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Page 94
"Don't imagine, Petrie," said Smith "that I am trying to lead you
blindfolded in order later to dazzle you with my perspicacity.
I am simply afraid that this may be a wild-goose chase.
The idea upon which I am acting does not seem to have struck you.
I wish it had. The fact would argue in favor of its being sound."
"At present I am hopelessly mystified."
"Well, then, I will not bias you towards my view.
But just study the situation, and see if you can arrive at
the reason for this sudden journey. I shall be distinctly
encouraged if you succeed."
But I did not succeed, and since Smith obviously was
unwilling to enlighten me, I pressed him no more.
The train stopped at Rugby, where he was engaged with
the stationmaster in making some mysterious arrangements.
At L--, however, their object became plain, for a high-power car
was awaiting us, and into this we hurried and ere the greater
number of passengers had reached the platform were being driven
off at headlong speed along the moon-bathed roads.
Twenty minutes' rapid traveling, and a white mansion leaped into the line
of sight, standing out vividly against its woody backing.
"Stradwick Hall," said Smith. "The home of Lord Southery.
We are first--but Dr. Fu-Manchu was on the train."
Then the truth dawned upon the gloom of my perplexity.
CHAPTER XXIII
"YOUR extraordinary proposal fills me with horror, Mr. Smith!"
The sleek little man in the dress suit, who looked like a head waiter
(but was the trusted legal adviser of the house of Southery)
puffed at his cigar indignantly. Nayland Smith, whose restless
pacing had led him to the far end of the library, turned, a remote
but virile figure, and looked back to where I stood by the open
hearth with the solicitor.
"I am in your hands, Mr. Henderson," he said, and advanced
upon the latter, his gray eyes ablaze. "Save for the heir,
who is abroad on foreign service, you say there is no kin
of Lord Southery to consider. The word rests with you.
If I am wrong, and you agree to my proposal, there is none
whose susceptibilities will suffer--"
"My own, sir!"
"If I am right, and you prevent me from acting, you become
a murderer, Mr. Henderson."
The lawyer started, staring nervously up at Smith, who now towered
over him menacingly.
"Lord Southery was a lonely man," continued my friend.
"If I could have placed my proposition before one of his blood,
I do not doubt what my answer had been. Why do you hesitate?
Why do you experience this feeling of horror?"
Mr. Henderson stared down into the fire. His constitutionally
ruddy face was pale.
"It is entirely irregular, Mr. Smith. We have not the necessary powers--"
Smith snapped his teeth together impatiently, snatching his watch
from his pocket and glancing at it.
"I am vested with the necessary powers. I will give you
a written order, sir."
"The proceeding savors of paganism. Such a course might be admissible
in China, in Burma--"
"Do you weigh a life against such quibbles? Do you suppose that,
granting MY irresponsibility, Dr. Petrie would countenance
such a thing if he doubted the necessity?"
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