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to the wall beyond. A moment it remained so--then was gone. The room became plunged in darkness. Gripping the Browning with nervous fingers I waited, listening intently; but the silence remained unbroken. My gaze set upon the spot where the head of this midnight visitant might be expected to appear, I almost held my breath during the ensuing moments of frightful suspense. The door was opening; slowly--slowly--by almost imperceptible degrees. I held the pistol pointed rigidly before me and my gaze remained fixed intently on the dimly seen opening. I suppose I acted as ninety-nine men out of a hundred would have done in like case. Nothing appeared. Then a voice--a voice that seemed to come from somewhere under the floor snapped:-- "Good God! it's Petrie!" I dropped my gaze instantly ... and there, looking up at me from the floor at my feet, I vaguely discerned the outline of a human head! "Smith!" I whispered. Nayland Smith--for indeed it was none other--stood up and entered the room. "Thank God you are safe, old man," he said. "But in waiting for one who is stealthily entering a room, don't, as you love me, take it for granted that he will enter _upright_. I could have shot you from the floor with ease! But, mercifully, even in the darkness, I recognized your Arab slippers!" "Smith," I said, my heart beating wildly, "I thought you were drugged-- murdered. The port contained an opiate." "I guessed as much!" snapped Smith. "But despite the excellent tuition of Dr. Fu-Manchu, I am still childishly trustful; and the fact that I did not partake of the crusted '45 was not due to any suspicions which I entertained at that time." "But, Smith, I saw you drink some port." "I regret to contradict you, Petrie, but you must be aware that the state of my liver--due to a long residence in Burma--does not permit me to indulge in the luxury of port. My share of the '45 now reposes amid the moss in the tulip-bowl, which you may remember decorated the dining table! Not desiring to appear churlish, by means of a simple feat of legerdemain I drank your health and future happiness in claret! "For God's sake what is going on, Smith? Some one climbed from your window." "I climbed from my window!" "What!" I said dazedly--"it was you! But what does it all mean? Karamaneh----" "It is for her I fear, Petrie, now. We have not a moment to waste!" He made for the door. "Sir Lionel must be warned at all cost
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