Part 42 (1/2)

”No,” agreed Sowerby. ”I didn't mean to miss a second time!”

”What's all this row,” came a gruff voice.

”Ah! Inspector Dunbar!” said Max.

Dunbar walked up the path, followed by a number of men. At first he did not observe Stuart, and:

”You'll be waking all the neighborhood,” he said. ”It's the next big house, Sowerby, the one we thought, surrounded by the brick wall.

There's no doubt, I think ... Why!”

He had seen Stuart, and he sprang forward with outstretched hand.

”Thank G.o.d!” he cried, disregarding his own counsel about creating a disturbance. ”This is fine! Eh, man! but I'm glad to see you!”

”And _I_ am glad to be here!” Stuart a.s.sured him.

They shook hands warmly.

”You have read my statement, of course?” asked Stuart.

”I have,” replied the Inspector, and gave him a swift glance of the tawny eyes. ”And considering that you've nearly been strangled, I'll forgive you! But I wish we'd known about this house----”

”Ah! Inspector,” interrupted Gaston Max, ”but you have never seen Zara el-Khala! I have seen her--and _I_ forgive him, also!”

Stuart continued rapidly:

”We have little time to waste. There are only three people in the house, so far as I am aware: Miska--known to you, M. Max, as Zara el-Khala--the Hindu, Chunda Lal, and--Fo-Hi----”

”Ah!” cried Max--”'The Scorpion.' Chunda Lal, for some obscure personal reason, not entirely unconnected with Miska, enabled me to make my escape in order that I might lead you to the house. Therefore we may look upon Chunda Lal, as well as Miska, in the light of an accomplice----”

_”Eh, bien!_ a spy in the camp! This is where we see how fatal to the success of any enterprise, criminal or otherwise, is the presence of a pretty woman! Proceed, my friend!”

”There are three entrances to the apartment in which Fo-Hi apparently spends the greater part of his time. Two of these I know, although I am unaware where one of them leads to. But the third, of which he alone holds the key, communicates with a tunnel leading to the river bank, where a motorboat is concealed.”

”Ah, that motor-boat!” cried Max. ”He travels at night, you understand----”

”Always, I am told.”

”Yes, always. Therefore, once he is out on the river, he is moderately secure between the first lock and the Nore! When a police patrol is near he can shut off his engine and lie under the bank. Last night he crept away from us in that fas.h.i.+on. Tonight is not so dark, and the River Police are watching all the way down.”

”Furthermore,” replied Stuart, ”Chunda Lal, who acts as engineer, has it in his power to prevent Fo-Hi's escape by that route! But we must count upon the possibility of his attempting to leave by water.

Therefore, in disposing your forces, place a certain number of men along the bank and below the house. Is there a River Police boat near?”

”Not nearer than Putney Bridge,” answered Dunbar. ”We shall have to try and block that exit.”

”There's no time to waste,” continued Stuart excitedly--”and I have a very particular request to make: that you will take Fo-Hi _alive.”_

”But of course,” said Gaston Max, ”if it is humanly possible.”