The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu Read Free Page A

nature, their kiss would
leave-though not indelibly-just such a mark as I had seen upon the
dead man's hand. But I dismissed the fantastic notion as bred of
the night's horrors, and worthy only of a mediaeval legend. No
doubt she was some friend or acquaintance of Sir Crichton who lived
close by.
    "I cannot say that he has been murdered," I replied, acting upon
the latter supposition, and seeking to tell her what she asked as
gently as possible.
    "But he is-Dead?"
    I nodded.
    She closed her eyes and uttered a low, moaning sound, swaying
dizzily. Thinking she was about to swoon, I threw my arm round her
shoulder to support her, but she smiled sadly, and pushed me gently
away.
    "I am quite well, thank you," she said.
    "You are certain? Let me walk with you until you feel quite sure
of yourself."
    She shook her head, flashed a rapid glance at me with her
beautiful eyes, and looked away in a sort of sorrowful
embarrassment, for which I was entirely at a loss to account.
Suddenly she resumed:
    "I cannot let my name be mentioned in this dreadful matter,
but-I think I have some information-for the police. Will you give
this to-whomever you think proper?"
    She handed me a sealed envelope, again met my eyes with one of
her dazzling glances, and hurried away. She had gone no more than
ten or twelve yards, and I still was standing bewildered, watching
her graceful, retreating figure, when she turned abruptly and came
back.
    Without looking directly at me, but alternately glancing towards
a distant corner of the square and towards the house of
Major-General Platt-Houston, she made the following extraordinary
request:
    "If you would do me a very great service, for which I always
would be grateful,"-she glanced at me with passionate
intentness-"when you have given my message to the proper person,
leave him and do not go near him any more to-night!"
    Before I could find words to reply she gathered up her cloak and
ran. Before I could determine whether or not to follow her (for her
words had aroused anew all my worst suspicions) she had
disappeared! I heard the whir of a restarted motor at no great
distance, and, in the instant that Nayland Smith came running down
the steps, I knew that I had nodded at my post.
    "Smith!" I cried as he joined me, "tell me what we must do!" And
rapidly I acquainted him with the incident.
    My friend looked very grave; then a grim smile crept round his
lips.
    "She was a big card to play," he said; "but he did not know that
I held one to beat it."
    "What! You know this girl! Who is she?"
    "She is one of the finest weapons in the enemy's armory, Petrie.
But a woman is a two-edged sword, and treacherous. To our great
good fortune, she has formed a sudden predilection,
characteristically Oriental, for yourself. Oh, you may scoff, but
it is evident. She was employed to get this letter placed in my
hands. Give it to me."
    I did so.
    "She has succeeded. Smell."
    He held the envelope under my nose, and, with a sudden sense of
nausea, I recognized the strange perfume.
    "You know what this presaged in Sir Crichton's case? Can you
doubt any longer? She did not want you to share my fate,
Petrie."
    "Smith," I said unsteadily, "I have followed your lead blindly
in this horrible business and have not pressed for an explanation,
but I must insist before I go one step farther upon knowing what it
all means."
    "Just a few steps farther," he rejoined; "as far as a cab. We
are hardly safe here. Oh, you need not fear shots or knives. The
man whose servants are watching us now scorns to employ such
clumsy, tell-tale weapons."
    Only three cabs were on the rank, and, as we entered the first,
something hissed past my ear, missed both Smith and me by a
miracle, and, passing over the roof of the taxi, presumably fell in
the enclosed garden occupying the center of the square.
    "What was that?" I cried.
    "Get in-quickly!" Smith rapped back. "It was attempt number one!
More than that I cannot say. Don't let the man hear. He has