I seemed to haul myself back out of the pit of unconsciousness by the aid of two little
hands which clasped my own. I uttered a sigh that was almost a sob, and opened my eyes.
I was sitting in the big red-leathern armchair in my own study . . . and a lovely but truly
bizarre figure, in a harem dress, was kneeling on the carpet at my feet; so that my first
sight of the world was the sweetest sight that the world had to offer me, the dark eyes of
Karamaneh, with tears trembling like jewels upon her lashes!
I looked no further than that, heeded not if there were others in the room beside we two,
but, gripping the jewel-laden fingers in what must have been a cruel clasp, I searched the
depths of the glorious eyes in ever growing wonder. What change had taken place in
those limpid, mysterious pools? Why was a wild madness growing up within me like a
flame? Why was the old longing returned, ten-thousandfold, to snatch that pliant,
exquisite shape to my breast?
No word was spoken, but the spoken words of a thousand ages could not have expressed
one tithe of what was held in that silent communion. A hand was laid hesitatingly on my
shoulder. I tore my gaze away from the lovely face so near to mine, and glanced up.
Aziz stood at the back of my chair.
"God is all merciful," he said. "My sister is restored to us" (I loved him for the plural);
"and she remembers."
Those few words were enough; I understood now that this lovely girl, who half knelt, half
lay, at my feet, was not the evil, perverted creature of Fu-Manchu whom we had gone out
to arrest with the other vile servants of the Chinese doctor, but was the old, beloved
companion of two years ago, the Karamaneh for whom I had sought long and wearily in
Egypt, who had been swallowed up and lost to me in that land of mystery.
The loss of memory which Fu-Manchu had artificially induced was subject to the same
inexplicable laws which ordinarily rule in cases of amnesia. The shock of her brave
action that night had begun to effect a cure; the sight of Aziz had completed it.
Inspector Weymouth was standing by the writing-table. My mind cleared rapidly now,
and standing up, but without releasing the girl's hands, so that I drew her up beside me, I
said:
"He's waiting to see you, Doctor," replied the inspector.
A pang, almost physical, struck at my heart.
