lf constantly
looking from the little window at the rear of the cab. I had an
impression that some vehicle was tracking us. Then, when I
discharged the man and walked up the narrow passage to the court,
it was fear of a skulking form that dodged from shadow to shadow
which obsessed me.

Finally, as I entered the hall and mounted the darkened stair, from
the first landing I glanced down into the black well beneath.
Blazing yellow eyes, I thought, looked up at me!

I will confess that I leapt up the remaining flight of stairs to my
door, and, safely within, found myself trembling as if with a palsy.

When I sat down to write (for sleep was an impossible proposition)
I placed my revolver upon the table beside me. I cannot say why.
It afforded me some sense of protection, I suppose. My conclusions,
thus far, amounted to the following--

The apparition of the phantom scimitar was due to the presence of
someone who, by means of the moonlight, or of artificial light,
cast a reflection of such a weapon as that found in the oblong chest
upon the wall of a darkened apartment--as, Deeping's stateroom on
the Mandalay, his study, etc.

A group of highly efficient assassins, evidently Moslem fanatics,
who might or might not be of the ancient order of the Hashishin,
had pursued the stolen slipper to England. They had severed any
hand, other than that of a Believer, which had touched the case
containing it. (The Coptic porter was a Christian.)

Uncertain, possibly, of Deeping's faith, or fearful of endangering
the success of their efforts by an outrage upon him en route, they
had refrained from this until his arrival at his house. He had
been warned of his impending end by Ahmad Ahmadeen.

Who was Ahmadeen? And who was his beautiful associate? I found
myself unable, at present, to answer either of those questions. In
order to gain access to Professor Deeping, who so carefully secluded
himself, a box had been sent to him by ordinary carrier. (As I sat
at my table, Scotland Yard was busy endeavouring to trace the
sender.) Respecting this box we had made an extraordinary discovery.

It was of the kind used by Eastern conjurors for what is generally
known as "the Box Trick." That is to say, it could only be opened
(short of smashing it) from the inside! You will remember what we
found within it? Consider this with the new fact, above, and to
what conclusion do you come?

Something (it is not possible to speak of