LING CHU TELLS THE TRUTH The firm of Dashwood and Solomon occupied a narrow-fronted building in the heart of the City of London.

Its reputation stood as high as any, and it numbered amongst its clients the best houses in Britain.

Both partners had been knighted, and it was Sir Felix Solomon who received Tarling in his private office.
Sir Felix was a tall, good-looking man, well past middle age, rather brusque of manner but kindly withal, and he looked up over his glasses as the detective entered.
"Scotland Yard, eh ?" he said, glancing at Tarling's card.

"Well, I can give you exactly five minutes, Mr.Tarling.I presume you've come to see me about the Lyne accounts ?" Tarling nodded.
"We have not been able to start on these yet," said Sir Felix, "though we are hoping to go into them to-morrow.

We're terribly rushed just now, and we've had to get in an extra staff to deal with this new work the Government has put on us--by-the-way, you know that we are not Lyne's accountants; they are Messrs.