I paused in my work, leaning back wearily and wondering what detained Nayland Smith so late. Some friends from Burma had carried him off to a theater, and in their good company I had thought him safe enough; yet, with the omnipresent menace of Fu-Manchu hanging over our heads, always I doubted, always I feared, if my friend should chance to be delayed abroad at night.
What a world of unreality was mine, in those days! Jostling, as I did, commonplace folk in commonplace surroundings, I yet knew myself removed from them, knew myself all but alone in my knowledge of the great and evil man, whose presence in England had diverted my life into these strange channels.
But, despite of all my knowledge, and despite the infinitely4 greater knowledge and wider experience of Nayland Smith, what did I know, what did he know, of the strange organization called the Si-Fan, and of its most formidable member, Dr. Fu-Manchu?
Where did the dreadful Chinaman hide, with his murderers, his poisons, and his nameless death agents? What roof in broad England sheltered Kâramaneh, the companion of my dreams, the desire of every waking hour?
I uttered a sigh of despair, when, to my unbounded astonishment6, there came a loud rap upon the window pane7!
Leaping up, I crossed to the window, threw it widely open and leant out, looking down into the court below. It was deserted8. In no other window visible to me was any light to be seen, and no living thing moved in the shadows beneath. The clamor of Fleet Street's diminishing traffic came dimly to my ears; the last stroke from St. Paul's quivered through the night.
What was the meaning of the sound which had disturbed me? Surely I could not have imagined it? Yet, right, left, above and below, from the cloisteresque shadows on the east of the court to the blank wall of the building on the west, no living thing stirred.
Quietly, I reclosed the window, and stood by it for a moment listening. Nothing occurred, and I returned to the writing-table, puzzled but in no sense alarmed. I resumed the seemingly interminable record of the Si-Fan mysteries, and I had just taken up my pen, when … two loud raps sounded upon the pane behind me.
In a trice I was at the window, had thrown it open, and was craning out. Practical joking was not characteristic of Nayland Smith, and I knew of none other likely to take such a liberty. As before, the court below proved to be empty….
I turned swiftly from the open window; and now, came fear. Momentarily, the icy finger of panic touched me, for I thought myself invested upon all sides. Who could this late caller be, this midnight visitor who rapped, ghostly, in preference to ringing the bell?
From the table drawer I took out a Browning pistol, slipped it into my pocket and crossed to the narrow hallway. It was in darkness, but I depressed10 the switch, lighting11 the lamp. Toward the closed door I looked —as the soft rapping was repeated.
I advanced; then hesitated, and, strung up to a keen pitch of fearful anticipation12, stood there in doubt. The silence remained unbroken for the space, perhaps of half a minute. Then again came the ghostly rapping.
"Who's there?" I cried loudly.
Nothing stirred outside the door, and still I hesitated. To some who read, my hesitancy may brand me childishly timid; but I, who had met many of the dreadful creatures of Dr. Fu-Manchu, had good reason to fear whomsoever or whatsoever13 rapped at midnight upon my door. Was I likely to forget the great half-human ape, with the strength of four lusty men, which once he had loosed upon us?—had I not cause to remember his Burmese dacoits and Chinese stranglers?
No, I had just cause for dread5, as I fully14 recognized when, snatching the pistol from my pocket, I strode forward, flung wide the door, and stood peering out into the black gulf15 of the stairhead.
Nothing, no one, appeared!
Conscious of a longing16 to cry out—if only that the sound of my own voice might reassure17 me—I stood listening. The silence was complete.
"Who's there?" I cried again, and loudly enough to arrest the attention of the occupant of the chambers opposite if he chanced to be at home.
None replied; and finding this phantom18 silence more nerve-racking than any clamor, I stepped outside the door—and my heart gave a great leap, then seemed to remain inert19, in my breast….
Right and left of me, upon either side of the doorway20, stood a dim figure: I had walked deliberately21 into a trap!
The shock of the discovery paralyzed my mind for one instant. In the next, and with the sinister22 pair closing swiftly upon me, I stepped back—I stepped into the arms of some third assailant, who must have entered the chambers by way of the open window and silently crept up behind me!
So much I realized, and no more. A bag, reeking23 of some hashish-like perfume, was clapped over my head and pressed firmly against mouth and nostrils24. I felt myself to be stifling—dying—and dropping into a bottomless pit.
When I opened my eyes I failed for some time to realize that I was conscious in the true sense of the word, that I was really awake.
I sat upon a bench covered with a red carpet, in a fair-sized room, very simply furnished, in the Chinese manner, but having a two-leaved, gilded25 door, which was shut. At the further end of this apartment was a dais some three feet high, also carpeted with red, and upon it was placed a very large cushion covered with a tiger skin.
Seated cross-legged upon the cushion was a Chinaman of most majestic26 appearance. His countenance27 was truly noble and gracious and he was dressed in a yellow robe lined with marten-fur. His hair, which was thickly splashed with gray, was confined upon the top of his head by three golden combs, and a large diamond was suspended from his left ear. A pearl-embroidered black cap, surmounted28 by the red coral ball denoting the mandarin29's rank, lay upon a second smaller cushion beside him.
Leaning back against the wall, I stared at his personage with a dreadful fixity, for I counted him the figment of a disarranged mind. But palpably he remained before me, fanning himself complacently30, and watching me with every mark of kindly31 interest. Evidently perceiving that I was fully alive to my surroundings, the Chinaman addressed a remark to me in a tongue quite unfamiliar32.
"Ah," he commented in French, "you do not speak my language."
"I do not," I answered, also in French, "but since it seems we have one common tongue, what is the meaning of the outrage34 to which I have been subjected, and who are you?"
As I spoke35 the words I rose to my feet, but was immediately attacked by vertigo36, which compelled me to resume my seat upon the bench.
"Compose yourself," said the Chinaman, taking a pinch of snuff from a silver vase which stood convenient to his hand. "I have been compelled to adopt certain measures in order to bring about this interview. In China, such measures are not unusual, but I recognize that they are out of accordance with your English ideas."
"Emphatically they are!" I replied.
The placid37 manner of this singularly imposing38 old man rendered proper resentment39 difficult. A sense of futility40, and of unreality, claimed me; I felt that this was a dream-world, governed by dream-laws.
"You have good reason," he continued, calmly raising the pinch of snuff to his nostrils, "good reason to distrust all that is Chinese. Therefore, when I despatched my servants to your abode41 (knowing you to be alone) I instructed them to observe every law of courtesy, compatible with the Sure Invitation. Hence, I pray you, absolve42 me, for I intended no offense43."
Words failed me altogether; wonder succeeded wonder! What was coming?
What did it all mean?
"I have selected you, rather than Mr. Commissioner44 Nayland Smith," continued the mandarin, "as the recipient45 of those secrets which I am about to impart, for the reason that your friend might possibly be acquainted with my appearance. I will confess there was a time when I must have regarded you with animosity, as one who sought the destruction of the most ancient and potent46 organization in the world— the Si-Fan."
As he uttered the words he raised his right hand and touched his forehead, his mouth, and finally his breast—a gesture reminiscent of that employed by Moslems.
"But my first task is to assure you," he resumed, "that the activities of that Order are in no way inimical to yourself, your country or your King. The extensive ramifications47 of the Order have recently been employed by a certain Dr. Fu-Manchu for his own ends, and, since he was (I admit it) a high official, a schism48 has been created in our ranks. Exactly a month ago, sentence of death was passed upon him by the Sublime49 Prince, and since I myself must return immediately to China, I look to Mr. Nayland Smith to carry out that sentence."
"The Si-Fan," he added, repeating the gesture with his hand, "disown Dr. Fu-Manchu and his servants; do with them what you will. In this envelope"—he held up a sealed package—"is information which should prove helpful to Mr. Smith. I have now a request to make. You were conveyed here in the garments which your wore at the time that my servants called upon you." (I was hatless and wore red leathern slippers51.) "An overcoat and a hat can doubtless be found to suit you, temporarily, and my request is that you close your eyes until permission is given to open them."
Is there any one of my readers in doubt respecting my reception of this proposal? Remember my situation, remember the bizarre happening that had led up to it; remember, too, ere judging me, that whilst I could not doubt the unseen presence of Chinamen unnumbered surrounding that strange apartment with the golden door, I had not the remotest clue to guide me in determining where it was situated52. Since the duration of my unconsciousness was immeasurable, the place in which I found myself might have been anywhere, within say, thirty miles of Fleet Street!
"I agree," I said.
The mandarin bowed composedly.
"Kindly close your eyes, Dr. Petrie," he requested, "and fear nothing.
No danger threatens you."
I obeyed. Instantly sounded the note of a gong, and I became aware that the golden door was open. A soft voice, evidently that of a cultured Chinaman, spoke quite close to my ear—
"Keep your eyes tightly closed, please, and I will help you on with this coat. The envelope you will find in the pocket and here is a tweed cap. Now take my hand."
Wearing the borrowed garments, I was led from the room, along a passage, down a flight of thickly carpeted stairs, and so out of the house into the street. Faint evidences of remote traffic reached my ears as I was assisted into a car and placed in a cushioned corner. The car moved off, proceeded for some distance; then—
"Allow me to help you to descend," said the soft voice. "You may open your eyes in thirty seconds."
I was assisted from the step on to the pavement—and I heard the car being driven back. Having slowly counted thirty I opened my eyes, and looked about me. This, and not the fevered moment when first I had looked upon the room with the golden door, seemed to be my true awakening53, for about me was comprehensible world, the homely54 streets of London, with deserted Portland Place stretching away on the one hand and a glimpse of midnight Regent Street obtainable on the other! The clock of the neighboring church struck one.
My mind yet dull with wonder of it all, I walked on to Oxford55 Circus and there obtained a taxicab, in which I drove to Fleet Street. Discharging the man, I passed quickly under the time worn archway into the court and approached our stair. Indeed, I was about to ascend56 when some one came racing57 down and almost knocked me over.
"Petrie! Petrie! Thank God you're safe!"
It was Nayland Smith, his eyes blazing with excitement, as I could see by the dim light of the lamp near the archway, and his hands, as he clapped them upon my shoulders, quivering tensely.
"Petrie!" he ran on impulsively58, and speaking with extraordinary rapidly, "I was detained by a most ingenious trick and arrived only five minutes ago, to find you missing, the window wide open, and signs of hooks, evidently to support a rope ladder, having been attached to the ledge3."
"But where were you going?"
"Weymouth has just rung up. We have indisputable proof that the mandarin Ki-Ming, whom I had believed to be dead, and whom I know for a high official of the Si-Fan, is actually in London! It's neck or nothing this time, Petrie! I'm going straight to Portland Place!"
"To the Chinese Legation?"
"Exactly!"
"Perhaps I can save you a journey," I said slowly. "I have just come from there!"
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1
dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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4
infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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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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6
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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pane
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| n.窗格玻璃，长方块 | |
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8
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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9
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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depressed
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| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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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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12
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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13
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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14
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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15
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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16
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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17
reassure
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| v.使放心，使消除疑虑 | |
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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
inert
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| adj.无活动能力的，惰性的；迟钝的 | |
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20
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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21
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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sinister
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| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
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23
reeking
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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24
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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25
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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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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27
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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28
surmounted
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| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
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29
Mandarin
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| n.中国官话，国语，满清官吏；adj.华丽辞藻的 | |
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30
complacently
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| adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 | |
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31
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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32
unfamiliar
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| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
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33
dazedly
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| 头昏眼花地，眼花缭乱地，茫然地 | |
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34
outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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35
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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vertigo
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| n.眩晕 | |
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37
placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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38
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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39
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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40
futility
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| n.无用 | |
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41
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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42
absolve
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| v.赦免，解除（责任等） | |
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43
offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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44
commissioner
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| n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员 | |
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45
recipient
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| a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器 | |
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46
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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47
ramifications
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| n.结果，后果( ramification的名词复数 ) | |
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48
schism
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| n.分派，派系，分裂 | |
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49
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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50
bereft
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| adj.被剥夺的 | |
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51
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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52
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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53
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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54
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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55
Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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56
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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57
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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58
impulsively
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| adv.冲动地 | |
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