The well-scrubbed boards were covered with a strip of Chinese matting and the only ornamentation in the room was supplied by a tiny red lacquer vase which stood on the mantelpiece.
Tarling went back to the outer door of the flat and locked it before continuing his search.

If there was any clue to the mystery of the stolen revolver it would be found here, in this black box.

A Chinaman keeps all his possessions "within six sides," as the saying goes, and certainly the box was very well secured.

It was ten minutes before he managed to find a key to shift the two locks with which it was fastened.
The contents of the box were few.

Ling Chu's wardrobe was not an extensive one and did little more than half fill the receptacle.