"It was the only way
to get over!"
"Up a tree!"
"Exactly. Yes, I was foolish. I am too heavy. But what could I do!
We must begin all over again."
Stuart began to doubt his sanity. This was no ordinary man.
"Might I ask," he said, "who you are and what you are doing in my
house?"
"Ah!" The stranger laughed merrily. "You wonder about me--I can see
it. Permit me to present myself--Gaston Max, at your service!"
"Gaston Max!" Stuart glared at the speaker incredulously. "Gaston Max!
Why, I conduct a _post mortem_ examination upon Gaston Max tomorrow,
in order to learn if he was poisoned!"
"Do not trouble, doctor. That poor fellow is not Gaston Max and he
was not poisoned. You may accept my word for it. I had the misfortune
to strangle him."
PART II
STATEMENT OF GASTON MAX
I. THE DANCER OF MONTMARTRE
CHAPTER I
ZARA EL-KHALA
The following statement which I, Gaston Max, am drawing up in
duplicate for the guidance of whoever may inherit the task of tracing
"The Scorpion"--a task which I have begun--will be lodged--one copy at
the Service de Surete in Paris, and the other copy with the
Commissioner of Police, New Scotland Yard. As I apprehend that I may be
assassinated at any time, I propose to put upon record all that I have
learned concerning the series of murders which I believe to be
traceable to a certain person. In the event of my death, my French
colleagues will open the sealed packet containing this statement and
the English Assistant Commissioner of the Special Branch responsible
for international affairs will receive instructions to open that which
I shall have lodged at Scotland Yard.
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