The man of
the Wu-Men Bridge was veiled and this one is hooded! The man of the
Wu-Men Bridge was known as 'The Scorpion,' and this one also is
associated with a scorpion. We will return yet again to this point
in a moment.
"Is there something else which we may learn from the experiences of
Dr. Stuart? Yes! We learn that 'The Scorpion' suddenly decides that
Dr. Stuart is dangerous, either because of his special knowledge
(which would be interesting) or because the 'Scorpion' believes that
he has become acquainted with the contents of the sealed envelope--
which is not so interesting although equally dangerous for Dr. Stuart.
'The Scorpion' acts. He pays a second visit, again accompanied by
Chunda Lal, who seems to be a kind of watch-dog who not only guards
the person of Zara el-Kahla but who also howls when danger threatens
the cowled man!
"And what is the weapon which the cowled man (who may be 'The
Scorpion') uses to remove Dr. Stuart? It is a frightful weapon, my
friends; it is a novel and deadly weapon. It is a weapon of which
science knows nothing--a blue ray of the colour produced by a Mercury
Vapour Lamp, according to Dr. Stuart who has seen it, and producing
an odour like that of a blast furnace according to myself, who smelled
it! Or this odour might have been caused by the fusing of the telephone;
for the blue ray destroys such fragile things as telephones as easily
as it destroys wood and paper! There is even a large round hole burned
through the clay at the back of the study grate and through the brick
wall behind it! Very well.
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