1As soon as she could next morning she rang Townsend up at his office.

2"Yes, what is it?"

3"I want to see you."

4"My dear, I'm awfully busy. I'm a working man."

5"It's very important. Can I come down to the office?"

6"Oh, no, I wouldn't do that if I were you."

7"Well, come here then."

8"I can't possibly get away. What about this afternoon? And don't you think it would be better if I didn't come to your house?"

9"I must see you at once."

10There was a pause and she was afraid that she had been cut off.

11"Are you there?" she asked anxiously.

12"Yes, I was thinking. Has anything happened?"

13"I can't tell you over the telephone."

14There was another silence before he spoke again.

15"Well, look here, I can manage to see you for ten minutes at one if that'll do. You'd better go to Ku-Chou's and I'll come along as soon as I can."

16"The curio shop?" she asked in dismay.

17"Well, we can't meet in the lounge at the Tching Yen Hotel very well," he answered.

18She noticed a trace of irritation in his voice.

19"Very well. I'll go to Ku-Chou's."