers of one hand on the wall on my right, I moved in the planned direction at a snail's pace indeed, for I was in horror of stumbling over some obstruction like a baggy-pants clown in a circus. Somewhat surprisingly, I moved silently in the Stygian darkness and was conscious of the dim light at the alley end, which spelled escape. Then I heard the soft, sibilant sound of a voice, and a curtain was raised almost by my head, allowing a shaft of light to split the night. I froze, and then instinctively moved to the wall beside me, pressing my back to it.
The voice was a mumble of sound, and then I heard a chair being moved within the ground-floor room on the other side of the wall. A shadow crossed the light emanating from the window. I eased closer to the aperture, removed my hat, and, summoning all the nerve at my command, stole a peek into the room. Loo Chan had seated himself at a plain round table, and standing opposite him was the impressive form of the Manchurian wrestler who had been my jailer when Chu San Fu had kidnapped me in London. The Chinese lawyer was looking upwards at the muscular figure, something he would have had to do even if he were not seated.
"The yacht should arrive sometime tomorrow," he said. Evidently this statement had significance, for the Manchurian nodded.
Good heavens, I thought with a flood of elation! I am privy to a conference here! Possibly the key to the strange series of events will be revealed to me. What a coup!
"We must be prepared for his coming," continued Loo Chan.
Whatever else he intended to say I did not learn, for a horny palm was slapped across my mouth, stifling all but my faintest sounds of protest. Nor could I put up an effective struggle, for an arm, more like a nautical hawser, encircled my arms and body. I did get in a couple of backward kicks with my heels, but to no avail. Suddenly the arm encircling me slid away, as did the one over my mouth, and to my amazement I was free. There was the soft sound of a falling body, and I turned and found a large form motionless on the pavement of the alley. It was the other Manchurian, for there were two of them, brothers, employed by Chu San Fu. I hadn't the slightest idea of what had happened. Possibly a falling object, like a flowerpot, had fortuitously felled my captor. One thing was clear. They were on to my presence. In a flash I recalled that to the Chinese, surprise is akin to fear and is the breeder of it. This fact, well tested by experience, had to be used, or my goose was cooked to a turn!
Steeling myself, I marched through the door on the far side of the window into an odoriferous hallway and then through another door into the room I had observed.
Loo Chan wore a bland expression of satisfaction, and there was a gleam of cunning in his small, obsidian eyes, which faded when he realized that I was present without escort.