The sun was shining into my room now, but could not wholly disperse2 the cloud of horror which lay upon it. That I had been drugged was sufficiently3 evident from my present condition, and that I had been taken away from my chambers4 Inspector Bristol had satisfactorily proved by an examination of the soles of my slippers5.
"It was a clever trick," he said. "God knows what it was they puffed7 into your face through the letter box, but the devilish arts of ten centuries, we must remember, are at the command of Hassan of Aleppo! The repetition of the trick at the mysterious place you were taken to is particularly interesting. I should say you won't be in a hurry to peer through letter boxes and so forth8 in the future?"
I shook my aching head.
"That accursed yellow room," I replied, "stank9 with the fumes10 of hashish. It may have been some preparation of hashish that was used to drug me."
Bristol stood looking thoughtfully from the window.
"It was a nightmare business, Mr. Cavanagh," he said; "but it doesn't advance our inquiry12 a little bit. The prophecy of the old man with the white beard—whom you assure me to be none other than Hassan of Aleppo—is something we cannot very well act upon. He clearly believes it himself; for he has released you after having captured you, evidently in order that you may be at liberty to take up your duty as trustee of the slipper6 again. If the slipper really comes back to the Museum the fact will show Hassan to be something little short of a magician. I shan't envy you then, Mr. Cavanagh, considering that you hold the keys of the case!"
"No," I replied wearily. "Poor Professor Deeping thought that he acted in my interests and that my possession of the keys would constitute a safeguard. He was wrong. It has plunged13 me into the very vortex of this ghastly affair."
"It is maddening," said Bristol, "to know that Hassan and Company are snugly14 located somewhere under our very noses, and that all Scotland Yard can find no trace of them. Then to think that Hassan of Aleppo, apparently15 by means of some mystical light, has knowledge of the whereabouts of the slipper and consequently of the whereabouts of Earl Dexter (another badly wanted man) is extremely discouraging! I feel like an amateur; I'm ashamed of myself!"
My head in my hands, I sat for long after his departure, with the phantom18 characters of the ghoulish drama dancing through my brain. The distorted yellow dwarfs19 seemed to gibe20 apish before me. Severed21 hands clenched22 and unclenched themselves in my face, and gleaming knives flashed across the mental picture. Predominant over all was the stately figure of Hassan of Aleppo, that benignant, remorseless being, that terrible guardian23 of the holy relic24 who directed the murderous operations. Earl Dexter, The Stetson Man, with his tightly bandaged arm, his gaunt, clean-shaven face and daredevil smile, figured, too, in my feverish25 daydream26; nor was that other character missing, the girl with the violet eyes whose beautiful presence I had come to dread27; for like a sybil announcing destruction her appearances in the drama had almost invariably presaged28 fresh tragedies. I recalled my previous meetings with this woman of mystery. I recalled my many surmises29 regarding her real identity and association with the case. I wondered why in the not very distant past I had promised to keep silent respecting her; I wondered why up to that present moment, knowing beyond doubt that her activities were inimical to my interests, were criminal, I had observed that foolish pledge.
And now my door-bell was ringing—as intuitively I had anticipated. So certain was I of the identity of my visitor that as I walked along the passage I was endeavouring to make up my mind how I should act, how I should receive her.
I opened the door; and there, wearing European garments but a green turban ... stood Hassan of Aleppo!
When I say that amazement30 robbed me of the power to speak, to move, almost to think, I doubt not you will credit me. Indeed, I felt that modern London was crumbling31 about me and that I was become involved in the fantastic mazes32 of one of those Oriental intrigues33 such as figure in the Romance of Abu Zeyd, or with which most European readers have been rendered familiar by the glowing pages of "The Thousand and One Nights."
"Effendim," said my visitor, "do not hesitate to act as I direct!"
In his gloved hand he carried what appeared to be an ebony cane34. He raised and pointed35 it directly at me. I perceived that it was, in fact, a hollow tube.
"Death is in my hand," he continued; "enter slowly and I will follow you."
Still the sense of unreality held me thralled and my brain refused me service. Like an hypnotic subject I walked back to my study, followed by my terrible visitor, who reclosed the door behind him.
He sat facing me across my littered table with the mysterious tube held loosely in his grasp.
How infinitely36 more terrifying are perils37 unknown than those known and appreciated! Had a European armed with a pistol attempted a similar act of coercion38, I cannot doubt that I should have put up some sort of fight; had he sat before me now as Hassan of Aleppo sat, with a comprehensible weapon thus laid upon his knees, I should have taken my chance, should have attacked him with the lamp, with a chair, with anything that came to my hand.
But before this awful, mysterious being who was turning my life into channels unsuspected, before that black tube with its unknown potentialities, I sat in a kind of passive panic which I cannot attempt to describe, which I had never experienced before and have never known since.
"There is one about to visit you," he said, "whom you know, whom I think you expect. For it is written that she shall come and such events cast a shadow before them. I, too, shall be present at your meeting!"
His eagle eyes opened widely; they burned with fanaticism39.
"Already she is here!" he resumed suddenly, and bent41 as one listening. "She comes under the archway; she crossed the courtyard—and is upon the stair! Admit her, effendim; I shall be close behind you!"
The door-bell rang.
With the consciousness that the black tube was directed toward the back of my head, I went and opened the door. My mind was at work again, and busy with plans to terminate this impossible situation.
On the landing stood a girl wearing a simple white frock which fitted her graceful42 figure perfectly43. A white straw hat, of the New York tourist type, with a long veil draped from the back suited her delicate beauty very well. The red mouth drooped44 a little at the corners, but the big violet eyes, like lamps of the soul, seemed afire with mystic light.
"Mr. Cavanagh," she said, very calmly and deliberately45, "there is only one way now to end all this trouble. I come from the man who can return the slipper to where it belongs; but he wants his price!"
Her quiet speech served completely to restore my mental balance, and I noted46 with admiration47 that her words were so chosen as to commit her in no way. She knew quite well that thus far she might appear in the matter with impunity48, and she clearly was determined49 to say nothing that could imperil her.
"Will you please come in?" I said quietly—and stood aside to admit her.
Exhibiting wonderful composure, she entered—and there, in the badly lighted hallway came face to face with my other visitor!
It was a situation so dramatic as to seem unreal.
Away from that tall figure retreated the girl with the violet eyes—and away—until she stood with her back to the wall. Even in the gloom I could see that her composure was deserting her; her beautiful face was pallid50.
"Oh, God!" she whispered, all but inaudible—"You!"
Hassan, grasping the black rod in his hand, signed to her to enter the study. She stood quite near to me, with her eyes fixed51 upon him. I bent closer to her.
"My revolver—in left-hand table drawer," I breathed in her ear. "Get it. He is watching me!"
I could not tell if my words had been understood, for, never taking her gaze from the Sheikh of the Assassins, she sidled into the study. I followed her; and Hassan came last of all. Just within the doorway52 he stood, confronting us.
"You have come," he said, addressing the girl and speaking in perfect English but with a marked accent, "to open your impudent53 negotiations54 through Mr. Cavanagh for the return of the thrice holy relic to the Museum! Your companion, the man, who is inspired by the Evil One, has even dared to demand ransom55 for the slipper from me!"
"He has suffered the penalty which the Koran lays down; he has lost his right hand. But the lord of all evil protects him, else ere this he had lost his life! Move no closer to that table!"
I started. Either Hassan of Aleppo was omniscient59 or he had overheard my whispered words!
"Easily I could slay60 you where you stand!" he continued. "But to do so would profit me nothing. This meeting has been revealed to me. Last night I witnessed it as I slept. Also it has been revealed to me by Erroohanee, in the mirror of ink, that the slipper of the Prophet, Salla-'llahu 'ale yhi wasellem! Shall indeed return to that place accursed, that infidel eyes may look upon it! It is the will of Allah, whose name be exalted61, that I hold my hand, but it is also His will that I be here, at whatever danger to my worthless body."
He turned his blazing eyes upon me.
"To-morrow, ere noon," he said, "the slipper will again be in the Museum from which the man of evil stole it. So it is written; obscure are the ways. We met last night, you and I, but at that time much was dark to me that now is light. The holy 'Alee spoke62 to me in a vision, saying: 'There are two keys to the case in which it will be locked. Secure one, leaving the other with him who holds it! Let him swear to be secret. This shall be the price of his life!'"
The black tube was pointed directly at my forehead.
"Effendim," concluded the speaker, "place in my hand the key of the case in the Antiquarian Museum!"
Hands convulsively clenched, the girl was looking from me to Hassan. My throat felt parched63, but I forced speech to my lips.
"Your omniscience64 fails you," I said. "Both keys are at my bank!"
Blacker grew the fierce eyes—and blacker. I gave myself up for lost; I awaited death—death by some awful, unique means—with what courage I could muster65.
From the court below came the sound of voices, the voices of passers-by who so little suspected what was happening near to them that had someone told them they certainly had refused to credit it. The noise of busy Fleet Street came drumming under the archway, too.
Then, above all, another sound became audible. To this day I find myself unable to define it; but it resembled the note of a silver bell.
Clearly it was a signal; for, hearing it, Hassan dropped the tube and glanced toward the open window.
In that instant I sprang upon him!
That I had to deal with a fanatic40, a dangerous madman, I knew; that it was his life or mine, I was fully11 convinced. I struck out then and caught him fairly over the heart. He reeled back, and I made a wild clutch for the damnable tube, horrid66, unreasoning fear of which thus far had held me inert67.
I heard the girl scream affrightedly, and I knew, and felt my heart chill to know, that the tube had been wrenched68 from my hand! Hassan of Aleppo, old man that he appeared, had the strength of a tiger. He recovered himself and hurled69 me from him so that I came to the floor crashingly half under my writing-table!
Something he cried back at me, furiously—and like an enraged70 animal, his teeth gleaming out from his beard, he darted71 from the room. The front door banged loudly.
Shaken and quivering, I got upon my feet. On the threshold, in a state of pitiable hesitancy, stood the pale, beautiful accomplice72 of Earl Dexter. One quick glance she flashed at me, then turned and ran!
Again the door slammed. I ran to the window, looking out into the court. The girl came hurrying down the steps, and with never a backward glance ran on and was lost to view in one of the passages opening riverward.
Out under the arch, statelily passed a tall figure—and Inspector Bristol was entering! I saw the detective glance aside as the two all but met. He stood still, and looked back!
"Bristol!" I cried, and waved my arms frantically73.
"Stop him! Stop him! It's Hassan of Aleppo!"
Bristol was not the only one to hear my wild cry—not the only one to dash back under the arch and out into Fleet Street.
But Hassan of Aleppo was gone!
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1
inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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3
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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4
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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5
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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slipper
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| n.拖鞋 | |
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7
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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8
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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stank
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| n. (英)坝，堰，池塘 动词stink的过去式 | |
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10
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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11
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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12
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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13
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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14
snugly
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| adv.紧贴地；贴身地；暖和舒适地；安适地 | |
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15
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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16
irritable
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| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
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17
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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18
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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19
dwarfs
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| n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式） | |
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20
gibe
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| n.讥笑；嘲弄 | |
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21
severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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22
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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23
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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24
relic
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| n.神圣的遗物，遗迹，纪念物 | |
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25
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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26
daydream
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| v.做白日梦，幻想 | |
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27
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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28
presaged
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| v.预示，预兆( presage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
surmises
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| v.臆测，推断( surmise的第三人称单数 )；揣测；猜想 | |
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30
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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31
crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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32
mazes
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| 迷宫( maze的名词复数 )； 纷繁复杂的规则； 复杂难懂的细节； 迷宫图 | |
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33
intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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34
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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35
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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36
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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38
coercion
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| n.强制，高压统治 | |
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39
fanaticism
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| n.狂热，盲信 | |
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fanatic
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| n.狂热者，入迷者；adj.狂热入迷的 | |
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41
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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42
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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43
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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44
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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46
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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47
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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48
impunity
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| n.(惩罚、损失、伤害等的)免除 | |
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49
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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50
pallid
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| adj.苍白的，呆板的 | |
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51
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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52
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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53
impudent
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| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
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54
negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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55
ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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56
majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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57
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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58
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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59
omniscient
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| adj.无所不知的；博识的 | |
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60
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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61
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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62
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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63
parched
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| adj.焦干的；极渴的；v.（使）焦干 | |
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64
omniscience
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| n.全知，全知者，上帝 | |
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65
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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66
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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inert
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| adj.无活动能力的，惰性的；迟钝的 | |
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68
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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69
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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70
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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71
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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72
accomplice
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| n.从犯，帮凶，同谋 | |
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73
frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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