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"Was there ever such a tangle! If I indulge in a violent flirtation with Miss Layton, and I persuade Winter to ogle Mrs. Jiro, the affair should be artistically complete." The conceit brought Ipswich to his mind. He was convinced that the main line of inquiry lay in the direction of Mr. Numagawa Jiro and the curious masquerading of his colossal spouse.
I can't help being tall and well developed; but it is only short women who become 'fat'." She hissed the word venomously, as if she possessed the scorpion's fabled power to sting herself. Evidently Mrs. Jiro dreaded corpulence more than earthquakes. Brett had never previously met such a strangely assorted couple.
Watch Jiro with the calm persistence of a cat watching a hole into which a mouse has disappeared. At this moment, eat something." He rang for Smith, and told him to attend to the wants of the waiting cabman, whilst Mrs. Smith made the speediest arrangements for an immediate dinner. The two men sat down, and Winter could not help asking another question. "Why are you keeping the cab, Mr. Brett?"
Then he drove to 17 St. John's Mansions, Kensington, where Mr. and Mrs. Jiro were "at home." They received him in the tiny drawing-room, and the lady's manner betokened some degree of nervousness, which she vainly endeavoured to conceal by a pretence of bland curiosity as to the object of the barrister's visit. Not so Numagawa, whose sharp ferret eyes snapped with anxiety.
"It is velly stlange the police gentleman did not tell me about it." "He did not know of it until to-day," explained Brett, "and that is why I am here now. It is the motto of some important Japanese family, is it not?" "It is a plovelb," repeated Jiro, who evidently intended to take thought. "So I understand, but used in this way it represents a family, a clan?" "I do not know." "What!
"I understand enough to keep away from Japan, a place where they have an earthquake every five minutes, and people live in paper houses. Besides, look at the size of your women-folk. Just imagine me, Mr. Brett, walking about among those little dolls, like a turkey among tom-tits." "We give fat people much admilation," said Jiro. "Nummie, I do hate that word fat.
Next time, they will send out the youthful Jiro in a perambulator." "But why are you so furious about it?" demanded Hume. "Was it so important to ascertain what she did during that hour and a quarter?" "Important! It is the only real clue given us since 'Rabbit Jack' saw a man like you standing motionless in the avenue." Brett devoted half an hour to Frazer's business affairs next morning.
"Calling me a gan a goose, indeed! Now, Mr. Brett, how would you like to be called a wild goose?" "I have often deserved it," he said. "You do not understand," chirped Jiro. "In Japan the goose is beautiful, elegant. It flies fast like a white spilit." His English was almost perfect, but in words containing a rolled "r" he often substituted an "l."
"It was shown by the way in which the gold was used. Japanese altists have symbols for ideas. That is one." "Thank you. I imagined you recognised the device, and could speak off-hand in the matter. By the way, do you use a type-writer?" "Yes," said Mrs. Jiro. "My husband is clever at all that sort of thing, and when he found the people could not read his writing he bought a machine."
It is possible to throw an Englishman off his guard by a shrewd thrust; but Mr. Numagawa Jiro was one of those persons whose lineaments would reveal the same amount of pain over a cut finger as a broken leg. Nevertheless, Brett's reply did unquestionably make him jump, and even Mrs. Jiro's bulging features became anxious. "Is that possible?" said the Japanese.
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