The Quest of the Sacred Slipper

returning to my room, where there still lingered the faint perfume of my

up, Cavanagh," he said; "for

the contents of an anonymous

just in time, my promise

ote, "it seems to mean nothing. I take

sess the scientific mind; but I can no longer doubt that I am the object of a pursuit which commenced in Mecca! The happenings on the steamer prepared me for this, in a degree. When the man lost his hand at Port Said I doubted. I had supposed the days of

d in grow

vered," resumed the Professor. "In fact, as was rendered evident by the case of the steward,

a

aited a suitable opportunity. They had designed to take it at Port Said certainly, I think; but the bag was too large to be readily concealed, and, after the outrage, might h

isited

e Mandalay at Port Said! My death, however, has bee

hy

the nature of these contents; to know might endanger you. But the case is locked in my safe here, and the key, together with a full stat

l me all this?"

ghed h

now that my life is in real danger. I would give up what is demande

earer to the heart of this maze. What in heaven's

er, Mr. Ahmadeen, connected

n is, I believe, a person of some consequence in the

you taken to pr

ort laugh re

ing of a fatalist, Cavanagh! Beyond keeping my door locked, I

was more strongly borne in upon me that some uncanny menace

and asked for Detective-Inspector Bristol, whom I knew well. A few words were sufficient keenly to arouse his curios

urried to the door, only too glad to confide in one so well equipped to analyze my doubts and fears. For Bristol is no ordinary policeman, but a

returned from Jamaica and his face was as bronzed as a sailor's. One would never take Bristol for a detec

s Professor Deeping's

d, "beyond the fact that i

e your te

tain

f P Division. A brief delay, and the man came to the telephone whose

tage in extensive grounds. There's only one servant, a manservant, and he sleeps in a detached lodge. If the

do? What do you

owly, "it stands something like

ne bell beg

up the

o! Hu

!-is that

s! who i

e police, and they are send

sound of a confused and s

I cried

ing alone answered me. There was a crash. Clearly, Deep

" asked Bris

" I said. "Deeping has

ver the

me a dying whisper. "H