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THE GREEN EYES OF BÂST
THE GREEN EYES OF BÂST
" The Golden Scorpion ," " Dope ," " The Hand of Fu-Manchu ," " The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu ," " The Return of Fu-Manchu ," " Tales of Secret Egypt ," " The Yellow Claw ," " The Quest of the Sacred Slipper ," etc. A.L. BURT COMPANY Publishers New York Published by arrangement with Robert M. McBride & Co. Copyright, 1920, by ROBERT M. MCBRIDE & Co....
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AUTHOR OF
AUTHOR OF
Printed in the United States of America...
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CHAPTER I I SEE THE EYES
CHAPTER I I SEE THE EYES
"Good evening, sir. A bit gusty?" "Very much so, sergeant," I replied. "I think I will step into your hut for a moment and light my pipe if I may." "Certainly, sir. Matches are too scarce nowadays to take risks with 'em. But it looks as if the storm had blown over." "I'm not sorry," said I, entering the little hut like a sentry-box which stands at the entrance to this old village high street for accommodation of the officer on point duty at that spot. "I have a longish walk before me." "Yes. You
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CHAPTER II THE SIGN OF THE CAT
CHAPTER II THE SIGN OF THE CAT
When Coates brought in my tea, newspapers and letters in the morning, I awakened with a start, and: "Has there been any rain during the night, Coates?" I asked. Coates, whose unruffled calm at all times provided an excellent sedative, replied: "Not since a little before midnight, sir." "Ah!" said I, "and have you been in the garden this morning, Coates?" "Yes, sir," he replied, "for raspberries for breakfast, sir." "But not on this side of the cottage?" "Not on this side." "Then will you step ou
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CHAPTER III THE GREEN IMAGE
CHAPTER III THE GREEN IMAGE
"YES," said Gatton, "I was speaking no more than the truth when I told them that you had special information which I hoped you would place at my disposal. Some of the particulars were given to me over the 'phone, you see, and I was glad to find you here when I arrived. I should have consulted you in any event, and principally about—that." He pointed to an object which I held in my hand. It was a little green enamel image; the crouching figure of a woman having a cat's head, a piece of Egyptian w
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CHAPTER IV ISOBEL
CHAPTER IV ISOBEL
Ten minutes later I was standing in a charming little boudoir which too often figured in my daydreams. My own photograph was upon the mantelpiece, and in Isobel's dark eyes when she greeted me there was a light which I lacked the courage to try to understand. I had not at that time learned what I learned later, and have already indicated, that my own foolish silence had wounded Isobel as deeply as her subsequent engagement to Eric Coverly had wounded me. The psychology of a woman is intriguing i
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CHAPTER V THE INTERRUPTED SUPPER
CHAPTER V THE INTERRUPTED SUPPER
I arrived at the Red House before Inspector Gatton. A constable was on duty at the gate and as I came up and paused he regarded me rather doubtfully until I told him that I had an appointment with Gatton. I stared up the drive towards the house. It was not, apparently, a very old building, presenting some of the worst features of the mid-Victorian period, and from whence it derived its name I could not conjecture unless from the fact that the greater part of the facade was overgrown with some ki
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CHAPTER VI THE VOICE
CHAPTER VI THE VOICE
"This is where the mystery centers," said Gatton. I made no reply, for I had not yet recovered from the shock of that discovery in the deserted supper room. It was so wholly unexpected and yet it so cruelly confirmed the Inspector's undisguised suspicions that it seemed to me to have created a sort of impalpable barrier between us. Of this Gatton was evidently conscious. He endeavored to arouse my interest in the inquiries which he was conducting in the garage, but for long enough I saw nothing
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CHAPTER VII THE CAT OF BUBASTIS
CHAPTER VII THE CAT OF BUBASTIS
"She belongs to the innumerable family of cats which suddenly came forth from the ruins of Tell Bastah in 1878," I wrote, Sir Gaston Maspero's "Egyptian Art" lying before me on the table, "and were in a few years scattered over the whole world." "She is Bâst, a goddess of good family, the worship of whom flourished especially in the east of the delta, and she is very often drawn or named on the monuments, although they do not tell us enough of her myths or her origin. She was allied or related t
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CHAPTER VIII MY VISITOR
CHAPTER VIII MY VISITOR
For long enough after Gatton's departure I sat thinking over our conversation. Despite the lateness of the hour at which he had departed, he had had no thought of rest and was setting out in quest of further evidence to point to the author of Sir Marcus's death. The room was laden with tobacco smoke, for our conference had lasted more than two hours, but dusk was very fully established and when presently as I sat there in the dark contemplating the horrible labyrinth into which my steps had drif
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CHAPTER IX THE VELVET CURTAIN
CHAPTER IX THE VELVET CURTAIN
"This gets me well out of my depth, Mr. Addison," said Inspector Gatton. We were standing in the garden at a point near to my open study window. A small flower-bed intervened between the path and the high privet hedge. It lay much in shade, and Coates had set tobacco plants there. But the soil was softer here than elsewhere. Clearly marked upon it were the imprints of little high-heeled shoes. "It seems to take us back to the days of 'Spring-heeled Jack,'" my friend continued; "which was before
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CHAPTER X "HANGING EVIDENCE"
CHAPTER X "HANGING EVIDENCE"
Isobel came into the room and approached the chair from which I had arisen. In her plain morning frock, with the sun bringing out those wonderful russet tints in her hair, but having that frightened look still in her eyes, she had never seemed more beautiful. Yet I saw as I rose to greet her that she was laboring under the influence of dangerous nervous excitement. "You are worried about Eric?" I said, when we had exchanged those rather formal greetings in which I think we took mutual shelter. C
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CHAPTER XI THE SCARRED MAN
CHAPTER XI THE SCARRED MAN
It was towards the hour of seven in the evening that I reached the Abbey Inn at Upper Crossleys, itself among the most hoary buildings of the ancient village. It belonged to the days when white-clad brethren from the once great monastery of Croix-de-lis had labored in the abbey meadows and fished in the little stream which ran slowly through a neighboring valley. Time had scarred it deeply and the balcony overhanging the coachyard sagged in a rather alarming fashion as though about to drop down
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CHAPTER XII I DREAM OF GREEN EYES
CHAPTER XII I DREAM OF GREEN EYES
It was long enough before sleep visited me that night. For nearly half an hour I stood at my open window looking across a moon-bathed slope to where a tower projected, ghostly, above the fringe of the woods. The landlord had informed me that it was Friar's Park which could thus be seen peeping out from the trees, and as I stood watching that sentinel tower a thousand strange ideas visited me. The curious air of loneliness of which I had become conscious at the moment of my arrival, was emphasize
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CHAPTER XIII DR. DAMAR GREEFE
CHAPTER XIII DR. DAMAR GREEFE
As the crow flies Friar's Park was less than two miles from the Abbey Inn; but the road, which according to a sign-board led "to Hainingham," followed a tortuous course through the valley, and when at last I came to what I assumed to be the gate-lodge, a thunderous ebony cloud crested the hill-top above, and its edge, catching the burning rays of the sun, glowed fiercely like the pall of Avalon in the torchlight. Through the dense ranks of firs cloaking the slopes a breeze presaging the coming s
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CHAPTER XIV THE BLACK DOCTOR
CHAPTER XIV THE BLACK DOCTOR
My mail, neatly readdressed by Coates, was awaiting me when I returned to the Abbey Inn. The postal deliveries in Upper Crossleys were eccentric and unreliable, but having glanced through the cuttings enclosed, I partook of a hasty lunch and sat down to the task of preparing a column for the Planet which should not deflect public interest from the known central figures in the tragedy but which at the same time should hint at new developments. Many times in the intervals of writing I glanced thro
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CHAPTER XV I RECEIVE VISITORS
CHAPTER XV I RECEIVE VISITORS
Over my breakfast, on the following morning, I began to formulate that plan which was to lead to an extraordinary discovery. I breakfasted in my own room, and just as I had finished and was about to light my pipe, Mr. Martin, the landlord, knocked at the door. "Come in," I cried. He entered, and: "A lady has called to see you, sir," he announced. The manner in which he made the statement evidenced a curious mixture of disapproval and respect. For my own part it is perhaps unnecessary for me to s
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CHAPTER XVI THE GOLDEN CAT
CHAPTER XVI THE GOLDEN CAT
It was a perfect morning and although the sun had not yet attained to its full power it had dispersed the early mist and I knew that in another hour or less the heat would once more have become tropical. During the first part of my walk, and whilst I remained in the neighborhood of Upper Crossleys, I met never a wayfarer, and memories of the green eyes followed me step by step so that I was often tempted to look back over my shoulder by the idea that I should detect, as I had detected once befor
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CHAPTER XVII THE NUBIAN MUTE
CHAPTER XVII THE NUBIAN MUTE
I returned from the little market town beneath a sky of tropical brilliance. The landscape was bathed in a radiance of perfect moonlight, and under the trees which thickly lined the way, the shadows had a velvet quality rarely met with in England, their edges showing more sharply defined than I ever remembered to have noticed them before. But ere long I grew oblivious even of the beauty of the night, becoming absorbed in reflections respecting this most extraordinary case. Every new datum acquir
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CHAPTER XVIII THE SECRET OF FRIAR'S PARK
CHAPTER XVIII THE SECRET OF FRIAR'S PARK
Glancing into the bar-parlor as I entered, I observed that it was empty. Martin sat behind the counter, and he seemed to be immersed in the contents of a newspaper which was spread open before him. Going up to my room, I put on a pair of puttees—which, although useless and indeed injurious for general wear, are ideal for traversing bramble-land—took my thick stick, and further looked to the condition and readiness of my pistol. Finally, slipping an electric torch into my pocket, I set out. The b
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CHAPTER XIX THE MAN ON THE TOWER
CHAPTER XIX THE MAN ON THE TOWER
I quitted Friar's Park unobserved—as I had entered it; walking quickly across to the shrubbery, I began to work my way back to the point at which I must strike westward in order to reach the weed-grown kitchen-garden. At the risk of encountering man-traps I gave the lodge a wide berth and came out in sight of the wall at a point much nearer the lawns of the house than that from which I had entered. What it was that prompted me to turn and take a final look at the house I cannot say, but before c
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CHAPTER XX GATTON'S STORY
CHAPTER XX GATTON'S STORY
"It's no good going in now," said Gatton, in a weary voice; "in fact it might be dangerous. We have to consider the possibility of fire, however," he added. Voices of sleepers awakened and cries of inquiry sounded now from all over the inn; for naturally the household had been aroused by the tremendous noise of the explosion. For my own part I was altogether too dazed to conjecture what had happened. But that Gatton had saved me from some deadly peril I was well convinced. Stirrings and the nois
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CHAPTER XXI IN LONDON AGAIN
CHAPTER XXI IN LONDON AGAIN
"Then the sudden change in the police attitude towards Eric," said Isobel, "is not due to any discoveries which you or Inspector Gatton have made at Friar's Park?" "That I cannot say," I replied. "We have made certain discoveries as I have already told you, but whilst they distinctly point to some criminal whose identity is not yet fully established, unfortunately I cannot say that in a legal sense they clear Coverly." Isobel, as I had thought at the first moment of our meeting, looked very tire
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CHAPTER XXII THE GRAY MIST
CHAPTER XXII THE GRAY MIST
I was about half-way on my return journey when I heard a car racing along the road behind me, and as it came nearer I detected the fact that it was slowing down. Ere I could turn: "Hi! Mr. Addison!" hailed a voice. I stopped, turned round, and there was Gatton leaning out of the car and staring towards me through the deepening dusk. "Why, Gatton!" I said, walking up to him—"I waited more than ten minutes for you, and then gave it up." "Waited for me?" "Yes, by the police-box." He stared in evide
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CHAPTER XXIIITHE INEVITABLE
CHAPTER XXIIITHE INEVITABLE
"I very much regret having to trouble you, Miss Merlin, at such a time," said Inspector Gatton, "but as the paper lodged with you by the late Sir Eric Coverly may throw some light upon a very dark matter, perhaps you will read it to us." I watched the play of expression upon Isobel's face with a depth of sympathy which I cannot attempt to describe. The successive trials which had been imposed upon her in so short a time had robbed her cheeks of their sweet color and there were dark shadows under
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CHAPTER XXIV A CONFERENCE--INTERRUPTED
CHAPTER XXIV A CONFERENCE--INTERRUPTED
"The case has narrowed down," said Gatton, "from my point of view, into the quest of one man—" "Dr. Damar Greefe!" "Precisely. You have asked me what I found at Friar's Park and the Bell House, and I can answer you very briefly. Nothing! The latter place, had quite obviously been fired in a systematic and deliberate way. I suspect that the contents of the rooms had been soaked with petrol. It burned to a shell and then collapsed. At the present moment it is merely a mound of smoking ashes. "Of c
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CHAPTER XXV STATEMENT OF DAMAR GREEFE, M.D.
CHAPTER XXV STATEMENT OF DAMAR GREEFE, M.D.
The speaker reeled and seemed about to fall. Whereupon Gatton sprang forward and placed an armchair, which he himself had occupied, for Dr. Damar Greefe. The latter inclined his head in acknowledgment and sank down weakly, clutching at both arms of the chair. For my own part, I had not yet recovered power of speech; but: "Dr. Damar Greefe," said the Inspector, closely watching the man who sat there collapsed in the chair, "I arrest you on a charge of murder. I have to warn you that anything you
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CHAPTER XXVI STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONTINUED)
CHAPTER XXVI STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONTINUED)
As I walked along through the deserted native streets, for the hour was late, I reviewed mentally the circumstances of that affair, already several months old, to which I have referred. Since it proved to have a very important bearing upon my own life and unfortunately the lives of many others, I will briefly recount it here. Sir Burnham and Lady Coverly, having arrived at Port Said, were proceeding by rail to Cairo when an accident farther up the line necessitated their breaking their journey a
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CHAPTER XXVII STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONCLUDED)
CHAPTER XXVII STATEMENT OF DR. DAMAR GREEFE (CONCLUDED)
A month later I found myself installed at the Bell House, a property belonging to the Friar's Park estate, and in the commodious apartments of this establishment I had ample room for the accommodation of my library and my priceless specimens. Nahémah was likewise an inmate of the Bell House; but recognizing the precarious nature of my tenure, I had taken the precaution of retaining the suburban villa to which I have already referred; its modest rental proving no tax upon my greatly increased res
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CHAPTER XXVIII THE CLAWS OF THE CAT
CHAPTER XXVIII THE CLAWS OF THE CAT
The hoarse voice ceased. Neither Gatton nor I moved or spoke. Then: "I have three minutes—or less," whispered Damar Greefe. "Question me. I am at your service." "Where is your villa?" asked Gatton suddenly. "It is called The Laurels—" "The Laurels!" I cried incredulously. "It is called so," whispered the Eurasian. "It is the last house but one in College Road! From there I conducted my last experiment with L.K. Vapor, which resulted not in the death of Mr. Addison, but in that of Eric Coverly—"
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