"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 fashion. 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." Stuart repressed a groan; for even so he had little hope of inducing the awful veiled man to give back life to the woman who would have been instrumental in bringing him to the scaffold ... and no compromise was possible! "If you will muster your men, Inspector," he said, "I will lead you to the spot. Once we have affected an entrance we must proceed with dispatch. He has alarm-bells connected with every possible point of entry." "Lead on, my friend," cried Gaston Max. "I perceive that time is precious." CHAPTER VI "JEY BHOWANI!"