Less than two hours later, Inspector Weymouth and a party of men from Scotland Yard
raided the house in Museum Street. They found the stock of J. Salaman practically intact,
and, in the strangely appointed rooms above, every evidence of a hasty outgoing. But of
the instruments, drugs and other laboratory paraphernalia not one item remained. I would
gladly have given my income for a year, to have gained possession of the books, alone;
for, beyond all shadow of doubt, I knew them to contain formula calculated to
revolutionize the science of medicine.
Exhausted, physically and mentally, and with my mind a whispering- gallery of
conjectures (it were needless for me to mention whom respecting) I turned in, gratefully,
having patched up the slight wound in my calf.
I seemed scarcely to have closed my eyes, when Nayland Smith was shaking me into
wakefulness.
"You are probably tired out," he said; "but your crazy expedition of last night entitles you
to no sympathy. Read this; there is a train in an hour. We will reserve a compartment and
you can resume your interrupted slumbers in a corner seat."
As I struggled upright in bed, rubbing my eyes sleepily, Smith handed me the Daily
Telegraph, pointing to the following paragraph upon the literary page:
Messrs. M---- announce that they will publish shortly the long delayed work of Kegan
Van Roon, the celebrated American traveler, Orientalist and psychic investigator, dealing
with his recent inquiries in China. It will be remembered that Mr. Van Roon undertook to
motor from Canton to Siberia last winter, but met with unforeseen difficulties in the
province of Ho-Nan. He fell into the hands of a body of fanatics and was fortunate to
escape with his life. His book will deal in particular with his experiences in Ho-Nan, and
some sensational revelations regarding the awakening of that most mysterious race, the
Chinese, are promised. For reasons of his own he has decided to remain in England until
the completion of his book (which will be published simultaneously in New York and
London) and has leased Cragmire Tower, Somersetshire, in which romantic and historical
residence he will collate his notes and prepare for the world a work ear-marked as a
classic even before it is published.
I glanced up from the paper, to find Smith's eyes fixed upon me, inquiringly.
"From what I have been able to learn," he said, evenly, "we should reach Saul, with
decent luck, just before dusk."
As he turned, and quitted the room without another word, I realized, in a flash, the
purport of our mission; I understood my friend's ominous calm, betokening suppressed
excitement.
