Muzzle pressed against my chest, he ran his hand over my garments for concealed weapons, seeming slightly surprized when he found none. "Still," he murmured as if to himself, "a man who can burst an iron lock with his bare hands has scant need of weapons." "You are wasting valuable time," I said impatiently. "I was sent here tonight to kill Sir Haldred Frenton----" "By whom?" the question was shot at me. "By the man who sometimes goes disguised as a leper." He nodded, a gleam in his scintillant eyes. "My suspicions were correct, then." "Doubtless. Listen to me closely--do you desire the death or arrest of that man?" Gordon laughed grimly. "To one who wears the mark of the scorpion on his hand, my answer would be superfluous." "Then follow my directions and your wish shall be granted." His eyes narrowed suspiciously. "So that was the meaning of this open entry and non-resistance," he said slowly. "Does the dope which dilates your eyeballs so warp your mind that you think to lead me into ambush?" I pressed my hands against my temples. Time was racing and every moment was precious--how could I convince this man of my honesty? "Listen; my name is Stephen Costigan of America. I was a frequenter of Yun Shatu's dive and a hashish addict--as you have guessed, but just now a slave of stronger dope. By virtue of this slavery, the man you know as a false leper, whom Yun Shatu and his friends call 'Master,' gained dominance over me and sent me here to murder Sir Haldred--why, God only knows. But I have gained a space of respite by coming into possession of some of this dope which I must have in order to live, and I fear and hate this Master. Listen to me and I swear, by all things holy and unholy, that before the sun rises the false leper shall be in your power!" I could tell that Gordon was impressed in spite of himself. "Speak fast!" he rapped. Still I could sense his disbelief and a wave of futility swept over me. "If you will not act with me," I said, "let me go and somehow I'll find a way to get to the Master and kill him. My time is short--my hours are numbered and my vengeance is yet to be realized." "Let me hear your plan, and talk fast," Gordon answered. "It is simple enough. I will return to the Master's lair and tell him I have accomplished that which he sent me to do. You must follow closely with your men and while I engage the Master in conversation, surround the house. Then, at the signal, break in and kill or seize him." Gordon frowned. "Where is this house?" "The warehouse back of Yun Shatu's has been converted into a veritable Oriental palace." "The warehouse!" he exclaimed. "How can that be? I had thought of that first, but I have carefully examined it from without. The windows are closely barred and spiders have built webs across them. The doors are nailed fast on the outside and the seals that mark the warehouse as deserted have never been broken or disturbed in any way."