"Why?" I asked in surprise.
"I hardly know; but for some occult reason I feel afraid."
"Afraid?"
"Exactly; afraid. There is some deep mystery here that I cannot fathom8. In the first place, if they had really meant you to remain ignorant of the place at which the episodes described by you occurred, they would scarcely have dropped you at the end of Portland Place."
"You mean …?"
"I mean that I don't believe you were taken to the Chinese Legation at all. Undoubtedly9 you saw the mandarin10 Ki-Ming; I recognize him from your description."
"You have met him, then?"
"No; but I know those who have. He is undoubtedly a very dangerous man, and it is just possible——"
He hesitated, glancing at me strangely.
"It is just possible," he continued musingly11, "that his presence marks the beginning of the end. Fu-Manchu's health may be permanently12 impaired13, and Ki-Ming may have superceded him."
"But, if what you suspect, Smith, be only partly true, with what object was I seized and carried to that singular interview? What was the meaning of the whole solemn farce14?"
"Its meaning remains15 to be discovered," he answered; "but that the mandarin is amicably16 disposed I refuse to believe. You may dismiss the idea. In dealing17 with Ki-Ming we are to all intents and purposes dealing with Fu-Manchu. To me, this man's presence means one thing: we are about to be subjected to attempts along slightly different lines."
I was completely puzzled by Smith's tone.
"You evidently know more of this man, Ki-Ming, than you have yet explained to me," I said.
Nayland Smith pulled out the blackened briar and began rapidly to load it.
Rache-Churân.
"This does not enlighten me."
Having got his pipe going well—
The question seemed so wildly irrelevant20 that I stared at him in silence for some moments. Then—
"Certain powers sometimes grouped under that head are recognized in every hospital to-day," I answered shortly.
"Do you mean that that gentle old man——"
"Petrie, a certain M. Sokoloff, a Russian gentleman whose acquaintance I made in Mandalay, related to me an episode that took place at the house of the mandarin Ki-Ming in Canton. It actually occurrd in the presence of M. Sokoloff, and therefore is worthy23 of your close attention.
"He had had certain transactions with Ki-Ming, and at their conclusion received an invitation to dine with the mandarin. The entertainment took place in a sort of loggia or open pavilion, immediately in front of which was an ornamental24 lake, with numerous waterlilies growing upon its surface. One of the servants, I think his name was Li, dropped a silver bowl containing orange-flower water for pouring upon the hands, and some of the contents lightly sprinkled M. Sokoloff's garments.
"Ki-Ming spoke25 no word of rebuke26, Petrie; he merely looked at Li, with those deceptive, gazelle-like eyes. Li, according to my acquaintance account, began to make palpable and increasingly anxious attempts to look anywhere rather than into the mild eyes of his implacable master. M. Sokoloff, who, up to that moment, had entertained similar views to your own respecting his host, regarded this unmoving stare of Ki-Ming's as a sort of kindly27, because silent, reprimand. The behavior of the unhappy Li very speedily served to disabuse28 his mind of that delusion29.
"Petrie—the man grew livid, his whole body began to twitch30 and shake as though an ague had attacked him; and his eyes protruded31 hideously33 from their sockets34! M. Sokoloff assured me that he felt himself turning pale—when Ki-Ming, very slowly, raised his right hand and pointed35 to the pond.
"Li began to pant as though engaged in a life and death struggle with a physically36 superior antagonist37. He clutched at the posts of the loggia with frenzied38 hands and a bloody39 froth came to his lips. He began to move backward, step by step, step by step, all the time striving, with might and main, to prevent himself from doing so! His eyes were set rigidly40 upon Ki-Ming, like the eyes of a rabbit fascinated by a python. Ki-Ming continued to point.
"Right to the brink41 of the lake the man retreated, and there, for one dreadful moment, he paused and uttered a sort of groaning43 sob44. Then, clenching45 his fists frenziedly, he stepped back into the water and immediately sank among the lilies. Ki-Ming continued to gaze fixedly— at the spot where bubbles were rising; and presently up came the livid face of the drowning man, still having those glazed46 eyes turned, immovably, upon the mandarin. For nearly five seconds that hideous32, distorted face gazed from amid the mass of blooms, then it sank again … and rose no more."
"What!" I cried, "do you mean to tell me——"
"Ki-Ming struck a gong. Another servant appeared with a fresh bowl of water; and the mandarin calmly resumed his dinner!"
I drew a deep breath and raised my hand to my head.
"It is almost unbelievable," I said. "But what completely passes my comprehension is his allowing me to depart unscathed, having once held me in his power. Why the long harangue47 and the pose of friendship?
"That point is not so difficult."
"What!"
"That does not surprise me in the least. You may recollect48 that Dr. Fu-Manchu entertains for you an undoubted affection, distinctly Chinese in its character, but nevertheless an affection! There is no intention of assassinating49 you, Petrie; I am the selected victim."
I started up.
"Smith! what do you mean? What danger, other than that which has threatened us for over two years, threatens us to-night?"
"Now you come to the point which does puzzle me. I believe I stated awhile ago that I was afraid. You have placed your finger upon the cause of my fear. What threatens us to-night?"
He spoke the words in such a fashion that they seemed physically to chill me. The shadows of the room grew menacing; the very silence became horrible. I longed with a terrible longing50 for company, for the strength that is in numbers; I would have had the place full to overflowing—for it seemed that we two, condemned51 by the mysterious organization called the Si-Fan, were at that moment surrounded by the entire arsenal52 of horrors at the command of Dr. Fu-Manchu. I broke that morbid53 silence. My voice had assumed an unnatural54 tone.
"Because he must be aware that I know he is in London."
"Well?"
"Dr. Fu-Manchu has no official status. Long ago, his Legation denied all knowledge of his existence. But the mandarin Ki-Ming is known to every diplomat55 in Europe, Asia and American almost. Only I, and now yourself, know that he is a high official of the Si-Fan; Ki-Ming is aware that I know. Why, therefore, does he risk his neck in London?"
"He relies upon his national cunning."
"Petrie, he is aware that I hold evidence to hang him, either here or in China! He relies upon one thing; upon striking first and striking surely. Why is he so confident? I do not know. Therefore I am afraid."
Again a cold shudder56 ran icily through me. A piece of coal dropped lower into the dying fire—and my heart leapt wildly. Then, in a flash, I remembered something.
"Smith!" I cried, "the letter! We have not looked at the letter."
Nayland Smith laid his pipe upon the mantelpiece and smiled grimly. From his pocket he took out square piece of paper, and thrust it close under my eyes.
"I remembered it as I passed your borrowed garment—which bear no maker's name—on my way to the bedroom for matches," he said.
The paper was covered with Chinese characters!
"What does it mean?" I demanded breathlessly.
Smith uttered a short, mirthless laugh.
"It states that an attempt of a particularly dangerous nature is to be made upon my life to-night, and it recommends me to guard the door, and advises that you watch the window overlooking the court, and keep your pistol ready for instant employment." He stared at me oddly. "How should you act in the circumstances, Petrie?"
"I should strongly distrust such advice. Yet—what else can we do?"
"There are several alternatives, but I prefer to follow the advice of
Ki-Ming."
The clock of St. Paul's chimed the half-hour: half-past two.
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1
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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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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savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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lobe
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| n.耳垂，（肺，肝等的）叶 | |
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feverishly
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| adv. 兴奋地 | |
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deceptive
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| adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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fathom
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| v.领悟，彻底了解 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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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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musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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permanently
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| adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地 | |
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impaired
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| adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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14
farce
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| n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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amicably
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| adv.友善地 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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monastery
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| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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magnetism
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| n.磁性，吸引力，磁学 | |
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irrelevant
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| adj.不恰当的，无关系的，不相干的 | |
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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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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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ornamental
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| adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物 | |
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25
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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rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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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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disabuse
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| v.解惑；矫正 | |
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29
delusion
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| n.谬见，欺骗，幻觉，迷惑 | |
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30
twitch
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| v.急拉，抽动，痉挛，抽搐；n.扯，阵痛，痉挛 | |
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31
protruded
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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hideously
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| adv.可怕地，非常讨厌地 | |
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34
sockets
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| n.套接字，使应用程序能够读写与收发通讯协定(protocol)与资料的程序( Socket的名词复数 )；孔( socket的名词复数 )；（电器上的）插口；托座；凹穴 | |
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35
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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36
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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38
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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39
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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41
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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42
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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43
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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44
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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45
clenching
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的现在分词 ) | |
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46
glazed
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| adj.光滑的，像玻璃的；上过釉的；呆滞无神的v.装玻璃( glaze的过去式)；上釉于，上光；（目光）变得呆滞无神 | |
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47
harangue
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| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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48
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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49
assassinating
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| v.暗杀( assassinate的现在分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏 | |
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50
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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51
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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52
arsenal
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| n.兵工厂，军械库 | |
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53
morbid
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| adj.病的；致病的；病态的；可怕的 | |
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54
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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55
diplomat
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| n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人 | |
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56
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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