I had been at work, earlier in the evening, upon the opening chapters of this chronicle, and I had realized how difficult it would be for my reader, amid secure and cozy surroundings, to credit any human being with a callous villainy great enough to conceive and to put into execution such a death pest as that directed against Sir Crichton Davey.

One would expect God’s worst man to shrink from employing—­ against however vile an enemy—­such an instrument as the Zayat Kiss.  So thinking, my eye was caught by the following:—­

EXPRESS CORRESPONDENT

New York.

“Secret service men of the United States Government are searching the South Sea Islands for a certain Hawaiian from the island of Maui, who, it is believed, has been selling poisonous scorpions to Chinese in Honolulu anxious to get rid of their children.

“Infanticide, by scorpion and otherwise, among the Chinese, has increased so terribly that the authorities have started a searching inquiry, which has led to the hunt for the scorpion dealer of Maui.

“Practically all the babies that die mysteriously are unwanted girls, and in nearly every case the parents promptly ascribe the death to the bite of a scorpion, and are ready to produce some more or less poisonous insect in support of the statement.

“The authorities have no doubt that infanticide by scorpion bite is a growing practice, and orders have been given to hunt down the scorpion dealer at any cost.”

Is it any matter for wonder that such a people had produced a Fu-Manchu?  I pasted the cutting into a scrap-book, determined that, if I lived to publish my account of those days, I would quote it therein as casting a sidelight upon Chinese character.

A Reuter message to The Globe and a paragraph in The Star also furnished work for my scissors.  Here were evidences of the deep-seated unrest, the secret turmoil, which manifested itself so far from its center as peaceful England in the person of the sinister Doctor.

“Hong Kong, Friday.

“Li Hon Hung, the Chinaman who fired at the Governor yesterday, was charged before the magistrate with shooting at him with intent to kill, which is equivalent to attempted murder.  The prisoner, who was not defended, pleaded guilty.  The Assistant Crown Solicitor, who prosecuted, asked for a remand until Monday, which was granted.

“Snapshots taken by the spectators of the outrage yesterday disclosed the presence of an accomplice, also armed with a revolver.  It is reported that this man, who was arrested last night, was in possession of incriminating documentary evidence.”

Later.

“Examination of the documents found on Li Hon Hung’s accomplice has disclosed the fact that both men were well financed by the Canton Triad Society, the directors of which had enjoined the assassination of Sir F. M. or Mr. C. S., the Colonial Secretary.  In a report prepared by the accomplice for dispatch to Canton, also found on his person, he expressed regret that the attempt had failed.”—­Reuter.