Along the northern wall were more bunks, and an open wooden stair, with a handrail, ascended to a small landing or platform before a third door high up in the wall. A few mats were strewn about the floor. The place was dimly lighted by a red-shaded lamp swung from the centre of the ceiling and near the foot of the stairs another lamp (of the common tin variety) stood upon a box near which was a broken cane chair. Opium-pipes, tins, and a pack of cards were on this box. All the bunks appeared to be occupied. Most of the occupants were lying motionless, but one or two were noisily sucking at the opium-pipes. These had not yet attained to the opium-smokers Nirvana. So much did Gaston Max, a trained observer, gather in one swift glance. Then Ah-Fang-Fu, leaving the lantern in the shop, descended the four steps and crossing the room began to arrange two mats with round head-cushions near to the empty packing-cases. Stuart and Max remained by the door. "You see," whispered Max, "he has taken you on trust! And he did not appear to recognise me. It is as I thought. The place is 'open to the public' as usual, and Ah-Fang-Fu does a roaring trade, one would judge. For the benefit of patrons not affiliated to the order we have to pretend to smoke." "Yes," replied Stuart with repressed excitement--"until someone called Fo-Hi is at home, or visible; the word 'got' may mean either of those things." "Fo-Hi," whispered Max, "is 'The Scorpion!' "I believe you are right," said Stuart--who had good reason to know it. "My God! what a foul den! The reek is suffocating. Look at that yellow lifeless face yonder, and see that other fellow whose hand hangs limply down upon the floor. Those bunks might be occupied by corpses for all the evidence of life that some of them show." _"Morbleu!_ do not raise your voice; for some of them are occupied by 'Scorpions.' You noted the words of Ah-Fang? _Ssh!"_ The old Chinaman returned with his curious shuffling walk, raising his hand to beckon to them. "Number one piece bunk, lo!" he chattered. "Good enough," growled Stuart. The two crossed and reclined upon the uncleanly mats. "Make special loom," explained Ah-Fang-Fu. "Velly special chop!" He passed from bunk to bunk, and presently came to a comatose Chinaman from whose limp hand, which hung down upon the floor, the pipe had dropped. This pipe Ah-Fang-Fu took from the smoker's fingers and returning to the box upon which the tin lamp was standing began calmly to load it. "Good heavens!" muttered Stuart--"he is short of pipes! Pah! how the place reeks!" Ah-Fang-Fu busied himself with a tin of opium, the pipe which he had taken from the sleeper, and another pipe--apparently the last of his stock--which lay near the lamp. Igniting the two, he crossed and handed them to Stuart and Max. "Velly soon-lo!" he said and made a curious sign, touching his brow, his lips and his breast in a manner resembling that of a Moslem.