"
"And from China," added Dunbar.
"Yes, yes, from China as you say, Inspector." He turned to Gaston Max.
"Can it really be, M. Max, that we have to deal with an upcrop of some
deeply-seated evil which resides in the Far East? Are all these cases,
not the work of individual criminal but manifestations of a more
sinister, a darker force?"
Gaston Max met his glance and Max's mouth grew very grim.
"I honestly believe so." he answered. "I have believed it for nearly
two years--ever since the Grand Duke died. And now, you said, I
remember, that you had made a note the nature of which you would
communicate."
"Yes," replied the Assistant Commissioner--"a small point, but one
which may be worthy of attention. This ray, Dr. Stuart, which played
such havoc in your study--do you know of anything approaching to it in
more recent scientific devices?"
"Well," said Stuart, "it my be no more than a development of one of
several systems, notably of that of the late Henrik Ericksen upon
which he was at work at the time of his death."
"Exactly." The Assistant Commissioner smiled in his most
Mephistophelean manner. "Of the late Henrik Ericksen, as you say."
He said no more for a moment and sat smoking and looking from face to
face. Then:
"That is the subject of my note, gentlemen," he added. "The other
_minutiae_ are of no immediate importance."
"_Non d'un p'tit bonhomme!_" whispered Gaston Max. "I see! You think
that Ericksen had completed his experiments before he died, but that
he never lived to give them to the world?"
The Assistant Commissioner waved one hand in the air so that he
discoloration of the first and second fingers was very noticeable.
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