"I think you had better remain here," I said.
"Perhaps," he replied. "But if you have no objection I'll stop at the
foot of the stairs. You might have occasion to call to me and I should
hear you better there."
"I think there is no danger."
"Big Sam is not as scrupulous as you may think. It has been said that
men have gone up those stairs who never came down."
I remembered Big Sam's judgment hall, and the power he had apparently
exercised over the warring tongs, and thought it quite likely that
judgments had been executed as well as passed within its walls.
"Suit yourself," I said. "But as you are not armed you can do nothing
but raise an alarm if the need comes. And you may be in more danger
than I."
"Perhaps the hackman has a pistol," said Mr. Baldwin coolly. "I may be
able to get a loan."
The hackman proved to be supplied with a fire-arm and he surrendered it
cheerfully to Mr. Baldwin.
"Oh, the place has a bad name, but I've been through it for tin year and
niver fired a shot," said he, laughing at the apprehension of the two
innocent strangers he supposed us to be. And we crossed the street and
opened the door of the shop that made the entrance to Big Sam's
lodgings.
Four or five Chinese lounged about the place and one took my name to Big
Sam. The others watched us furtively, and one made some comment upon us
that caused his companions to give us a quick look and grim smile.
The action was not lost on Mr. Baldwin.
"Our friend's body-guard do not seem to anticipate the same ending to
the affair that you do, Mr. Hampden," said he, with a shrug of the
shoulder.
"I do not suppose they are in his confidence in the matter," said I.
Then as the messenger returned with word that I was to "come up," I
continued: "Keep near the door in yonder corner where you can not be
taken from behind. If anything happens, get to the police station as
soon as you can. I shall probably be back inside of ten minutes."
Mr. Baldwin bowed as his reply to this injunction, and spoke affably to
the shopman who had paused from the swift reckoning of his accounts on
an abacus, and was watching us furtively with the innocent pretense of
casting up sums in his mind.
I mounted the rough stairs and in another minute was ushered into Big
Sam's office.
The softer lights of the night that came from the gas-jets brought out
the richness of the apartment far more effectively than the coarse light
of day. The carvings and painted ornaments showed to more advantage, and
the colors were softened into harmony with the western eye. In spite of
the preoccupation of my errand, I could not repress an exclamation of
pleasure at the sight.
Big Sam sat at his desk as he had sat when I left him in the morning,
and looked at me with bland impassiveness.
"Good evening, Mr. Hampden," he said politely. "Can I serve you again?"
"No," I said, a little taken aback at this greeting. "It is on your
business I have come."
"And your companion down-stairs?" he said, looking at me out of
half-closed oriental eyes.
"He may be of service in case--"
Big Sam raised his hand to check my speech and spoke in Chinese. At his
words there was the soft sound of the closing of a door somewhere behind
the screens.
"A prudent precaution," he said. "You have found a place for the girl?"
"Yes," I replied. "I must say I do not fully approve of what I am going
to do. But it is not on account of your ward. Nothing could be better
for her than what I have to offer."
Then I explained with some detail the plans that had been approved by
Miss Kendrick. He listened with studious attention.
"Miss Kendrick is too kind," said Big Sam diplomatically. "She is
young, I believe?"