ed into your room--you
remember?--but you were awake, and I made no move when he slipped back
to his own cabin; I wanted to take him red-handed."

"Have you any idea ...?"

"Who he is? No more than _where_ he is! Probably some creature of Dr.
Fu-Manchu specially chosen for the purpose; obviously a man of
culture, and probably of thug ancestry. I hit him--in the shoulder;
but even then he ran like a hare. We've searched the ship, without
result. He may have gone overboard and chanced the swim to shore...."

We stepped out on to the deck. Around us was that unforgettable
scene--Port Said by night. The ship was barely moving through the
glassy water, now. Smith took my arm and we walked forward. Above us
was the mighty peace of Egypt's sky ablaze with splendour; around and
about us moved the unique turmoil of the clearing-house of the Near
East.

"I would give much to know the real identity of the Bishop of
Damascus," muttered Smith.

He stopped abruptly, snapping his teeth together and grasping my arm
as in a vice. Hard upon his words had followed the rattling clangour
as the great anchor was let go; but horribly intermingled with the
metallic roar there came to us such a fearful inarticulate shrieking
as to chill one's heart.

The anchor plunged into the water of the harbour; the shrieking
ceased. Smith turned to me, and his face was tragic in the light of
the arc lamp swung hard by.

"We shall never know," he whispered. "God forgive him--he must be in
bloody tatters now. Petrie, the poor fool was hiding in the
_chain-locker!_"

A little hand stole into mine. I turned quickly. Karamaneh stood
beside me. I placed my arm about her shoulders, drawing her close; and
I blush to relate that all else was forgotten.

For a moment, heedless of the fearful turmoil forward, Nayland Smith
stood looking at us. Then he turned, with his rare smile, and walked
aft.

"Perhaps you're right, Petrie!" he said.

* * * * *

Uniform with this Volume

36 De Profundis Oscar Wilde

37 Lord Arthur Savile's Crime Oscar Wilde

38 Selected Poems Oscar Wilde

39 An Ideal Husband Oscar Wilde

40 Intentions Oscar Wilde

41 Lady Windermere's Fan Oscar Wilde

77 Selected Prose Oscar Wilde

85