The door opened and a page-boy entered.
"A cable for Dr. Petrie."
I started up from my chair. A thousand possibilities—some of a sort to bring dread1 to my heart—instantly occurred to me. I tore open the envelope and, as one does, glanced first at the name of the sender.
It was signed "Kâramaneh!"
"Smith!" I said hoarsely2, glancing over the massage3, "Kâramaneh is on her way to England. She arrives by the Nicobar to-morrow!"
"Eh?" cried Nayland Smith, in turn leaping to his feet. "She had no right to come alone, unless——"
The boy, open-mouthed, was listening to our conversation, and I hastily thrust a coin into his hand and dismissed him. As the door closed—
"Unless what, Smith?" I said, looking my friend squarely in the eyes.
"Unless she has learnt something, or—is flying away from some one!"
"What do you mean, Smith?" I asked. "This is the place of danger, as we know to our cost; she was safe in Egypt."
Nayland Smith commenced one of his restless perambulations, glancing at me from time to time and frequently tugging6 at the lobe7 of his ear.
"Was she safe in Egypt?" he rapped. "We are dealing8, remember, with the Si-Fan, which, if I am not mistaken, is a sort of Eleusinian Mystery holding some kind of dominion9 over the eastern mind, and boasting initiates10 throughout the Orient. It is almost certain that there is an Egyptian branch, or group—call it what you will—of the damnable organization."
"But Dr. Fu-Manchu——"
"Dr. Fu-Manchu—for he lives, Petrie! my own eyes bear witness to the fact—Dr. Fu-Manchu is a sort of delegate from the headquarters. His prodigious11 genius will readily enable him to keep in touch with every branch of the movement, East and West."
"He may have instructed his Cairo agents," he added significantly.
"God grant she get to England in safety," I whispered. "Smith! can we make no move to round up the devils who defy us, here in the very heart of civilized13 England? Listen. You will not have forgotten the wild-cat Eurasian Zarmi?"
"Unless my imagination has been playing me tricks, I have seen her twice within the last few days—once in the neighborhood of this hotel and once in a cab in Piccadilly."
"You mentioned the matter at the time," said Smith shortly; "but although I made inquiries15, as you remember, nothing came of them."
"Nevertheless, I don't think I was mistaken. I feel in my very bones that the Yellow hand of Fu-Manchu is about to stretch out again. If only we could apprehend17 Zarmi."
Nayland Smith lighted his pipe with care.
"If only we could, Petrie!" he said; "but, damn it!"—he dashed his left fist into the palm of his right hand—"we are doomed18 to remain inactive. We can only await the arrival of Kâramaneh and see if she has anything to tell us. I must admit that there are certain theories of my own which I haven't yet had an opportunity of testing. Perhaps in the near future such an opportunity may arise."
How soon that opportunity was to arise neither of us suspected then; but Fate is a merry trickster, and even as we spoke19 of these matters events were brewing20 which were to lead us along strange paths.
With such glad anticipations21 as my pen cannot describe, their gladness not unmixed with fear, I retired22 to rest that night, scarcely expecting to sleep, so eager was I for the morrow. The musical voice of Kâramaneh seemed to ring in my ears; I seemed to feel the touch of her soft hands and to detect, as I drifted into the borderland betwixt reality and slumber23, that faint, exquisite24 perfume which from the first moment of my meeting with the beautiful Eastern girl, had become to me inseparable from her personality.
It seemed that sleep had but just claimed me when I was awakened25 by some one roughly shaking my shoulder. I sprang upright, my mind alert to sudden danger. The room looked yellow and dismal26, illuminated27 as it was by a cold light of dawn which crept through the window and with which competed the luminance of the electric lamps.
"Wake up, Petrie!" he cried; "you instincts serve you better than my reasoning. Hell's afoot, old man! Even as you predicted it, perhaps in that same hour, the yellow fiends were at work!"
"What, Smith, what!" I said, leaping out of bed; "you don't mean——"
"Not that, old man," he replied, clapping his hand upon my shoulder; "there is no further news of her, but Weymouth is waiting outside. Sir Baldwin Frazer has disappeared!"
"Sir Baldwin Frazer!" I said, "of Half-Moon Street? But what——"
"God knows what," snapped Smith; "but our old friend Zarmi, or so it would appear, bore him off last night, and he has completely vanished, leaving practically no trace behind."
Only a few sleeping servants were about as we descended30 the marble stairs to the lobby of the hotel where Weymouth was awaiting us.
"I have a cab outside from the Yard," he said. "I came straight here to fetch you before going on to Half-Moon Street."
"Quite right!" snapped Smith; "but you are sure the cab is from the
Yard? I have had painful experience of strange cabs recently!"
"You can trust this one," said Weymouth, smiling slightly. "It has carried me to the scene of many a crime."
We entered the waiting vehicle and soon were passing through the nearly deserted32 streets of London. Only those workers whose toils33 began with the dawn were afoot at that early hour, and in the misty34 gray light the streets had an unfamiliar35 look and wore an aspect of sadness in ill accord with the sentiments which now were stirring within me. For whatever might be the fate of the famous mental specialist, whatever the mystery before us—even though Dr. Fu-Manchu himself, malignantly36 active, threatened our safety—Kâramaneh would be with me again that day—Kâramaneh, my beautiful wife to be!
So selfishly occupied was I with these reflections that I paid little heed37 to the words of Weymouth, who was acquainting Nayland Smith with the facts bearing upon the mysterious disappearance38 of Sir Baldwin Frazer. Indeed, I was almost entirely39 ignorant upon the subject when the cab pulled up before the surgeon's house in Half-Moon Street.
Here, where all else spoke of a city yet sleeping or but newly awakened, was wild unrest and excitement. Several servants were hovering40 about the hall eager to glean41 any scrap42 of information that might be obtainable; wide-eyed and curious, if not a little fearful. In the somber43 dining-room with its heavy oak furniture and gleaming silver, Sir Baldwin's secretary awaited us. He was a young man, fair-haired, clean-shaven and alert; but a real and ever-present anxiety could be read in his eyes.
"I am sorry," he began, "to have been the cause of disturbing you at so early an hour, particularly since this mysterious affair may prove to have no connection with the matters which I understand are at present engaging your attention."
Nayland Smith raised his hand deprecatingly.
"We are prepared, Mr. Logan," he replied, "to travel to the uttermost ends of the earth at all times, if by doing so we can obtain even a meager44 clue to the enigma45 which baffles us."
"I should not have disturbed Mr. Smith," said Weymouth, "if I had not been pretty sure that there was Chinese devilry at work here: nor should I have told you as much as I have, Mr. Logan," he added, a humorous twinkle creeping into his blue eyes, "if I had thought you could not be of use to us in unraveling our case!"
"I quite understand that," said Logan, "and now, since you have voted for the story first and refreshments47 afterward48, let me tell you what little I know of the matter."
"Be as brief as you can," snapped Nayland Smith, starting up from the chair in which he had been seated and beginning restlessly to pace the floor before the open fireplace—"as brief as is consistent with clarity. We have learnt in the past that an hour or less sometimes means the difference between——"
He paused, glancing at Sir Baldwin's secretary.
"Between life and death," he added.
Mr. Logan started perceptibly.
"You alarm me, Mr. Smith," he declared; "for I can conceive of no earthly manner in which this mysterious Eastern organization of which Inspector49 Weymouth speaks, could profit by the death of Sir Baldwin."
Nayland Smith suddenly turned and stared grimly at the speaker.
"I call it death," he said harshly, "to be carried off to the interior of China, to be made a mere50 slave, having no will but the great and evil man who already—already, mark you!—has actually accomplished51 such things."
"But Sir Baldwin——"
"Sir Baldwin Frazer," snapped Smith, "is the undisputed head of his particular branch of surgery. Dr. Fu-Manchu may have what he deems useful employment for such skill as his. But," glancing at the clock, "we are wasting time. Your story, Mr. Logan."
"It was about half-past twelve last night," began the secretary, closing his eyes as if he were concentrating his mind upon certain past events, "when a woman came here and inquired for Sir Baldwin. The butler informed her that Sir Baldwin was entertaining friends and that he could receive no professional visitors until the morning. She was so insistent52, however, absolutely declining to go away, that I was sent for—I have rooms in the house—and I came down to interview her in the library."
"Be very accurate, Mr. Logan," interrupted Smith, "in your description of this visitor."
"I shall do my best," pursued Logan, closing his eyes again in concentrated thought. "She wore evening dress, of a fantastic kind, markedly Oriental in character, and had large gold rings in her ears. A green embroidered53 shawl, with raised figures of white birds as a design, took the place of a cloak. It was certainly of Eastern workmanship, possibly Arab; and she wore it about her shoulders with one corner thrown over her head—again, something like a burnous. She was extremely dark, had jet-black, frizzy hair and very remarkable54 eyes, the finest of their type I have ever seen. She possessed55 beauty of a sort, of course, but without being exactly vulgar, it was what I may term ostentatious; and as I entered the library I found myself at a loss to define her exact place in society—you understand what I mean?"
We all nodded comprehendingly and awaited with intense interest the resumption of the story. Mr. Logan had vividly56 described the Eurasian Zarmi, the creature of Dr. Fu-Manchu.
"When the woman addressed me," he continued, "my surmise57 that she was some kind of half-caste, probably a Eurasian, was confirmed by her broken English. I shall not be misunderstood"—a slight embarrassment58 became perceptible in his manner—"if I say that the visitor quite openly tried to bewitch me; and since we are all human, you will perhaps condone59 my conduct when I add that she succeeded, in a measure, inasmuch as I consented to speak to Sir Baldwin, although he was actually playing bridge at the time.
"Either my eloquence60, or, to put it bluntly, the extraordinary fee which the woman offered, resulted in Sir Baldwin's agreeing to abandon his friends and accompany the visitor in a cab which was waiting to see the patient."
"And who was the patient?" rapped Smith.
"According to the woman's account, the patient was her mother, who had met with a street accident a week before. She gave the name of the consultant61 who had been called in, and who, she stated, had advised the opinion of Sir Baldwin. She represented that the matter was urgent, and that it might be necessary to perform an operation immediately in order to save the patient's life."
"But surely," I interrupted, in surprise, "Sir Baldwin did not take his instruments?"
"He took his case with him—yes," replied Logan; "for he in turn yielded to the appeals of the visitor. The very last words that I heard him speak as he left the house were to assure her that no such operation could be undertaken at such short notice in that way."
Logan paused, looking around at us a little wearily.
"And what aroused your suspicions?" said Smith.
"My suspicions were aroused at the very moment of Sir Baldwin's departure, for as I came out onto the steps with him I noticed a singular thing."
"And that was?" snapped Smith.
"Directly Sir Baldwin had entered the cab the woman got out," replied Logan with some excitement in his manner, "and reclosing the door took her seat beside the driver of the vehicle—which immediately moved off."
Nayland Smith glanced significantly at me.
"The cab trick again, Petrie!" he said; "scarcely a doubt of it." Then, to Logan: "Anything else?"
"This," replied the secretary: "I thought, although I could not be sure, that the face of Sir Baldwin peered out of the window for a moment as the cab moved away from the house, and that there was strange expression upon it, almost a look of horror. But of course as there was no light in the cab and the only illumination was that from the open door, I could not be sure."
"And now tell Mr. Smith," said Weymouth, "how you got confirmation62 of your fears."
"I felt very uneasy in my mind," continued Logan, "for the whole thing was so irregular, and I could not rid my memory of the idea of Sir Baldwin's face looking out from the cab window. Therefore I rang up the consultant whose name our visitor had mentioned."
"Yes?" cried Smith eagerly.
"He knew nothing whatever of the matter," said Logan, "and had no such case upon his books! That of course put me in a dreadful state of mind, but I was naturally anxious to avoid making a fool of myself and therefore I waited for some hours before mentioning my suspicions to any one. But when the morning came and no message was received I determined63 to communicate with Scotland Yard. The rest of the mystery it is for you, gentlemen, to unravel46."
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1
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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hoarsely
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| adv.嘶哑地 | |
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massage
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| n.按摩，揉；vt.按摩，揉，美化，奉承，篡改数据 | |
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4
longings
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| 渴望，盼望( longing的名词复数 ) | |
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5
dreads
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| n.恐惧，畏惧( dread的名词复数 )；令人恐惧的事物v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的第三人称单数 ) | |
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6
tugging
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| n.牵引感v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的现在分词 ) | |
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lobe
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| n.耳垂，（肺，肝等的）叶 | |
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8
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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initiates
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| v.开始( initiate的第三人称单数 )；传授；发起；接纳新成员 | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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12
ashtray
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| n.烟灰缸 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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15
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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16
hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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17
apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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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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20
brewing
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| n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式 | |
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21
anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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22
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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24
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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26
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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29
vapors
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| n.水汽，水蒸气，无实质之物( vapor的名词复数 )；自夸者；幻想 [药]吸入剂 [古]忧郁（症）v.自夸，（使）蒸发( vapor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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30
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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toils
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| 网 | |
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misty
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| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
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unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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malignantly
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| 怀恶意地； 恶毒地； 有害地； 恶性地 | |
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heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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38
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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39
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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40
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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41
glean
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| v.收集(消息、资料、情报等) | |
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42
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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43
somber
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| adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的 | |
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44
meager
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| adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的 | |
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45
enigma
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| n.谜，谜一样的人或事 | |
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46
unravel
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| v.弄清楚（秘密）；拆开，解开，松开 | |
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47
refreshments
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| n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 | |
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48
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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49
inspector
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| n.检查员，监察员，视察员 | |
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50
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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51
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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52
insistent
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| adj.迫切的，坚持的 | |
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53
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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54
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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55
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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56
vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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57
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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58
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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59
condone
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| v.宽恕；原谅 | |
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60
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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61
consultant
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| n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生 | |
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62
confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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63
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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