. King'----"

"Ah!" cried Dunbar, his tawny eyes sparkling with excitement, "I was
waiting for that!"

"I knew you would be waiting for it, Inspector. Your powers of
deductive reasoning more and more are earning my respect. You recall
that singular case? The elaborate network extending from London to
Buenos Ayres, from Peking to Petrograd? Ah! a wonderful system. It was
an opium syndicate, you understand,"--turning again to the Assistant
Commissioner.

"I recall the case," replied the Commissioner, "although I did not
hold my present appointment at the time. I believe there were
unsatisfactory features?"

"There were," agreed Max. "We never solved the mystery of the identity
of 'Mr. King,' and although we succeeded in destroying the enterprise
I have since thought that we acted with undue precipitation."

"Yes," said Dunbar rapidly; "but there was that poor girl to be
rescued, you will remember? We couldn't waste time."

"I agree entirely, Inspector. Our hands were forced. Yet, I repeat, I
have since thought that we acted with undue precipitation. I will tell
you why. Do you recall the loss--not explained to this day--of the
plans of the Haley torpedo?"

"Perfectly," replied the Commissioner; and Dunbar also nodded
affirmatively.

"Very well. A similar national loss was sustained about the same time
by my own Government. I am not at liberty to divulge its exact nature,
as in the latter case the loss never became known to the public. But
the only member of the French Chamber who had seen this document to
which I refer was a certain 'M. Blank,' shall we say? I believe also
that I am correct in stating that the late Sir Brian Malpas was a
member of the British Cabinet at the time that the Haley plans were
lost?"

"That is correct," said the Assistant Commissioner, "but surely the
honour of the late Sir Brian was above suspicion?"

"Quite," agreed Max; "so also was that of 'M. Blank.' But my point is
this: Both 'M. Blank' and the late Sir Brian were clients of the
opium syndicate!"

Dunbar nodded again eagerly.

"Hard work I had to hush it up," he said. "It would have finished his
political career."

The Assistant Commissioner looked politely puzzled.

"It was generally supposed that Sir Brian Malpas was addicted to
drugs," he remarked; "and I am not surprised to learn that he
patronised this syndicate to which you refer. But----" he paused,
smiling satanically. "Ah!" he added--"I see! I see!"

"You pe