The Insidious Dr. Fu Manchu

N to see yo

ommon a clock sou

"A late visitor. Show

The next moment I had jumped to my feet, for a tall, lean man, with his square-cut, clea

! Didn't expect

th-whom I had thou

s hands hard, "this is a deligh

put it down to the sun!" And he put out t

surprise

the road, "but before you are many hours older you will know that I have good reason to be cautious. Ah, not

strict is beastly healthy-what, Petrie? Well, I can put some material in your way that, if sheer uncanny mystery is a m

in supposing him to suffer from delusions. His eyes were too bright, certainly, a

aken your l

eplied, and slowly filled

"What, are you moved t

, and it doesn't rest with me where I a

glass, its contents untasted, I faced round and looked him squa

irt-sleeve he revealed a wicked-looking wound in the fleshy part of the for

one like it

ed. "It appears to have

d. "A barb steeped in the veno

ly through me at mention of that most

atch, and a broken cartridge. I lay on my back, raving, for three days afterwards, in a forest that stank with

do you

ks of the man who extracted that venom-patiently, drop by drop-from the poison-g

iend is

Petrie, I have traveled from Burma not in the interests of the British Government merely, but in the interests of the entire wh

e extraordinary statements, for into my humdrum suburban life Nayland Smith had

xcept the big chief at headquarters, you are the only person in England, I hope, who knows that Nayland Smith has quitted Burma. I must have someone with me, Petr

, unfortunately, my professi

nging my hand in his impe

, to-

for forty-eight hours, except in fifteen-minute stretches. But there is one mo

on Davey-of

Heaven, nothing can save him! I do not know when the blow will fall, how it will fall, nor from whence, b

re often than not its intrusion is sudden and unlooked for. To-day, we may seek for romance a

and the outre-has left no impression upon my mind. Into the heart of a weird mystery the cab bore me; and in reviewing my memories

import that passed between us (we both were strangely sil

muttered my f

Crichton Davey's house and sought to peer in at the open door. Without waiting for the cab t

he demanded breathl

fully, but something in his voi

Davey has been

nd clutched my shoulder convulsively. Beneath the heavy tan his

whispered. "I

g about, more or less aimlessly, and the chilly hand of King Fear had touched one and all, for, as they came and went, they glanced ever over their shoulders, as if each shadow cloaked a menace, and listened, as it seemed, for som

om I recognized Chalmers Cleeve, of Harley Street, was bending over a motionless form stretched upon a couch. Another door communicated with a small study, and through the opening I could see a man on all fours examining the carpet. The unco

e straightened himself,

richton was addicted to cocaine, but there are indications which are not in accordance with cocaine-poisoning. I f

us pathologist in conversation, I seized the

back his sleeve, and saw the marks of the hypodermic syringe upon his left arm. Quite mechanically I turned my attention to the right arm. It was unscarred, but on the back of the hand was a faint red

s mark, and inquired if it were constitutional. "It is not, sir," answered Dr. Cleeve, overhearing my question. "I ha

eplied. "It is

, "but Inspector Weymouth will tell you that I act with authority.

orking here in the library, an

ating door wa

-twenty-five, when a message came for Sir Crichton. I to

as the

rict messenger, and he placed it beside hi

half-p

es were glaring horribly. I had just reached his side when he fell, writhing, upon the floor. He seemed past speech, but as I raised him

spoke the words, and Smith seemed

e referred to the m

f his last glance, I feel sure he

did yo

hottest weather. There is no other door, for the study occupies the end of a narrow wing, so that no one could possibly have gained access to it, whilst I was in the library, unseen

lobe of his left ear, as w

ork here in this w

n was preparing a

ual occurred prior

ree nights ago Sir Crichton came out to me, and appeared very nervous; but at times his nerves-you know?

ING or s

rched, but fruitlessly, and he seemed qu

d and I would like a few minutes'