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ABOARD THE "MUANG-FANG"
noise. It was decorously unknown to neighbours.
"Then my master took down from the corner the God of Longevity. From the bottom of the image they cut out a cube of the soapstone, and thrust in the ruby, and sealed it with a thin shell of soapstone.
"But three other thieves had followed the dead Luk-chin, and now they watched Bolkoman, and my master, and the shop."
"Wait," interrupted Scarlett. "Was one tall, with the Two Whales tattooed on his back, so—?"
"Your wisdom includes him," nodded the clerk gravely. "Yes, and two others, Ah Pin the Flat Nose, and Tau-p'éí the Pockmarked, who is little and lame. But your first man has gone—where?"
Scarlett nodded in turn. "Borkman killed him with this sword."
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