His commonplace, everyday senses cried out in revolt, and warned him that he was tampering dangerously with matters which should be left to the cold scrutiny of the law, but some subconscious instinct overpowered these prudent monitors, and he gave an almost exact account of his talk with Winter and Furneaux.
Then followed questions, eager, searching, almost uncanny in their prescience.
"The little one--who strikes me as having more brains than I credit the ordinary London policeman with--spoke of the evil deities of China.

How did such an extraordinary topic crop up ?" "In connection with the joss stick." "Yes, yes.

But I don't see the inference." "Mr.Winter alluded to the habit some ladies have of burning such incense in their houses, whereupon Furneaux remarked that the Chinese use them to propitiate harmful spirits." "Was that all ?" Theydon felt insensibly that his companion was hinting at something more definite, but he was bound in honor to respect the confidence reposed in him.
"I don't quite understand," he temporized.
"Was nothing said as to the finding of some object, such as a small article obviously Chinese in origin, which might turn an inquirer's thought into that channel ?" "The conversation I am relating took place the moment after we had entered the flat.

We were standing in the hall.

It was wholly the outcome of the strange smell which was immediately perceptible." Forbes passed a hand over his eyes.
"I wonder," he breathed.
Then, turning quickly on Theydon, he repeats the question.
"Are you quite sure they did not mention the discovery in this room of any object which could be regarded, even remotely, as a sign or symbol left by the murderer to show that his crime was an act of vengeance, or retaliation ?" Theydon hesitated.