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 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:
"Weymouth--where is--?
"He's waiting to see you, doctor," replied the Inspector.
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