One must advance through the whole course, by initiatory
degrees, before learning the final mysteries of the samurais.
Now, we have a working hypothesis. The girls could never have
accomplished this. One man and one alone must have killed the
three, although doubtless with confederates. Yamashino assured
me that there were only six men in this country who knew it
beside myself. We must find an Orientalist!"
Shirley paced the floor, but his meditations were interrupted by
the arrival of the Coroner and his physician. Van Cleft hurried
into the room with them, to present the doctor, who exchanged a
formal greeting with the men he had met twice before that week.
"A sad affair, Professor," observed the Coroner nervously,
drinking in with profound respect the magnificent surroundings
which symbolized the great wealth of which he secretly hoped to
gain a tithing. "I trust that, as usual, in such cases, I may
suggest an undertaker?"
"Why--talk about that at once, sir?" asked Howard with a shudder.
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