Page:The orange-yellow diamond by Fletcher, J. S. (Joseph Smith).djvu/234



Ayscough was on his guard as soon as he saw that smile. He had had some experience of various national charactertisticscharacteristics [sic] in his time, and he knew that when an Eastern meets you with a frank and smiling countenance you had better keep all your wits about you. He began the exercise of his own with a polite bow—while executing it, he took a rapid inventory of Mr. Mori Yada. About—as near as he could judge—two or three and twenty; a black-haired, black-eyed young gentleman; evidently fastidious about his English clothes, his English linen, his English ties, smart socks, and shoes—a good deal of a dandy, in short—and, judging from his surroundings, very fond of English comfort—and not averse to the English custom of taking a little spirituous refreshment with his tobacco. A decanter stood on the table at his elbow; a syphon of mineral water reared itself close by; a tumbler was within reach of Mr. Yada's slender yellowish fingers.

"Servant, Sir!" said Ayscough. "Detective Sergeant Ayscough of the Criminal Investigation Department—friend of mine, this. Sir, Mr. Yada, I believe—Mr. Mori Yada?"

Mr. Yada smiled again, and without rising, indicated two chairs.