Part 23 (1/2)

”Yes,” was the reply, ”did you notice her, then?”

I nodded and said no more, for in truth I had no more to say. I had good reason to respect the uncanny powers of Ha.s.san of Aleppo, but I doubted if even his omniscience could tell him (since I had actually gone down into the strong-room) whether when I emerged I had the keys, or whether my visit and seeming acceptance of his orders had been no more than a subterfuge!

That the Has.h.i.+s.h.i.+n had some means of communicating with me at the Astoria was evident from the contents of the note which I had received, and as I walked in the direction of the hotel my mind was filled with all sorts of misgivings. I was playing with fire!

Had I done rightly or should I have acted otherwise? I sighed wearily. The dark future would resolve all my doubts.

When I reached the Astoria, Bristol had not arrived. I lighted a cigarette and sat down in the lounge to await his coming. Presently a boy approached, handing me a message which had been taken down from the telephone by the clerk. It was as follows--

Tell Mr. Cavanagh, who is waiting in the hotel, to take what I am expecting to his chambers, and say that I will join him there in twenty minutes.

INSPECTOR BRISTOL.

Again I doubted the wisdom of Bristol's plan. Had I not fled to the Astoria to escape from the dangerous solitude of my rooms? That he was laying some trap for the Has.h.i.+s.h.i.+n was sufficiently evident, and whilst I could not justly suspect him of making a p.a.w.n of me I was quite unable to find any other explanation of this latest move.

I was torn between conflicting doubts. I glanced at my watch. Yes!

There was just time for me to revisit the bank ere joining Bristol at my chambers! I hesitated. After all, in what possible way could it jeopardize his plans for me merely to pretend to bring the keys?

”Hang it all!” I said, and jumped to my feet. ”These maddening conjectures will turn my brain! I'll let matters stand as they are, and risk the consequences!”

I hesitated no longer, but pa.s.sed out from the hotel and once more directed my steps in the direction of Fleet Street.

As I pa.s.sed in under the arch through which streamed many busy workers, I told myself that to dread entering my own chambers at high noon was utterly childish. Yet I did dread doing so! And as I mounted the stair and came to the landing, which was always more or less dark, I paused for quite a long time before putting the key in the lock.

The affair of the accursed slipper was playing havoc with my nerves, and I laughed dryly to note that my hand was not quite steady as I turned the key, opened my door, and slipped into the dim hallway.

As I closed it behind me, something, probably a slight noise, but possibly something more subtle--an instinct--made me turn rapidly.

There facing me stood Ha.s.san of Aleppo.

CHAPTER XXIV

I KEEP THE APPOINTMENT

That moment was pungent with drama. In the intense hush of the next five seconds I could fancy that the world had slipped away from me and that I was become an unsubstantial thing of dreams.

I was in no sense master of myself; the effect of the presence of this white-bearded fanatic was of a kind which I am entirely unable to describe. About Ha.s.san of Aleppo was an aroma of evil, yet of majesty, which marked him strangely different from other men--from any other that I have ever known. In his venerable presence, remembering how he was Sheikh of the a.s.sa.s.sins, and recalling his b.l.o.o.d.y history, I was always conscious of a weakness, physical and mental. He appalled me; and now, with my back to the door, I stood watching him and watching the ominous black tube which he held in his hand. It was a weapon unknown to Europe and therefore more fearful than the most up-to-date of death-dealing instruments.

Ha.s.san of Aleppo pointed it toward me.

”The keys, effendim,” he said; ”hand me the keys!”

He advanced a step; his manner was imperious. The black tube was less than a foot removed from my face. That I had my revolver in my pocket could avail me nothing, for in my pocket it must remain, since I dared to make no move to reach it under cover of that unfamiliar, terrible weapon.

The black eyes of Ha.s.san glared insanely into mine.

”You will have placed them in your pocketcase,” he said. ”Take it out; hand it to me!”

I obeyed, for what else could I do? Taking the case from my pocket, I placed it in his lean brown hand.