Within my view, from the corner of the room where I sat in deepest shadow, through the
partly opened window (it was screwed, like our own) were rows of glass-houses
gleaming in the moonlight, and, beyond them, orderly ranks of flower-beds extending
into a blue haze of distance. By reason of the moon's position, no light entered the room,
but my eyes, from long watching, were grown familiar with the darkness, and I could see
Burke quite clearly as he lay in the bed between my post and the window. I seemed to be
back again in those days of the troubled past when first Nayland Smith and I had come to
grips with the servants of Dr. Fu-Manchu. A more peaceful scene than this flower-
planted corner of Essex it would be difficult to imagine; but, either because of my
knowledge that its peace was chimerical, or because of that outflung consciousness of
danger which, actually, or in my imagination, preceded the coming of the Chinaman's
agents, to my seeming the silence throbbed electrically and the night was laden with stilly
omens.
Already cramped by my journey in the market-cart, I found it difficult to remain very
long in any one position. What information had Burke to sell? He had refused, for some
reason, to discuss the matter that evening, and now, enacting the part allotted him by
Nayland Smith, he feigned sleep consistently, although at intervals he would whisper to
me his doubts and fears.
All the chances were in our favor to-night; for whilst I could not doubt that Dr. Fu-
Manchu was set upon the removal of the ex-officer of New York police, neither could I
doubt that our presence in the farm was unknown to the agents of the Chinaman.
According to Burke, constant attempts had been made to achieve Fu-Manchu's purpose,
and had only been frustrated by his (Burke's) wakefulness.
There was every probability that another attempt would be made to- night.
Any one who has been forced by circumstance to undertake such a vigil as this will be
familiar with the marked changes (corresponding with phases of the earth's movement)
which take place in the atmosphere, at midnight, at two o'clock, and again at four o'clock.
During those fours hours falls a period wherein all life is at its lowest ebb, and every
Physician is aware that there is a greater likelihood of a patient's passing between
midnight and four A. M., than at any other period during the cycle of the hours.
To-night I became specially aware of this lowering of vitality, and now, with the night at
that darkest phase which precedes the dawn, an indescribable dread, such as I had known
before in my dealings with the Chinaman, assailed me, when I was least prepared to
combat it. The stillness was intense. Then:
"Here it is!" whispered Burke from the bed.
