rned that Miguel the quadroon was possibly in
league with the Hindu; that the Hindu was called Chunda Lal; and that
Chunda Lal received messages, probably instructions, from a third
party who announced his presence by the word "_Scorpion_."

One of my fellows, of course, had been in the cafe all the evening,
and from him I obtained confirmation of the fact that it had been the
Hindu who had been summoned to the telephone and whom I had heard
speaking. Instant upon the man at the cafe replacing the telephone
and disconnecting, I called up the exchange. They had been warned and
were in readiness.

"From what subscriber did that call come?" I demanded.

Alas! another check awaited me. It had originated in a public call
office, and "Scorpion" was untraceable by this means!

Despair is not permitted by the traditions of the Service de Surete.
Therefore I returned to my flat and recorded the facts of the matter
thus far established. I perceived that I had to deal, not with a
designing woman, but with some shadowy being of whom she was an
instrument. The anomaly of her life was in a measure explained. She
sojourned in Paris for a purpose--a mysterious purpose which was
concerned (I could not doubt it) with the Grand Duke Ivan. This was
not an amorous but a political intrigue.

I communicated, at a late hour, with the senior of the three men
watching the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke that evening had sent a
handsome piece of jewellery purchased in Rue de la Paix to the dancer.
It had been returned.

In the morning I met with the good Casimir at his favorite cafe. He
had just discovered that Zara el-Khala drove daily to the Bois de
Boulogne, alone, and that afternoon the Grand Duke had determined to
accost her during her solitary walk. I prepared myself for this event.
Arrayed in a workman's blouse and having a modest luncheon and a small
bottle of wine in a basket, I concealed myself in that part of the
Bois which was the favourite recreation ground of the dancer, and
awaited her appearance.

The Grand Duke appeared first upon the scene, accompanied by Casimir.
The latter pointed out to him a path through the trees along which
Zara el-Khala habitually strolled and showed him the point at which
she usually rejoined the Hindu who followed along the road with the
car. They retired. I seated myself beneath a tree from whence I could
watch the path and the road and began to partake of the repast which
I had brought with me.