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“Presume mild nature of the liquid gives you hearty pain. I have noted how bitterly men from your country resent this prohibition.”

“What prohibition?” Jaynes inquired.

“Ah, you mock and jeer. Well, it is noble experiment, but it is not new, as many think. The Emperor Yü, who came to the throne of China in year 2205 B. C., said when he tasted liquor for the first time, this will do my people much harm, and forbade its use. His edict had good effect for a while, but later got lost in dimpages of history. China,” added Chan, drinking again, “like the purse of a generous man, has endured much. But it still survives.”

Jaynes was looking at him with a deep curiosity. Had this odd policeman dropped in merely to discuss prohibition? Charlie noted the look.

“But to return to our mutton broth,” he said. “I desire to make inquiries of you regarding last night. You are most unfortunate man not to possess nice alibi for motions during time of homicide. You were, as I understand things, wandering about plenty mad at fatal hour?”

I'm afraid I was,” Jaynes admitted.

“From the moment when you left Martino on beach until he went out and found you with announcement of murder, you exist quite alone?”

“Yes.”

“Making your walk, how far down beach did you penetrate?”

“Only as far as the Moana Hotel. I sat there under the banyan tree and tried to think what I had better do.”

“You did not—will you join me in another