as easily
as it destroys wood and paper! There is even a large round hole burned
through the clay at the back of the study grate and through the brick
wall behind it! Very well. 'The Scorpion' is a scientist and he is also
the greatest menace to the world which the world has ever been called
upon to deal with. You agree with me?"

Inspector Dunbar heaved a great sigh, Stuart silently accepted a
cigarette from the Assistant Commissioner's box and the Assistant
Commissioner spoke, slowly.

"I entirely agree with you, M. Max. Respecting this ray, as well as
some one or two other _minutiae_, I have made a short note which we
will discuss when you have completed your admirably lucid survey of
the case."

"These are the things, then, which we learn from the terrible
experiences of Dr. Stuart. Placing these experiences side by side with
my own in Paris and in London--which we have already discussed in
detail--we find that we have to deal with an organisation--the object
of which is unknown--comprising among its members both Europeans
('Le Balafre' was a Frenchman, I believe), cross-breeds such as Miguel
and Zara el-Khala" (Stuart winced), "one Algerian and a Hindu. It is
then an organisation having ramifications throughout Europe, the East
and, _mon Dieu!_ where not? To continue. This little image"--he took
up from the Commissioner's table the golden scorpion, and the broken
fragment of tail--"is now definitely recognized by Dr. Stuart--who is
familiar with the work of Oriental goldsmiths--to be of _Chinese_
craftsmanship!"

"It may possibly be Tibetan," interrupted Stuart; "but it comes to the
same thing."

"Very well," continued Max. "It is Chinese. We hope, very shortly, to
identify a house situated somewhere within this red ink circle"--he
placed his finger on a map of London which lay open on the table--"and
which I know to be used as a meeting-place by members of this
mysterious group. That circle, my friends, surrounds what is now known
as 'Chinatown'! For the third time I return to the man of the Wu-Men
Bridge; for the man of the Wu-Men Bridge was, apparently, a
_Chinaman!_ Do I make myself clear?"

"Remarkably so," declared the Assistant Commissioner, taking a fresh
cigarette. "Pray continue, M. Max."

"I will do so. One of my most important investigations, in which I had
the honour and the pleasure to be associated with Inspector Dunbar, led
to the discovery of a dangerous group controlled by a certain
'Mr