As I also turned my eyes in that direction, the rats overcame their
temporary fear, and began....
"You have been good enough to notice," said the Chinaman, his voice
still sunk in that sibilant whisper, "my partiality for dumb allies.
You have met my scorpions, my death-adders, my baboon-man. The uses of
such a playful little animal as a marmoset have never been fully
appreciated before, I think, but to an indiscretion of this last-named
pet of mine I seem to remember that you owed something in the past,
Dr. Petrie...."
Nayland Smith stifled a deep groan. One rapid glance I ventured at his
face. It was a greyish hue now, and dank with perspiration. His gaze
met mine.
The rats had almost ceased squealing.
"Much depends upon yourself, doctor," continued Fu-Manchu, slightly
raising his voice. "I credit Mr. Commissioner Nayland Smith with
courage high enough to sustain the raising of all the gates; but I
estimate the strength of your friendship highly, also, and predict
that you will use the sword of the _samurai_ certainly not later than
the time when I shall raise the third gate...."
A low shuddering sound, which I cannot hope to describe, but alas! can
never forget, broke from the lips of the tortured man.
"In China," resumed Fu-Manchu, "we call this quaint fancy the Six
Gates of Joyful Wisdom. The first gate, by which the rats are
admitted, is called the Gate of Joyous Hope; the second, the Gate of
Mirthful Doubt.
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