Fergus Hume

“ Trant assured the boy, “you are made to your trade, Jimmy—the detective trade. I see your point, for I think as a man and not as an official machine. All I ask is that you will withhold nothing which will lose me the men we’re after.”
“I swear I won’t, sir,” answered the youth, brightening as Trant spoke. “When Wu Ti is in your hands you shall know everything.” ”

“ The man, who had for some time been ingratiating himself with the population of this unsavoury quarter, knocked seven times at odd intervals at the door of an unlighted and apparently deserted house. It was opened cautiously by a wrinkled, malignant-faced, old Chinaman, in his national dress, carrying a smoky petroleum lamp, which he held high above his head to scrutinize the visitors. A few words from the watcher assured him that this was a party of sight-seers, touring the underworld, whose curiosity meant money to its inhabitants. ”

“ Jimmy assured them feverishly.
“Are you sure it was Wu Ti who made for the roof?” asked Trant, looking at the sullen line of yellow and white faces before him.
“I can’t swear to it, sir. One Chinaman is so like another, that there’s no knowing. But only Wu Ti would have been so anxious to escape.”
A cry came from Dick. “Look!” he said, pointing his finger at the man with whom he had struggled—the man who had been preparing the opium-pipe when they entered. “Jimmy! Trant! Look, look!” ”

“ Wung—for this was the proprietor of the opium-den—demurred a trifle, but ultimately admitted all five men. He led them along a dingy, narrow, crooked passage, to a staircase; and thence down to a tolerably large cellar, with three doors, set between lines of bedded bunks, arranged one above the other round the walls, up to the ceiling.
In these bunks, men of several nationalities were lying: some completely under the influence of opium, others recovering from its effects. ”

“ Follow me!” breathed Jimmy in Camp’s ear, and made for the door towards which Old Wung had moved earlier.
Before the detective could do this a horde of police came pouring down the narrow stairs, much to the comfort of Trant. The whistle had been blown by the watcher, under Camp’s orders, and the house was surrounded in the nick of time, seeing how pressing was the danger of a rough and tumble fight. While the invaders swarmed into the cellar, tumbling the opium-smokers wholesale out of the bunks, Trant shook Wung violently. “Wu Ti! Where is he?” ”

“ Come on! They’re making for the roof!”
Even as he spoke a Chinaman, snaked in from the outer cellar, twisted through the disorderly group of constables and darted towards the door. He opened and closed it with incredible dexterity, but, scarcely less rapid in his movements, Jimmy pulled it wide again. “Wu Ti!” cried the boy, exultingly, and began to climb a steep staircase, with the Inspector and his underlings streaming at his heels.
“Hurry! Hurry!” panted Trant, as they followed hot-footed in the dark, “I would not have anything happen to that lad for a kingdom. Torches!” ”

“ For this reason the neophyte had clamoured for inclusion in the adventure, and had achieved his purpose in the face of troublesome objections. Aileen pointing out how tired and shaken he was by his late efforts, used all her persuasive powers to retain him in Wessbury. ”