But you will hang at the end of a long rope." He had lifted the pillow from Milburgh's face, and now that pallid man was following every movement of the Chinaman with a fearful eye.
Presently Milburgh was stripped to the waist, and Ling Chu regarded his handiwork complacently.
He went to a cupboard in the wall, and took out a small brown bottle, which he placed on a table by the side of the bed.

Then he himself sat upon the edge of the bed and spoke.

His English was almost perfect, though now and again he hesitated in the choice of a word, and there were moments when he was a little stilted in his speech, and more than a little pedantic.

He spoke slowly and with great deliberation.
"You do not know the Chinese people?
You have not been or lived in China?
When I say lived I do not mean staying for a week at a good hotel in one of the coast towns.

Your Mr.Lyne lived in China in that way.