Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Case of Lady Sannox
Aninstantlatertherewastheshufflingoffeetinthehall,andthesharpclosingofadoor.
"Apatienttoseeyou,sir,intheconsultingroom,"saidthebutler.
"Abouthimself?"
"No,sir;Ithinkhewantsyoutogoout."
"Itistoolate,"criedDouglasStonepeevishly."Iwon’tgo."
"Thisishiscard,sir."
ThebutlerpresentedituponthegoldsalverwhichhadbeengiventohismasterbythewifeofaPrimeMinister.
"’HamilAli,Smyrna.’Hum!ThefellowisaTurk,Isuppose."
"Yes,sir.Heseemsasifhecamefromabroad,sir.Andhe’sinaterribleway."
"Tut,tut!Ihaveanengagement.Imustgosomewhereelse.ButI’llseehim.Showhiminhere,Pim."
Afewmomentslaterthebutlerswungopenthedoorandusheredinasmallanddecrepitman,whowalkedwithabentbackandwiththeforwardpushofthefaceandblinkoftheeyeswhichgoeswithextremeshortsight.Hisfacewasswarthy,andhishairandbeardofthedeepestblack.Inonehandheheldaturbanofwhitemuslinstripedwithred,intheotherasmallchamois-leatherbag.
"Goodevening,"saidDouglasStone,whenthebutlerhadclosedthedoor."YouspeakEnglish,Ipresume?"
"Yes,sir.IamfromAsiaMinor,butIspeakEnglishwhenIspeakslow."
"Youwantedmetogoout,Iunderstand?"
"Yes,sir.Iwantedverymuchthatyoushouldseemywife."
"Icouldcomeinthemorning,butIhaveanengagementwhichpreventsmefromseeingyourwifetonight."
TheTurk’sanswerwasasingularone.Hepulledthestringwhichclosedthemouthofthechamois-leatherbag,andpouredafloodofgoldontothetable.