With communists and crime-lords vying for attention, this is a book which toys with Wolfe's Moriarty-equivalent, a figure Wolfe doesn't want to take on unless he's obliged to. X doesn't quite have the Bond-villain's flaw of sabotaging himself explaining his elaborate plans, but he obviously can't quite help himself when it comes to bringing himself to Wolfe's attention unnecessarily.Thoroughly engrossing story.