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The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu | Sax Rohmer | |
The Questing Hands |
Page 4 of 4 |
"Come downstairs," replied Smith quietly, "and see for yourself." He turned his head aside from the bed. Very unsteadily I followed him down the stairs and through the rambling old house out into the stone-paved courtyard. There were figures moving at the end of a long alleyway between the glass houses, and one, carrying a lantern, stooped over something which lay upon the ground. "That's Burke's cousin with the lantern," whispered Smith in my ear; "don't tell him yet." I nodded, and we hurried up to join the group. I found myself looking down at one of those thick-set Burmans whom I always associated with Fu-Manchu's activities. He lay quite flat, face downward; but the back of his head was a shapeless blood-dotted mass, and a heavy stock-whip, the butt end ghastly because of the blood and hair which clung to it, lay beside him. I started back appalled as Smith caught my arm. "It turned on its keeper!" he hissed in my ear. "I wounded it twice from below, and you severed one arm; in its insensate fury, its unreasoning malignity, it returned--and there lies its second victim . . ." "Then . . ." "It's gone, Petrie! It has the strength of four men even now. Look!" He stooped, and from the clenched left hand of the dead Burman, extracted a piece of paper and opened it. "Hold the lantern a moment," he said. In the yellow light he glanced at the scrap of paper. |
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The Return of Dr. Fu-Manchu Sax Rohmer |
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