" said he, and did as I suggested. "If not reclaimed
within a reasonable time, it will be sent to Scotland Yard."

I edged nearer to the open window.

"If it is not reclaimed," I said loudly, "it goes to Scotland Yard--yes."

"Meanwhile," concluded the doctor, "I am locking it in this private
drawer in my bureau."

"It is locked in your bureau. Very good."

CHAPTER III

DISAPPEARANCE OF CHARLES MALET

Knowing, and I knew it well, that people of "The Scorpion" were
watching, I do not pretend that I felt at my ease as I drove around to
the empty house in which I garaged my cab. My inquiry had entered upon
another stage, and Charles Malet was about to disappear from the case.
I was well aware that if he failed in his vigilance for a single moment
he might well disappear from the world!

The path which led to the stables was overgrown with weeds and flanked
by ragged bushes; weeds and grass sprouted between the stones paving
the little yard, also, although they were withered to a great extent
by the petrol recently spilled there. Having run the cab into the yard,
I alighted and looked around the deserted grounds, mysterious in the
moonlight. Company would have been welcome, but excepting a constable
who had stopped and chatted with me on one or two evenings I always
had the stables to myself at night.

I determined to run the cab into the stable and lock it up without
delay, for it was palpably dangerous in the circumstances to remain
longer than necessary in that lonely spot. Hurriedly I began to put
out the lamps. I unlocked the stable doors and stood looking all about
me again. I was dreading the ordeal of driving the cab those last ten
yards into the garage, for whilst I had my back to the wilderness of
bushes it would be an easy matter for anyone in hiding there to come
up behind me.

Nevertheless, it had to be done. Seating myself at the wheel I drove
into the narrow building, stopped the engine and peered cautiously
around toward the bright square formed by the open doors. Nothing was
to be seen. No shadow moved.

A magazine pistol held in my hand, I crept, step by step, along the
wall until I stood just within the opening. There I stopped.

I could hear a sound of quick breathing! There was someone waiting
outside!

Dropping quietly down upon the pavement, I slowly protruded my head
around the angle of the brick wall at a point not four inches above
the ground. I knew that whoever waited wou