|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 15
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 someone in connection with
so small a box) had been concealed inside, and had killed Professor
Deeping whilst he was actually engaged in endeavouring to force it
open. This inconceivable creature had then searched the study for
the slipper--or for the key of the safe. Interrupted and trapped
by the arrival of the police, the creature had returned to the box,
re-closed it, and had actually been there when the study was
searched!
For a creature so small as the murderous thing in the box to slip
out during the confusion, and at some time prior to Bristol's
arrival, was no difficult matter. The inspector and I were certain
that these were the facts.
But what was this creature?
I turned to the chapter in "Assyrian Mythology"--"The Tradition
of the Hashishin."
The legends which the late Professor Deeping had collected relative
to this sect of religious murderers were truly extraordinary. Of
the cult's extinction at the time of writing he was clearly certain,
but he referred to the popular belief, or Moslem legend, that, since
Hassan of Khorassan, there had always been a Sheikh-al-jebal, and
that a dreadful being known as Hassan of Aleppo was the present
holder of the title.
He referred to the fact that De Sacy has shown the word Assassin
to be derived from Hashishin, and quoted El-Idrisi to the same
end. The Hashishin performed their murderous feats under the
influence of hashish, or Indian hemp; and during the state of
ecstasy so induced, according to Deeping, they acquired powers
almost superhuman. I read how they could scale sheer precipices,
pass fearlessly along narrow ledges which would scarce afford
foothold for a rat, cast themselves from great heights unscathed,
and track one marked for death in such a manner as to remain unseen
not only by the victim but by others about him. At this point of
my studies I started, in a sudden nervous panic, and laid my hand
upon my revolver.
I thought of the eyes which had seemed to look up from the black
well of the staircase--I thought of the horrible end of this man
whose book lay upon the table . . . and I thought I heard a faint
sound outside my study door!
The key of Deeping's safe, and his letter to me, lay close by my
hand. I slipped them into a drawer and locked it. With every
nerve, it seemed, strung up almost to snapping point, I mechanically
pursued my reading.
"At the time of the Crusades," wrote Deeping, "there was a story
current of this awful Order which I propose to recount. It is one
of the most persistent dealing with the Hashishin, and is related
to-day of the apparently mythical Hassan of Aleppo. I am disposed
to believe that at one time it had a solid foundation, for a
similar practice was common in Ancient Egypt and is mentioned by
Georg Ebers."
My door began very slowly to open!
Merciful God! What was coming into the room!
So very slowly, so gently, nay, all but imperceptibly, did it move,
that had my nerves been less keenly attuned I doubt not I should
have remained unaware of the happening. Frozen with horror, I sat
and watched. Yet my mental condition was a singular one.
My direct gaze never quitted the door, but in some strange fashion
I saw the words of the next paragraph upon the page before me!
"As making peculiarly efficient assassins, when under the influence
of the drug, and as being capable of concealing themselves where
a normal man could not fail to be detected--"
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|