"It seems likely," I replied; and was silent. Outside the open windows whispered the shrubbery, as a soft breeze stole through the bushes. Beyond, the moon made play in the dim avenue. From the old chapel1 hard by the sweet-toned bell proclaimed midnight. Our vigil was begun. In this room it was that Professor Deeping had met death at the hands of the murderous Easterns; here it was that Marden and West had mysteriously been struck down the night before.
To-night was every whit2 as hot, and Bristol and I had the windows widely opened. My companion was seated where the detective, Marden, had sat, in a chair near the westerly window, and I lay back in the armchair that had been occupied by West.
I may repeat here that the house of the late Professor Deeping was more properly a cottage, surrounded by a fairly large piece of ground, for the most part run wild. The room used as a study was on the ground floor, and had windows on the west and on the south. Those on the west (French windows) opened on a loggia; those on the south opened right into the dense3 tangle4 of a neglected shrubbery. The place possessed5 an oppressive atmosphere of loneliness, for which in some measure its history may have been responsible.
The silence, seemingly intensified6 by each whisper that sped through the elms and crept about the shrubbery, grew to such a stillness that I told myself I had experienced nothing like it since crossing with a caravan7 I had slept in the desert. Yet noisy, whirling London was within gunshot of us; and this, though hard enough to believe, was a reflection oddly comforting. Only one train of thought was possible, and this I pursued at random8.
By what means were Marden and West struck down? In thus exposing ourselves, in order that we might trap the author or authors of the outrage9, did we act wisely?
"Bristol," I said suddenly, "it was someone who came through the open window."
"No one," he replied, "came through the windows. West saw absolutely nothing. But if any one comes that way to-night, we have him!"
"West may have seen nothing; but how else could any one enter?"
Powerful mantraps were set in such a way that any one or anything, ignorant of their positions, coming up to the windows must unavoidably be snared13. These had been placed in position with much secrecy14 after dusk, and the man on duty at the gate stood with his back to the wall. No one could approach him except from the front. My thoughts took a new turn.
Was the girl with the violet eyes an ally of the Hashishin? Thus far, although she so palpably had tricked me, I had found myself unable to speak of her to Bristol; for the idea had entered my mind that she might have learned of the plan to murder Deeping without directly being implicated15. Now came yet another explanation. The publicity16 given to that sensational17 case might have interested some third party in the fate of the stolen slipper18! Could it be that others, in no way connected with the dreadful Hassan of Aleppo, were in quest of the slipper?
Scotland Yard had taken care to ensure that the general public be kept in ignorance of the existence of such an organization as the Hashishin, but I must assume that this hypothetical third party were well aware that they had Hassan, as well as the authorities, to count with. Granting the existence of such a party, my beautiful acquaintance might be classified as one of its members. I spoke20 again.
"Bristol," I said, "has it occurred to you that there may be others, as well as Hassan of Aleppo, seeking to gain possession of the sacred slipper?"
"It has not," he replied. "In the strictest sense of the expression, they would be out for trouble! What gave you the idea?"
"I hardly know," I returned evasively, for even now I was loath21 to betray the mysterious girl with the wonderful eyes.
The chapel bell sounding the half-hour, Bristol rose with a sigh that might have been one of relief, and went out to take the report of the man on duty at the gate. As his footsteps died away along the elm avenue, it came to me how, in the darkness about, menace lurked23; and I felt myself succumbing24 to the greatest dread19 experienced by man—the dread of the unknown.
All that I knew of the weird25 group of fanatics—survivals of a dim and evil past—who must now be watching this cottage as bloodlustful devotees watch a shrine26 violated, burst upon my mind. I peopled the still blackness with lurking27 assassins, armed with the murderous knowledge of by-gone centuries, armed with invisible weapons which struck down from afar, supernaturally.
I glanced toward the corner of the room where the safe stood, reliquary of a worthless thing for which much blood had been spilled.
Then sounded footsteps along the avenue, and my fear whispered that they were not those of Bristol but of one who had murdered him, and who came guilefully28, to murder me!
I snatched the revolver from my pocket and crossed the darkened room. Just to the right of one of the French windows I stood looking out across the loggia to the end of the avenue. The night was a bright one, and the room was flooded with a reflected mystic light, but outside the moon paved the avenue with pearl, and through the trees I saw a figure approaching.
Was it Bristol? It had his build, it had his gait; but my fears remained. Then the figure crossed the patch of shrubbery and stepped on to the loggia.
"Mr. Cavanagh!"
"Here I am, Bristol, in a ghastly funk!"
"I don't wonder! They may be on us any time now. All's well at the gate, but Morris says he heard, or thought he heard something at the side of the chapel opposite, a while ago."
"Wind in the bushes?"
"It may have been; but he says there was no breeze at the time."
We resumed our seats.
"Bristol," I said, "now that the danger grows imminent31, doesn't it seem to you foolhardy for us thus to expose ourselves?"
"Perhaps it is," he agreed; "but how otherwise are we likely to learn what happened to Marden and West?"
"The enemy may adopt different measures to-night."
"I think not. Our dispositions32 are the same, and I credit them with cunning enough to know it. At the same time I credit ourselves with having kept the existence of the steel traps completely secret. They will assume (so I've reasoned) that we intend to rely entirely33 upon our superior vigilance, therefore they will try the same game as last night."
Silence fell.
The moon rays, creeping around from the right of the avenue, crossing the shrubbery and encroaching upon the low wall of the loggia, now flooded its floor. Against the silvern light, Bristol appeared to me in black silhouette34. The breeze, too, seemed now to blow from a slightly different direction. It came through the windows on my right, beyond which lay the unkempt bushes which extended on that side to the wall of the grounds.
So we sat, until the moonlight poured fully29 in upon Bristol's back. So we sat when the clock chimed the hour of one.
Bristol arose and once more went out to the gate. He had arranged to visit Morris's post every half-hour. Again I experienced the nervous dread that he would be attacked in the avenue; but again he returned unscathed.
"All's well," he said.
But from his tones I knew that he had not forgotten that it was at this hour Marden and West had suffered mysterious attack.
Neither of us, I think, was disposed to talk. We both were unwilling35 to break the silence, wherein, with all our ears, we listened for the slightest disturbance36.
And now my attention turned anew to the course of the slowly creeping moon rays. In my mind an idea was struggling for definition. There was something significant in the lunar lighting37 of the room. Why, I asked myself, had the attack been made at one o'clock? Did the time signify anything? If so, what? I looked toward Bristol.
His figure, the chair upon which he sat, were sharply outlined by the cold light. The wall behind me, and to my left, was illuminated38 brilliantly; but no light fell directly upon me.
The idea was taking shape. From the loggia and the avenue Bristol, I reasoned, must be clearly visible. From the shrubbery on the south, through the other windows could I be seen? Yes, silhouetted39 against the moonlight!
A faint sound, quite indescribable, came to my ears from somewhere outside-beyond.
"My God!" whispered Bristol. "Did you hear it?"
"Yes! What?"
"It must have been Morris!—"
Bristol was half standing40, one hand upon the arm of the chair, the other concealed41, but grasping his revolver as I well knew. I, too, had my revolver in my hand, and as I twisted in my seat, preparatory to rising, in sheer nervousness I dropped the weapon upon the carpet.
With an exclamation42 of dismay, I stooped quickly to recover it.
As I did so something whistled past my ear, so closely as almost to touch it—and struck with a dull thud upon the wall beyond!
"Bristol!" I whispered.
But as I raised my eyes to him he seemed to crumple43 up, and fell loosely forward into the patch of moonlight spread upon the floor! "God in heaven!" I said aloud.
In a cold sweat of fear I crouched44 there, for it had become evident to me that, as I bent45, I was entirely in shadow.
There was a rustling46 in the bushes on the left; but before I could turn in that direction, my attention was claimed elsewhere. Over into the loggia leapt an almost naked brown figure!
It was that of a small but strongly built man, who carried a short, exceedingly thick bamboo rod in his hand. My fear was too great to admit of my accurately47 observing anything at that time, but I noticed that some kind of leather thong48 or loop was attached to the end of the squat49 cane50.
The panic fear of the supernatural was strongly upon me, and I was unable to realize that this Eastern apparition51 was a creature of flesh and blood. With my nerves strung up to snapping point, I crouched watching him. He entered the room, bending over the body of Bristol.
A hot breath fanned my cheek!
At that my overwrought nerves betrayed me. I uttered a stifled52 cry, looking upward ... and into a pair of gleaming eyes which looked down into mine!
A second brown man (who must have entered by one of the windows overlooking the shrubbery) was bending over me!
Scarce knowing what I did, I raised my revolver and blazed straight into the dimly-seen face. Down upon me silently dropped a naked body, and something warm came flowing over my hand. But, knowing my foes53 to be of flesh and blood, feeling myself at handgrips now with a palpable enemy, I threw off the body, leapt up and fired, though blindly, at the flying shape that flashed across the loggia—and was lost in the shadow pools under the elms.
Upon the din22 of my shooting fell silence like a cloak. A moment I listened, tense, still; then I turned to the table and lighted the lamp.
In its light I saw Bristol lying like a dead man. Close beside him was a big and heavy lump of clay. It had been shaped as a ball, but now it was flattened54 out curiously55. Bending over my unfortunate companion and learning that, though unconscious, he lived, I learnt, too, how the Hashishin contrived56 to strike men insensible without approaching them; I learnt that the one whom I had shot, who lay in his blood almost on the spot where Professor Deeping once had lain, was an expert slinger57.
The contrivance which he carried, as did the other who had escaped, was a sling58, of the ancient Persian type. In place of stones, heavy lumps of clay were used, which operated much the same as a sand-bag, whilst enabling the operator to work from a considerable distance.
Hidden, over by the ancient chapel it might be, one of this evil twain had struck down Morris, the constable59; from the shelter of the trees, from many yards away, they had shot their singular missiles through the open windows at Bristol and myself. Bristol had succumbed60, and now, with a redness showing through his close-cut hair immediately behind the right ear, lay wholly unconscious at my feet.
It had been a divine accident which had caused me to drop my revolver, and, stooping to recover it, unknowingly to frustrate61 the design of the second slinger upon myself. The light of the lamp fell upon the face of the dead Hashishin. He lay forward upon his hands, crouching62 almost, but with his face, his dreadful, featureless face, twisted up at me from under his left shoulder.
And then as I stood, between that horrid64 exultation65 which is born of killing66 and the panic which threatened me out of the darkness, I saw something advancing ... slowly ... slowly ... from the elmen shades toward the loggia.
It was a shape—it was a shadow. Silent it came—on—and on. Where the dusk lay deepest it paused, undefined; for I could give it no name of man or spirit. But a horror seemed to proceed from it as light from a lamp.
I groped about the table near to me, never taking my eyes from that sinister67 form outside. As my fingers closed upon the telephone, distant voices and the sound of running footsteps (of those who had heard the shots) came welcome to my ears.
The form stirred, seeming to raise phantom68 arms in execration69, and a stray moonbeam pierced the darkness shrouding70 it. For a fleeting71 instant something flashed venomously.
The sounds grew nearer. I could tell that the newcomers had found Morris lying at the gate. Yet still I stood, frozen with uncanny fear, and watching—watching the spot to which that stray beam had pierced; the spot where I had seen the moon gleam upon the ring of the Prophet!
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1
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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whit
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| n.一点，丝毫 | |
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dense
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| a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的 | |
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tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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8
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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10
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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snared
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| v.用罗网捕捉，诱陷，陷害( snare的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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secrecy
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| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
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implicated
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| adj.密切关联的；牵涉其中的 | |
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publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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slipper
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| n.拖鞋 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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21
loath
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| adj.不愿意的；勉强的 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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succumbing
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的现在分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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25
weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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lurking
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| 潜在 | |
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guilefully
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| adj.狡诈的，诡计多端的 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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cowardice
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| n.胆小，怯懦 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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dispositions
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| 安排( disposition的名词复数 )； 倾向； （财产、金钱的）处置； 气质 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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silhouette
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| n.黑色半身侧面影，影子，轮廓；v.描绘成侧面影，照出影子来，仅仅显出轮廓 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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silhouetted
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| 显出轮廓的，显示影像的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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crumple
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| v.把...弄皱，满是皱痕，压碎，崩溃 | |
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44
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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46
rustling
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| n. 瑟瑟声，沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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48
thong
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| n.皮带；皮鞭；v.装皮带 | |
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squat
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| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
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50
cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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51
apparition
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| n.幽灵，神奇的现象 | |
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52
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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53
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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slinger
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| 投石者，吊物工人； 吊索 | |
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sling
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| vt.扔；悬挂；n.挂带；吊索，吊兜；弹弓 | |
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constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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frustrate
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| v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦 | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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bloodily
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| adv.出血地；血淋淋地；残忍地；野蛮地 | |
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horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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phantom
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| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
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execration
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| n.诅咒，念咒，憎恶 | |
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70
shrouding
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| n.覆盖v.隐瞒( shroud的现在分词 )；保密 | |
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fleeting
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| adj.短暂的，飞逝的 | |
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