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Updated: June 20, 2025
The word of 'Le Balafre' should be sufficient for that! Of course I may be conducted immediately into the presence of the Chief 'The Scorpion' and he may prove to be none other than Miguel, for instance or my Algerian acquaintance or may even be a 'she' the fascinating Zara el-Khala! We do not know.
The charming dancer had vouchsafed no reply to his invitation and he had met with the same reception, on presenting himself in person, which had been accorded to myself and to those others who had sought to obtain an interview with Zara el-Khala! My state of mystification grew more and more profound. I studied the reports of my nine assistants.
Zara el-Khala had committed no crime, but her sudden flight for it looked like flight you will agree was highly suspicious. And as I sat there in my office filled with all sorts of misgivings, in ran one of the men engaged in watching the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke had been seized with illness as he left his box in the Montmartre theatre and had died before his car could reach the hotel!
They had been seeking me all over Paris to inform me that Zara el-Khala had left. Two men had followed her and had telephoned from Calais for instructions. She had crossed by the night mail for Dover. It was already too late to instruct the English police. For a few hours I had relaxed my usual vigilance and this was the result. What could I do?
Van Rembold, then, had had some occasion to feel curious about the scorpions; the name "Scorpion" was associated with the Hindu follower of Zara el-Khala; and she was who had brought the Grand Duke to Paris, where he had died. Oh! it was a very fragile thread, but by following such a thread as this we are sometimes led to the heart of a labyrinth.
"How dare you, low pig!" cried the Grand Duke, and with a sweep of his powerful arm he hurled me aside. "Thank you," replied Zara el-Khala with great composure. "But my servant is here." As I turned, Chunda Lal hurled himself upon the Grand Duke from behind. I had never seen an expression in a man's eyes like that in the eyes of the Hindu at this moment.
She came out so enveloped in furs and veils as to be unrecognizable, and a Hindu wearing a chauffeur's uniform opened the door of the car for her, and then, having arranged the rugs to her satisfaction, mounted to the wheel and drove away. I traced the car. It had been hired for the purpose of taking Zara el-Khala from her hotel to the theatre and home nightly.
The Grand Duke that evening had sent a handsome piece of jewellery purchased in Rue de la Paix to the dancer. It had been returned. In the morning I met with the good Casimir at his favorite cafe. He had just discovered that Zara el-Khala drove daily to the Bois de Boulogne, alone, and that afternoon the Grand Duke had determined to accost her during her solitary walk.
In all her photographs Zara el-Khala appeared veiled, in the Eastern manner; that is to say, she wore a white silk yashmak which concealed all her face except her magnificent eyes! On the stage the veil was discarded; in the photographs it was always present. And the famous picture which she had sent to the Grand Duke?
We will talk about this one again presently. "We come to the arrival on the scene of Zara el-Khala, also called Mlle. Dorian.
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