bitter than sweet; but no one of them all can com

een my teeth from his flask. My heart was beating irregularly; my mind yet partly inert. With something compoun

Nayland

seemed to pass, ere spee

whispered,

ed it firmly, warmly; and I saw his gray eyes to be

old Petrie! Thanks to you, I

et. Muffled sounds of shouting and scuffling reached me. Two men in the uniform of the Thames P

pressed in my face. "His missing lady friend has give

head. "I don't know what weapon she employed in my

upon Smith, for his presence ther

's sake enlighten me! I neve

st!" concluded Smi

wrenched off and the contents exposed to view. It was filled with a variety of gold ornaments, cups, vases, silks, and barbar

asked, in a vo

Smith. "Where it has come from and where it was goi

n yo

n the opium-den! I heard you and Fletcher arrive. I saw you pas

the ca

nothing further, except that our plans must have leaked out in some mysterious fashion. Petrie, my suspicions point to high quarters.

by a sudden loud

from somewhere within the

dering what discovery this outcry portended. I had not long to wait. Out by the low doorw

upon the plan

d in another minute must have slipped away with it. Detective Deacon saw the light shining through a crack in the floo

ou open

"I shall have it valued in the

omething back; I

th the limp! I heard him in the place

together sharply, looking stra

nd unless the effects of the anaes

!" I

the limp is