He realised that she was also wiping her eyes .sx He hated having to hurt her , but he had known ever since he had announced his engagement to Hyacinth , that he would have to talk seriously to his ex-wife .sx He had suspected her of wanting to renew their relationship before she accepted Charles Rawlings , but afterwards he had believed that she had found happiness with the bluff sailor and he'd been genuinely glad- until this holiday in Singapore .sx Then it had occurred to him that she had not got over their disastrous marriage .sx " I'll- try and make Charles a good wife , " she said when she had controlled herself and turned to face him .sx " He is- devoted to me , and I know he will make an excellent husband .sx I have already told him about you , and- and he is prepared to forget it .sx He believes that it is possible for two people situated as we are to have a platonic friendship .sx " " And you know that's true , Biddy .sx " She shook her head .sx " I don't think that a man and woman who have lived together can ever be friends ; sex is bound to enter into their relationship .sx . Perhaps you are right .sx " She made a determined effort to speak naturally .sx " It would have been a bad mistake to try and pick up the threads again .sx You always were a devil , Nick , and I'm sorry for the girl you marry , whether she is Hyacinth or- someone else .sx " " If it is not Hyacinth it will be no one , " he assured her .sx " But meanwhile , I must find her .sx If only I had a clue where to look for her .sx " " Has it occurred to you that when you told her about- us it was such a shock to her that she has run away .sx " " If that had been the case she would have left a letter or a message , surely ?sx " he protested .sx " She might have wanted to punish you ; to make you half frantic on her account , and if so , she has succeeded admirably .sx " " I am sure Hyacinth would not be so childish , " he retorted .sx " It's just possible that she did leave a letter and it hasn't been delivered yet , " said Bridget .sx " What about Tu Kota- perhaps he knows what has happened to her ?sx " " As soon as Charles comes back I'll send for him .sx " The Vice-Admiral returned a few minutes later , his face very grave .sx " Miss Chalmers did leave the hotel last night , " he said .sx " She was seen going down the servants' staircase .sx Those on duty took her to be a Eurasian sewing maid ; she went out very quickly and spoke to no one .sx One of the boys who was just going off at the time saw her walking to the corner of Empress Place , where she got into a ricksha .sx " " Did he notice the number of the ricksha ?sx " asked Nick eagerly .sx " He says not .sx " " Then- he probably recognised the coolie who drew it ?sx These boys know the ricksha coolies by sight .sx Once we can find the fellow we shall also find where Hyacinth went .sx There's no time to be lost .sx " " The boy says that the coolie was a stranger to him ; he had never seen him before .sx I think he was speaking the truth ; there was no reason for him to lie .sx " " Damn !sx " Nick pounded his clenched fist on the table .sx " If only he had kept his eyes open !sx In which direction did the ricksha go ?sx " " He didn't wait to see ; there was a great crowd in the streets last night , owing to the Chinese festival , and it was easy enough to lose sight of a ricksha .sx I am afraid , Nick , old fellow , that we shall have to ask the police to help us , for there has been a very sinister development .sx " " You- mean .sx .? " " That Malay boy , Tu Kota , is missing ; he , too , didn't sleep in the hotel last night ; he has not been seen since just before midnight , and he told no one where he was going .sx " =2 .sx " There you are !sx " exclaimed Bridget .sx " Hyacinth was not alone ; granted she's run away , but she took Tu Kota with her ; and I can assure you that she'll be quite safe with him .sx Don't look at me like that , Charles , I'd trust that boy anywhere .sx He is perfectly reliable .sx I wouldn't be at all surprised if Hyacinth has returned to Lipur .sx " " But she wouldn't do that .sx How could she , when your brother is there alone !sx " " Perhaps that's why , " said Bridget , then as both men looked blank , she cried .sx " Oh , how stupid you two are !sx Didn't Edward propose to her ?sx She may have decided to accept him after all , and he'll lose no time in marrying her ; he won't give her a chance to slip through his fingers again .sx " " We must get in touch with Lipur at once !sx " cried Nick .sx =3 .sx But it was not so easy to get in touch with Lipur ; there had been a heavy storm twenty-four hours previously , and telephonic communications with the district had been cut , and with Pekama .sx Nick managed to get on to the nearest estate and they promised to send a runner to Lipur with a message for Edward Grampian , and when they received his reply , telephone it at once to Singapore .sx Meanwhile , Charles Rawlings systematically called on all the people Hyacinth had known , and questioned the officers who had dined with them the previous night , but none of them had seen Hyacinth , nor could give any clue to account for her disappearance .sx It was a complete mystery .sx When the following day had dawned and she had still not returned and there was no news of her , both the men realised that they must approach the police .sx Nick had not slept all night and looked haggard ; he was so restless that he couldn't bear to sit still .sx Even Bridget was no longer suggesting that the girl had been caught out in an escapade ; if she had been she'd have been back long ago .sx " But there's still a chance that she went to Lipur , " she insisted .sx " And you mustn't worry too much , Nick .sx If Tu Kota is with her ; he'll look after her .sx " " The boy who saw her get into the ricksha said she was alone .sx " " It may not have been Hyacinth ; he couldn't swear to it .sx It may really have been one of the Eurasian sewing maids .sx " " He said she was wearing a light coat and a gauzy scarf round her head , and those are two of the articles missing from Hyacinth's wardrobe .sx " " It may be just a coincidence , " said Bridget .sx " I shouldn't pin too much faith on that .sx Wait until we have heard from Lipur .sx " But Charles Rawlings agreed with Nick that they could not afford to wait , and he offered to go to the police .sx He knew them and could impress upon them the need for as little publicity as possible , though , of course , if publicity would help to find the girl , then they must employ it .sx The girls and Nick should have returned to the country today , but with Hyacinth missing , it was unthinkable that they should leave Singapore .sx Nick had done everything possible to discover her whereabouts , but from the moment she had stepped into the ricksha it was as if the earth had opened and swallowed her .sx He decided to go and make some tactful enquiries in the Chinese quarter ; not that he expected to find Hyacinth there , but someone might have seen her .sx Nick himself had many acquaintances in the Chinese quarter , friends from the war days , and he knew he could rely on them to do everything possible to help him .sx He was just about to leave the hotel on his quest when one of the clerks in the reception desk- a young educated Malay- came up to him .sx " Mr. Trelawney , sir .sx . about the young lady .sx . " " Yes , " replied Nick , suppressing his eagerness with an effort .sx " I have made a discovery , sir .sx It may be of no account , but I think that you will find it- interesting .sx If we could go up to your room , sir .sx . " Nick wondered if he was about to be touched by a blackmailer , but the young man sounded genuine enough .sx " Very well , " he said .sx " Come with me now .sx " Once in his room he closed and locked the door , then faced the Malay .sx " What is it ?sx " he asked .sx " If it's information which will lead to the finding of Miss Chalmers I'll make it well worth your while .sx . " " As I said , sir , it may be of no value , but briefly , I have some scraps of paper which the boy who cleans her room found in her waste paper basket .sx I thought they might be a clue .sx " He took an envelope out of his pocket , and emptied a number of twisted scraps of paper on to the desk in the window .sx Nick saw that they contained words printed in block letters , and that some of them had been part of an envelope .sx " When were these found ?sx " he asked .sx " Yesterday morning , sir .sx I was passing when I saw the boy emptying the waste paper basket , and I gave him a coin to let me have the contents and not say a word about it to anyone .sx " Nick was already sorting the scraps of paper .sx " Have you put them together ?sx " he asked .sx " No sir .sx " But Nick guessed that the Malay was lying ; he had put them together and then crumpled them up again .sx He thrust his hand into his pocket and handed a note to the man .sx " Keep your mouth shut , do you understand ?sx " Nick gave up all thought of going to the Chinese quarter ; he had glimpsed one significant word , and he was determined to piece the whole of the scraps together , no matter how long it took him .sx It was over two hours before he had finished , and then he had the entire message and the envelope .sx If Missie Chalmers wishes to know about Mr. Trelawney's business in Singapore , a ricksha will be waiting at the corner of Empress Place tonight at midnight , to take her to the lady known as Chinese Lily .sx Come veiled and say nothing of this .sx It concerns Missie's happiness .sx So that was it !sx Someone was anxious to break his engagement to Hyacinth , and had sent her this damnable note which she ought to have brought straight to him .sx But she had not done so and had undoubtedly gone off in the ricksha which had been sent for her ; the boy who had seen her get in it had told the truth .sx But where had she been taken ?sx And why hadn't she returned ?sx Who was at the back of all this ?sx Chinese Lily ?sx He could not think so .sx He had always regarded her as his very good friend , though one could never be quite sure when dealing with an Oriental .sx It might be that the announcement of his engagement had roused some dormant demon in her and she'd had Hyacinth kidnapped .sx But she had congratulated him and told him she was very happy for him when he had spoken of his fiance@2e the other night .sx Who else could be at the bottom of this attempt to get hold of Hyacinth ?sx Attempt , he thought angrily .sx It was no attempt ; it was an accomplished fact .sx If the person had just wanted to put her against him she would have been back by now ; the fact that she was missing assumed a very sinister aspect .sx Chinese Lily was quite capable of having a European girl kidnapped if she wanted to do so .sx She was utterly fearless , and had been too long associated with the underworld not to know exactly how to set about it .sx He knew that certain girls who had been in her employ during the war and had chatted too much to the Japanese had simply disappeared , and as one girl was as good as another to the occupying troops- and if any special man was interested in the girls in question , Chinese Lily always saw that there were others , even more attractive- no awkward questions were asked .sx