'You see I visited that establishment as a smoker of opium'…
'You took that risk?'
'It was no greater risk than is run by quite a number of people socially well known in London, my dear Inspector Dunbar! I was introduced by an habitue and a member of the best society; and since nobody knows that Gaston Max is in London—that Gaston Max has any business in hand likely to bring him to London—pardieu, what danger did I incur? But, excepting the lobby—the cave of the dragon (a stranger apartment even than that in the Rue St. Claude) and the Chinese cubiculum where I spent the night—mon dieu! what a night!—I saw nothing of the establishment'…
'But you must know where it is!' cried Dunbar.
'I was driven there in a closed limousine, and driven away in the same vehicle'…
'You got the number?'
'It was impossible. These are clever people! But it must be a simple matter, Inspector, to trace a fine car like that which regularly appears in those east-end streets?'
'Every constable in the division must be acquainted with it,' replied Dunbar, confidently. 'I'll know all about that car inside the next hour!'
'If on Tuesday night you could arrange to have it followed,' continued M. Max, 'it would simplify matters. What I have done is this: I have bought the man, Soames—up to a point. But so deadly is his fear of the mysterious Mr. King that although he has agreed to assist me in my plans, he will not consent to divulge an atom of information until the raid is successfully performed.'
'Then for heaven's sake what IS he going to do?'
'Visitors to the establishment (it is managed by a certain Mr. Ho-Pin; make a note of him, that Ho-Pin) having received the necessary dose of opium are locked in for the night. On Tuesday, Soames, who acts as valet to poor fools using the place, has agreed—for a price—to unlock the door of the room in which I shall be'…
'What!' cried Dunbar, 'you are going to risk yourself alone in that place AGAIN?'
'I have paid a very heavy fee,' replied the Frenchman with his odd smile, 'and it entitles me to a second visit; I shall pay that second visit on Tuesday night, and my danger will be no greater than on the first occasion.'
'But Soames may betray you!'
'Fear nothing; I have measured my Soames, not only anthropologically, but otherwise. I fear only his folly, not his knavery. He will not betray me. Morbleu! he is too much a frightened man. I do not know what has taken place; but I could see that, assured of escaping the police for complicity in the murder, he would turn King's evidence immediately'…
'And you gave him that assurance?'
'At first I did not reveal myself. I weighed up my man very carefully; I measured that Soames-pig. I had several stories in readiness, but his character indicated which I should use. Therefore, suddenly I arrested him!'
'Arrested him?'
'Pardieu! I arrested him very quietly in a corner of the bar of 'Three Nuns' public house. My course was justified. He saw that the reign of his mysterious Mr. King was nearing its close, and that I was his only hope'…
'But still he refused'…
'His refusal to reveal anything whatever under those circumstances impressed me more than all. It showed me that in Mr. King I had to deal with a really wonderful and powerful man; a man who ruled by means of FEAR; a man of gigantic force. I had taken the pattern of the key fitting the Yale lock of the door of my room, and I secured a duplicate immediately. Soames has not access to the keys, you understand. I must rely upon my diplomacy to secure the same room again—all turns upon that; and at an hour after midnight, or later if advisable, Soames has agreed to let me out. Beyond this, I could induce him to do nothing—nothing whatever. Cochon! Therefore, having got out of the locked room, I must rely upon my own wits—and the Browning pistol which I have presented to Soames together with the duplicate key'…
'Why not go armed?' asked Dunbar.
'One's clothes are searched, my dear Inspector, by an expert! I have given the key, the pistol, and the implements of the house-breaker (a very neat set which fits easily into the breast-pocket) to Soames, to conceal in his private room at the establishment until Tuesday night. All turns upon my securing the same apartment. If I am unable to do so, the arrangements for the raid will have to be postponed. Opium smokers are faddists essentially, however, and I think I can manage to pretend that I have formed a strange penchant for this particular cubiculum'…
'By whom were you introduced to the place?' asked Dunbar, leaning back against the table and facing the Frenchman.
'That I cannot in honor divulge,' was the reply; 'but the representative of Mr. King who actually admitted me to the establishment is one Gianapolis; address unknown, but telephone number 18642 East. Make a note of him, that Gianapolis.'
'I'll arrest him in the morning,' said Sowerby, writing furiously in his notebook.
'Nom d'un p'tit bonhomme! M. Sowerby, you will do nothing of that foolish description, my dear friend,' said Max; and Dunbar glared at the unfortunate sergeant. 'Nothing whatever must be done to arouse suspicion between now and the moment of the raid. You must be circumspect—ah, morbleu! so circumspect. By all means trace this Mr. Gianapolis; yes. But do not let him SUSPECT that he is being traced'…
Chapter 35 TRACKER TRACKED
Helen Cumberly and Denise Ryland peered from the window of the former's room into the dusk of the Square, until their eyes ached with the strain of an exercise so unnatural.
'I tell you,' said Denise with emphasis, 'that… sooner or later… he will come prowling… around. The mere fact that he did not appear… last night… counts for nothing. His own crooked… plans no doubt detain him… very often… at night.'
Helen sighed wearily. Denise Ryland's scheme was extremely distasteful to her, but whenever she thought of the pathetic eyes of Leroux she found new determination. Several times she had essayed to analyze the motives which actuated her; always she feared to pursue such inquiries beyond a certain point. Now that she was beginning to share her friend's views upon the matter, all social plans sank into insignificance, and she lived only in the hope of again meeting Gianapolis, of tracing out the opium group, and of finding Mrs. Leroux. In what state did she hope and expect to find her? This was a double question which kept her wakeful through the dreary watches of the night… .
'Look!'
Denise Ryland grasped her by the arm, pointing out into the darkened Square. A furtive figure crossed from the northeast corner into the shade of some trees and might be vaguely detected coming nearer and nearer.
'There he is!' whispered Denise Ryland, excitedly; 'I told you he couldn't… keep away. I know that kind of brute. There is nobody at home, so listen: I will watch… from the drawing-room, and you… light up here and move about… as if preparing to go out.'
Helen, aware that she was flushed with excitement, fell in with the proposal readily; and having switched on the lights in her room and put on her hat so that her moving shadow was thrown upon the casement curtain, she turned out the light again and ran to rejoin her friend. She found the latter peering eagerly from the window of the drawing-room.
'He thinks you are coming out!' gasped Denise. 'He has slipped… around the corner. He will pretend to be… passing… this way… the cross-eyed… hypocrite. Do you feel capable … of the task?'
'Quite,' Helen declared, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling. 'You will follow us as arranged; for heaven's sake, don't lose us!'
'If the doctor knew of this,' breathed Denise, 'he would never… forgive me. But no woman… no true woman… could refuse to undertake… so palpable… a duty'…
Helen Cumberly, wearing a warm, golfing jersey over her dress, with a woolen cap to match, ran lightly down
