Part 36 (1/2)

”There's a policeman's lantern,” panted my companion. ”They'll attempt nothing, now!”

I gulped down the stiff brandy-and-soda, then glanced across to where Nayland Smith lay extended in the long, cane chair.

”Perhaps you will explain,” I said, ”for what purpose you submitted me to that ordeal. If you proposed to correct my skepticism concerning supernatural manifestations, you have succeeded.”

”Yes,” said my companion, musingly, ”they are devilishly clever; but we knew that already.”

I stared at him, fatuously.

”Have you ever known me to waste my time when there was important work to do?” he continued. ”Do you seriously believe that my ghost-hunting was undertaken for amus.e.m.e.nt? Really, Petrie, although you are very fond of a.s.suring me that I need a holiday, I think the shoe is on the other foot!”

From the pocket of his dressing-gown, he took out a piece of silk fringe which had apparently been torn from a scarf, and rolling it into a ball, tossed it across to me.

”Smell!” he snapped.

I did as he directed--and gave a great start. The silk exhaled a faint perfume, but its effect upon me was as though some one had cried aloud:--

”Karamaneh!”

Beyond doubt the silken fragment had belonged to the beautiful servant of Dr. Fu-Manchu, to the dark-eyed, seductive Karamaneh. Nayland Smith was watching me keenly.

”You recognize it--yes?”

I placed the piece of silk upon the table, slightly shrugging my shoulders.

”It was sufficient evidence in itself,” continued my friend, ”but I thought it better to seek confirmation, and the obvious way was to pose as a new lessee of the Gables...”

”But, Smith,” I began...

”Let me explain, Petrie. The history of the Gables seemed to be susceptible of only one explanation; in short it was fairly evident to me that the object of the manifestations was to insure the place being kept empty. This idea suggested another, and with them both in mind, I set out to make my inquiries, first taking the precaution to disguise my ident.i.ty, to which end Weymouth gave me the freedom of Scotland Yard's fancy wardrobe. I did not take the agent into my confidence, but posed as a stranger who had heard that the house was to let furnished and thought it might suit his purpose. My inquiries were directed to a particular end, but I failed to achieve it at the time. I had theories, as I have said, and when, having paid the deposit and secured possession of the keys, I was enabled to visit the place alone, I was fortunate enough to obtain evidence to show that my imagination had not misled me.

”You were very curious the other morning, I recall, respecting my object in borrowing a large brace and bit. My object, Petrie, was to bore a series of holes in the wainscoating of various rooms at the Gables--in inconspicuous positions, of course...”

”But, my dear Smith!” I cried, ”you are merely adding to my mystification.”

He stood up and began to pace the room in his restless fas.h.i.+on.

”I had cross-examined Weymouth closely regarding the phenomenon of the bell-ringing, and an exhaustive search of the premises led to the discovery that the house was in such excellent condition that, from ground-floor to attic, there was not a solitary crevice large enough to admit of the pa.s.sage of a mouse.”

I suppose I must have been staring very foolishly indeed, for Nayland Smith burst into one of his sudden laughs.

”A mouse, I said, Petrie!” he cried. ”With the brace-and-bit I rectified that matter. I made the holes I have mentioned, and before each set a trap baited with a piece of succulent, toasted cheese. Just open that grip!”

The light at last was dawning upon my mental darkness, and I pounced upon the grip, which stood upon a chair near the window, and opened it.

A sickly smell of cooked cheese a.s.sailed my nostrils.

”Mind your fingers!” cried Smith; ”some of them are still set, possibly.”

Out from the grip I began to take mouse-traps! Two or three of them were still set but in the case of the greater number the catches had slipped.