Chronicles of the Secret Service (3 page)

‘Got all you want?’ he asked ambiguously.

‘All, and more than I expected, sir,’ was the reply.

‘Excellent. You’ll be at the garden party I suppose?’

‘Well, I thought of missing it, sir. I have a good deal of work to do. But if you—’

‘No,’ interrupted Sir Leonard; ‘I shall not want you there. There wouldn’t be any opportunity of a private talk,’ he added
sotto voce
. ‘See me directly I return.’

He entered the car, the ADC following him in, and taking a seat opposite. Lady Wallace smiled at Carter, who thought he had never seen her looking more beautiful or happier. If Sir Leonard regarded the position of governor as something of a bore, his lovely wife had other views. This was due to the fact that probably during the whole course of their married life she had never had her husband so much to herself or been so assured of his safety
as she was then. For the time being she was blissfully content. It meant nothing to her that he was governor of a British colony or that she occupied the position of first lady in the community; but it was a wonderful relief to be free from the feeling of deep anxiety which usually pervaded her on account of the dangerous duties he so often undertook at other times.

Carter waited until the car had gone, then entered Government House, and went off to his own office. He was no more enamoured of garden parties or functions of the kind than was his chief. Sir Leonard had often expressed his envy of him, for he, at least, could decline them. Carter’s dislike of social engagements was greatly regretted by a number of the young ladies of Hong Kong society and by certain ambitious mammas as well. His position, his good looks, and the fact that he was generally reputed to be wealthy, caused many feminine hearts to beat a little quicker than usual and many feminine minds to dream hopefully at thought of him. Among his colleagues, he has the reputation of being a ladies’ man; he admits himself to a weakness for falling in love. I am rather inclined to doubt the latter, or else he falls out of love as quickly as he falls into that trying state. At any rate, it is certain he avoids entanglements with remarkable dexterity. In Hong Kong he succeeded in keeping free from even the suspicion of an attachment. Perhaps that was because he knew the unmarried female of the species is more difficult to shake off in the colonies than at home and consequently more dangerous to a man who cherishes his state of singleness.

Sir Leonard left the garden party as soon as he could do so without causing conjecture or regret and, immediately on
his return to Government House, sent for his secretary.

‘I gathered from the expression on your face and your remark,’ he observed, when Carter entered the study, ‘that you had good news.’

‘I certainly have, sir,’ was the reply. ‘I thought it better to make no attempt at inquiries from here, so I went to a cafe in Queen’s Road where I knew I wouldn’t be recognised.’

Wallace nodded his approval.

‘Well?’ he prompted.

‘I discovered that the lady known as the China Doll is, in her way, quite a famous character. She is reputed to be beautiful and fascinating, and quite a severe competition is always going on for her services among the proprietors of the dancing saloons in the less salubrious parts of Victoria. The China Doll was built, and called after her, by a Macanese named Guttierez who presumably has the first call on her services. My informant, a man of the same race, told me, with much pretence of secrecy, that the money was actually supplied by Mr Yumasaki, the late Japanese consul in Hong Kong.’

‘Ah!’ exclaimed Sir Leonard in a tone of satisfaction. ‘That sounds interesting. Go on!’

‘Yumasaki was considered, at least among the circle that runs these dancing saloons, to be in love with the girl. She also was said to be heartbroken when he left Hong Kong. The piece of information that really matters, though, is this, sir. A short while ago she was engaged to dance in Kowloon with a troupe of Chinese girls from Shanghai. At once there was an organised attempt by the dance hall proprietors on this side to get her back. The money she demanded was a little beyond them
individually, so they agreed to share her services. She, therefore, dances in eight different saloons every night and, six of them, the Fan Tan, Macao, Lotus, Cherry Blossom, Nanking, and China Doll are those visited by the Japanese sailor last night. Moreover, I was able to ascertain that her times for dancing in each corresponded with his presence in them.’

Sir Leonard’s grey eyes gleamed.

‘The obvious that was overlooked,’ he murmured. ‘Naturally the Chinese detectives knew of her engagement to dance in those places. To their minds it was just part of the scheme of things like the bars or the tables, the music or the waiters and, therefore, they overlooked a vital fact. Well done, Carter. We now know that the China Doll is in the pay of Japan. Obviously she it was who gave the seaman the letter. He was instructed to follow her from one place to another until she considered it safe to hand over the document to him. Had she still failed to find an opportunity in the China Doll, he would have gone on to the other two saloons after her. What are they called?’

‘The Pearl and the Canton, sir. She does two circuits a night.’

‘H’m. They work her hard enough. Now look here, Carter, an American liner is due in at seven. There’s a case of diphtheria on board, and nobody will be allowed to land, at least for a day or two. I want you to impersonate a member of the crew and visit some of these saloons. You’d better be one of the mates. American sailors are always reputed to have plenty of money, and are, therefore, regarded by dancing girls and women of that type as their own particular prey. Pretend to become fascinated with this girl and follow her round. It may be as well to – er – appear to get somewhat intoxicated’ – he
smiled – ‘in order that you may be considered an easy victim. There will be no danger of anyone disputing your assertion that you are from the liner – she is called the
Seattle
, by the way – as none of the passengers or crew will be ashore, but I shouldn’t make too much of it. Get to know the China Doll – in common parlance, get off with her. There is no need for me to go into details concerning the information we want from her. You know all about that, and will have to be guided by circumstances on how to obtain it. But be tactful and wary, and it would be as well to go armed. Start your activities on her second circuit. You can slip away after dinner and make your preparations. If anything important transpires, ring me. I’ll tell Batty to stand by in my study, until the ball is over and I can get there myself. Is all clear?’

Carter smiled cheerfully. That was the type of job he liked; something more in keeping with his real profession.

‘Perfectly, sir,’ he replied.

‘I am sorry to be the cause of disappointing the many young ladies who, no doubt, are looking forward to dancing with you. Perhaps you’d prefer to remain for the ball and that I should delegate the job to someone else?’

A look of alarm showed for a moment in Carter’s face as though he thought his chief was serious.

‘Not on your life, sir!’ he exclaimed.

Sir Leonard laughed.

‘All right,’ he observed, ‘no need for anxiety lest I keep you here for the benefit of your many admirers. Be careful to alter your appearance sufficiently to make certain that no one who knows you will recognise you. And you’d better wear an American
mercantile uniform. American officers don’t change into civilian clothes as readily as do our people. They’re more uniform-proud.’

Soon after ten-thirty that night, a tall, young American mercantile officer entered the Fan Tan Dancing Hall and, for a little while, stood at the door gazing round him. He was not unhandsome, but bore little resemblance to Tommy Carter. His hair was fair; he had rather high cheekbones, and a somewhat broad nose, while his underlip protruded slightly, features entirely unlike those of the young Englishman. Yet he was Carter. Rubber pads inside the cheeks, lower lip and nostrils, with dye on his hair, had worked the transformation. The nose pads also tended to give his speech a nasal twang, which was an advantage.

The Fan Tan was a large, garishly-decorated hall. At one side were half a dozen curtained alcoves in which it was possible to catch a glimpse of couples drinking, probably flirting – decorously enough, for the police of Hong Kong were strict. A bar ran the whole length of the wall opposite. Behind this, Chinese boys in blue smocks served drinks as fast as they could to the clamouring throng crowding by the counter, while others waited upon the people sitting at the many tables. A circular space in the centre of the polished teak floor was reserved for dancing, and several couples were deporting themselves there on Carter’s entrance. In the background, on a small stage, flamboyantly coloured in the Far Eastern fashion, were five Chinese musicians playing an occidental dance tune with Oriental cacophony.

A greasy-looking gentleman in full evening dress, who would have declared, had he been asked, that he was a son of Portugal, hurried up to the pseudo-American. Everything about
him was oily, while his dark almond-shaped eyes, yellow skin and thick nose suggested there was far more Chinese blood than pure Portuguese in him.

‘You want the table, sare?’ he asked. ‘Very good table I get for you. You wise gentleman come here. Jose Fernandez run good show, much dancing, plenty girls. Come!’

Carter wondered where the fellow expected to find a vacant table. The place seemed full. However, Fernandez threaded his way across the room, dodging dancing couples with much agility, which the Englishman found it difficult to imitate. A table was discovered rather remote from the cleared space in the centre of the room, and Carter expressed himself as dissatisfied. It would be impossible, he reflected, to draw the China Doll’s attention to himself from there.

‘See here,’ he protested; ‘this table’s not a bit of good to me. I guess I want to be near the fun. It don’t matter if it costs more. I’m from the USA and I guess I’m not shy of dollars. Get me?’

Fernandez smiled expansively.

‘Sure I get you,’ he replied. ‘I speak the American well. It will be difficult, but I will arrange. Come!’

He led the guest back to the centre of the room. Standing for a moment looking thoughtfully round him, he presently went to a table where sat a young compatriot with a Chinese girl. With much waving of arms, he explained the situation to them. They did not, at first, seem very much inclined to fall in with the suggestion he was apparently making; in fact, the young man scowled resentfully at Carter. A remark made by Fernandez, however, altered all that. The couple suddenly beamed, and nodded their heads, whereupon the proprietor hurried back to the supposed American sailor.

‘They will move for ten dollars,’ he announced, adding anxiously, and with conviction that he was speaking the American language: ‘Is that all right by you, big boy?’

‘Sure,’ grinned Carter. He took a couple of American five-dollar bills from his pocket, having taken the precaution of well providing himself with United States currency. ‘Here you are, buddy, give them to that guy and his sweetie with my compliments.’

Fernandez accepted the money with alacrity, and returned to the pair. Carter, with inward amusement, noticed the sleight of hand trick by which he pocketed one of the notes. The other was duly held out to the young Macanese but, before he could take it, the Chinese girl had snatched and pursed it, much to her escort’s annoyance. The two rose from their seats; passed close to Carter on their way to the other table.

‘I guess it’s real nice of you,’ he acknowledged, ‘to let me have your place. Thanks a lot.’

The girl was inclined to linger, probably thinking a change of cavaliers would be of much pecuniary advantage to her, but her boyfriend read the signs, and hurried her away. Fernandez bowed low, as Carter took his seat.

‘You want girl, yes?’ he asked unctuously.

‘I’ll have a look round and select my own, I guess,’ was the reply. ‘Send me a highball, Fernandez, and make it snappy.’

The greasy proprietor hurried away, and gave the necessary orders. Carter was quickly supplied with the whisky, for which he found he had to pay more than double the usual price. Thereafter he surveyed the motley crowd round him with interest. The great majority of the patrons were, like the proprietor, of mixed Portuguese and Chinese descent. There
were also a number of obvious sailors of diverse nationalities and English, American, French, and German inhabitants of Hong Kong of a somewhat low stratum of society. The dance hostesses were nearly all Chinese girls, with a sprinkling of Europeans and Americans in tawdry evening frocks. Carter noticed Fernandez having a prolonged conversation with an unattached group of the women and, from the glances cast in his direction, concluded he was telling them that the American officer was a splendid prey for their gold-digging propensities; that he would expect a good percentage of the spoils obtained by the one chosen.

‘I rather think,’ murmured Carter to himself, ‘that you are in for a profound disappointment, my friend.’

He had been there about ten minutes when the band ceased its noisy clamour, the dancing couples returned to their seats, and Fernandez sprang on to the stage.

‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he announced, ‘the moment have arrive that we all are wait for. With great pleasure I now introduce to you – the China Doll.’

There was a storm of clapping. The lights were dimmed, a spotlight suddenly flashing into brilliance, and focusing the cleared space in the centre of the room. The five musicians, having supplied themselves with native instruments, commenced to play weird Chinese music. A slim little figure in gorgeous Chinese raiment appeared from a curtained doorway to the right of the stage, and sped to the centre of the room, amidst a renewed burst of applause. Carter, with a feeling of intense surprise, became aware that his previous conception of the China Doll had been entirely wrong.

Both he and Sir Leonard Wallace had taken it for granted that she, in common with most women of her type, was of the gold-digging and easy virtue variety. It needed only one cumulative look at this girl to feel convinced that her virtue, at least, was unassailable. Her face, despite the delicately-applied cosmetics, was that of a well-bred, refined, and pure woman. She seemed so much out of place in that
galère
as a gazelle in a cage of baboons. Carter understood now why she was known as the China Doll. The designation was entirely appropriate. Very small, very slim, and very chic, she was entrancingly doll-like. In addition, she was beautiful. Tiny expressive hands, dainty twinkling feet were but adjuncts to a lovely oval face, in which her large, almond-shaped eyes, shaded by long curling lashes, a small sensitive nose, a perfect little rosebud of a mouth were entirely fascinating. There was nothing flamboyant or theatrical about her silken garments or the fan she wielded with such dexterity as she danced. Carter thought the music barbarous; he could not understand the meaning of the dance. But he was not blind to the self-evident fact that every movement she made contained the utmost grace and charm, was the very poetry of motion. The more he watched, the more astounded he felt that she should be dancing in such a saloon for the entertainment of the uncouth, loud-voiced, sensual clientele it boasted. It also dawned on him that it was not going to be so easy to become acquainted with her as he and Sir Leonard Wallace had supposed.