Paul Harley did not reply. He concluded, quite correctly, that the organization had failed to detect himself in the person of the nervous cobbler. He drew courage from this deduction1. Fire-Tongue was not omniscient2.
“It is possible,” continued the unseen speaker, in whom Harley had now definitely recognized Ormuz Khan’s secretary, “that you recently overheard a resolution respecting yourself. Your death, in fact, had been determined3 upon. Life and death being synonymous, the philosopher contemplates4 either with equanimity5.”
“I am contemplating6 the latter with equanimity at the moment,” said Harley, dryly.
“The brave man does so,” the Hindu continued, smoothly7. “The world only seems to grow older; its youth is really eternal, but as age succeeds age, new creeds8 must take the place of the old ones which are burned out. Fire, Mr. Harley, sweeps everything from its path irresistibly9. You have dared to stand in the path of a fiery10 dawn; therefore, like all specks11 of dust which clog12 the wheels of progress, you must be brushed aside.”
Harley nodded grimly, watching a ring of smoke floating slowly upward.
“It is a little thing to those who know the truth,” the speaker resumed. “To the purblind13 laws of the West it may seem a great thing. We seek in Rome to do as Rome does. We judge every man as we find him. Therefore, recognizing that your total disappearance14 might compromise our movements in the near future, we have decided15 to offer you an alternative. This offer is based upon the British character. Where the oath of some men is a thing of smoke, the word of honour of an Englishman we are prepared to accept.”
“Many thanks,” murmured Harley. “On behalf of Great Britain I accept the compliment.”
“We have such faith in the completeness of our plans, and in the nearness of the hour of triumph, that if you will pledge yourself to silence, in writing, you will not be molested16 in any way. You occupy at the moment the apartment reserved for neophytes of a certain order. But we do not ask you to become a neophyte17. Disciples18 must seek us, we do not seek disciples. We only ask for your word that you will be silent.”
“Think well of the matter. It may not seem so impossible to-morrow.”
“I decline definitely.”
“You are sustaining yourself with false hopes, Mr. Harley. You think you have clues which will enable you to destroy a system rooted in the remote past. Also you forget that you have lost your freedom.”
“I refuse,” said Harley, sharply. “Dismiss the matter.”
“In spite of your refusal, time for consideration will be given to you.”
Faintly Paul Harley detected the sounds made by Ormuz Khan and his secretary in withdrawing. The light beneath the curtain disappeared.
For perhaps a space of two hours, Paul Harley sat smoking and contemplating the situation from every conceivable angle. It was certainly desperate enough, and after a time he rose with a weary sigh, and made a second and more detailed22 examination of the several apartments.
It availed him nothing, but one point he definitely established. Escape was impossible, failing outside assistance. A certain coldness in the atmosphere, which was perceptible immediately beneath the barred window, led him to believe that this communicated with the outer air.
He was disposed to think that his unconsciousness had lasted less than an hour, and that it was still dark without. He was full of distrust. He no longer believed his immediate23 death to have been decided upon. For some reason it would seem that the group wished him to live, at any rate, temporarily. But now a complete theory touching24 the death of Sir Charles Abingdon had presented itself to his mind. Knowing little, but suspecting much of the resources of Fire-Tongue, he endeavoured to avoid contact with anything in the place.
Night attire25 was provided in the sleeping chamber26, but he did not avail himself of this hospitality. Absolute silence reigned27 about him. Yet so immutable28 are Nature’s laws, that presently Paul Harley sank back upon the mattresses29, and fell asleep.
He awoke, acutely uncomfortable and ill-rested. He found a shaft30 of light streaming into the room, and casting shadows of the iron bars upon the opposite wall. The brass31 lantern still burned above him, and the silence remained complete as when he had fallen asleep. He stood up yawning and stretching himself.
At least, it was good to be still alive. He was vaguely32 conscious of the fact that he had been dreaming of Phil Abingdon, and suppressing a sigh, he clenched33 his teeth grimly and entered the little bathroom. There proved to be a plentiful34 supply of hot and cold water. At this he sniffed35 suspiciously, but at last:
“I’ll risk it,” he muttered.
He undressed and revelled36 in the joy of a hot bath, concluding with a cold plunge37. A razor and excellent toilet requisites38 were set upon the dressing39 table, and whilst his imagination whispered that the soap might be poisoned and the razor possess a septic blade, he shaved, and having shaved, lighted his pipe and redressed40 himself at leisure.
He had nearly completed his toilet when a slight sound in the outer room arrested his attention. He turned sharply, stepping through the doorway41.
A low carved table, the only one which the apartment boasted, displayed an excellent English breakfast laid upon a spotless cover.
“Ah,” he murmured, and by the sight was mentally translated to that celebrated42 apartment of the palace at Versailles, where Louis XIV and his notorious favourite once were accustomed to dine, alone, and unsuitably dressed, the courses being served in just this fashion.
Harley held his pipe in his hand, and contemplated43 the repast. It was only logical to suppose it to be innocuous, and a keen appetite hastened the issue. He sidetracked his suspicion, and made an excellent breakfast. So the first day of his captivity44 began.
Growing used to the stillness about him, he presently began to detect, as the hours wore on, distant familiar sounds. Automobiles45 on the highroad, trains leaving and entering a tunnel which he judged to be from two to three miles distant; even human voices at long intervals46.
The noises of an English countryside crept through the barred windows. Beyond a doubt he was in the house known as Hillside. Probably at night the lights of London could be seen from the garden. He was within ordinary telephone call of Chancery Lane. Yet he resumed his pipe and smiled philosophically47. He had hoped to see the table disappear beneath the floor. As evidence that he was constantly watched, this had occurred during a brief visit which he had made to the bedroom in quest of matches.
When he returned the table was in its former place, but the cover had been removed. He carefully examined the floor beneath it, and realized that there was no hope of depressing the trap from above. Then, at an hour which he judged to be that of noon, the same voice addressed him from beyond the gilded48 screen.
“Mr. Paul Harley?”
“Yes, what have you to say?”
“By this time, Mr. Harley, you must have recognized that opposition49 is futile50. At any moment we could visit death upon you. Escape, on the other hand, is out of the question. We desire you no harm. For diplomatic reasons, we should prefer you to live. Our cause is a sacred one. Do not misjudge it by minor51 incidents. A short statement and a copy of your English testament52 shall be placed upon the table, if you wish.”
“I do not wish,” Paul Harley returned.
“Is that your last word, Mr. Harley? We warn you that the third time of asking will be the last time.”
“This is my last word.”
“Your own life is not the only stake at issue.”
“What do you mean?”
“You will learn what we mean, if you insist upon withholding53 your consent until we next invite it.”
Silence fell, and Paul Harley knew himself to be once more alone. Luncheon55 appeared upon the table whilst he was washing in the bathroom. Remembering the change in the tone of the unseen speaker’s voice, he avoided touching anything.
From the divan56, through half-closed eyes, he examined every inch of the walls, seeking for the spy-hole through which he knew himself to be watched. He detected it at last: a little grating, like a ventilator, immediately above him where he sat. This communicated with some room where a silent watcher was constantly on duty!
Paul Harley gave no sign that he had made this discovery. But already his keen wits were at work upon a plan. He watched the bar of light fading, fading, until, judging it to be dinner time, he retired57 discreetly58.
When he returned, he found dinner spread upon the table.
He wondered for what ordeal59 the neophyte was prepared in this singular apartment. He wondered how such neophytes were chosen, and to what tests they were submitted before being accepted as members of the bloodthirsty order. He could not even surmise60.
Evidently no neophyte had been accepted on the previous night, unless there were other like chambers61 in the house. The occupants of the shuttered cars must therefore have been more advanced members. He spent the night in the little cell-like bedchamber, and his second day of captivity began as the first had begun.
For his dinner he had eaten nothing but bread and fruit. For his breakfast he ate an egg and drank water from the tap in the bathroom. His plan was now nearing completion. Only one point remained doubtful.
At noon the voice again addressed him from behind the gilded screen:
“Mr. Paul Harley?”
“Yes?”
“Your last opportunity has come. For your own future or for that of the world you seem to care little or nothing. Are you still determined to oppose our wishes?”
“I am.”
“You have yet an hour. Your final decision will be demanded of you at the end of that time.”
Faint sounds of withdrawal62 followed these words and Harley suddenly discovered himself to be very cold. The note of danger had touched him. For long it had been silent. Now it clamoured insistently63. He knew beyond all doubt that he was approaching a crisis in his life. At its nature he could not even guess.
He began to pace the room nervously64, listening for he knew not what. His mind was filled with vague imaginings; when at last came an overture65 to the grim test to be imposed upon him.
A slight metallic66 sound drew his glance in the direction of the gilded screen. A sliding door of thick plate glass had been closed behind it, filling the space between the metal work and the curtain. Then—the light in the brass lantern became extinguished.
Standing67 rigidly68, fists clenched, Paul Harley watched the curtain. And as he watched, slowly it was drawn69 aside. He found himself looking into a long room which appeared to be practically unfurnished.
The floor was spread with rugs and at the farther end folding doors had been opened, so that he could see into a second room, most elegantly appointed in Persian fashion. Here were silver lanterns, and many silken cushions, out of which, as from a sea of colour, arose slender pillars, the scheme possessing an air of exotic luxury peculiarly Oriental.
Seated in a carved chair over which a leopard70 skin had been thrown, and talking earnestly to some invisible companion, whose conversation seemed wholly to enthrall71 her, was Phil Abingdon!
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1
deduction
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| n.减除，扣除，减除额；推论，推理，演绎 | |
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omniscient
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| adj.无所不知的；博识的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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contemplates
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的第三人称单数 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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equanimity
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| n.沉着，镇定 | |
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contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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creeds
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| （尤指宗教）信条，教条( creed的名词复数 ) | |
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irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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11
specks
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| n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 ) | |
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12
clog
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| vt.塞满，阻塞；n.[常pl.]木屐 | |
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13
purblind
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| adj.半盲的；愚笨的 | |
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disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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15
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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molested
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| v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵 | |
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neophyte
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| n.新信徒；开始者 | |
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disciples
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| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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tersely
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| adv. 简捷地, 简要地 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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21
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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22
detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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23
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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immutable
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| adj.不可改变的，永恒的 | |
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mattresses
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| 褥垫，床垫( mattress的名词复数 ) | |
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shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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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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plentiful
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| adj.富裕的，丰富的 | |
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35
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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36
revelled
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| v.作乐( revel的过去式和过去分词 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉 | |
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37
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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38
requisites
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| n.必要的事物( requisite的名词复数 ) | |
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39
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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redressed
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| v.改正( redress的过去式和过去分词 )；重加权衡；恢复平衡 | |
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41
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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42
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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43
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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44
captivity
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| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
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45
automobiles
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| n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 ) | |
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46
intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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47
philosophically
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| adv.哲学上；富有哲理性地；贤明地；冷静地 | |
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48
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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49
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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50
futile
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| adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的 | |
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51
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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52
testament
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| n.遗嘱；证明 | |
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53
withholding
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| 扣缴税款 | |
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54
withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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55
luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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56
divan
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| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
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57
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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58
discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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59
ordeal
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| n.苦难经历，（尤指对品格、耐力的）严峻考验 | |
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60
surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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61
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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62
withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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63
insistently
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| ad.坚持地 | |
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64
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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65
overture
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| n.前奏曲、序曲，提议，提案，初步交涉 | |
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66
metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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67
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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68
rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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69
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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70
leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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71
enthrall
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| vt.迷住，吸引住；使感到非常愉快 | |
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