Tales of Terror and Mystery
The Case of Lady Sannox
"Thereareonehundredpoundsthere,"saidhe,"andIpromiseyouthatitwillnottakeyouanhour.Ihaveacabreadyatthedoor."
DouglasStoneglancedathiswatch.AnhourwouldnotmakeittoolatetovisitLadySannox.Hehadbeentherelater.Andthefeewasanextraordinarilyhighone.Hehadbeenpressedbyhiscreditorslately,andhecouldnotaffordtoletsuchachancepass.Hewouldgo.
"Whatisthecase?"heasked.
"Oh,itissosadaone!Sosadaone!Youhavenot,perhapsheardofthedaggersoftheAlmohades?"
"Never."
"Ah,theyareEasterndaggersofagreatageandofasingularshape,withthehiltlikewhatyoucallastirrup.Iamacuriositydealer,youunderstand,andthatiswhyIhavecometoEnglandfromSmyrna,butnextweekIgobackoncemore.ManythingsIbroughtwithme,andIhaveafewthingsleft,butamongthem,tomysorrow,isoneofthesedaggers."
"YouwillrememberthatIhaveanappointment,sir,"saidthesurgeon,withsomeirritation;"prayconfineyourselftothenecessarydetails."
"Youwillseethatitisnecessary.TodaymywifefelldowninafaintintheroominwhichIkeepmywares,andshecutherlowerlipuponthiscurseddaggerofAlmohades."
"Isee,"saidDouglasStone,rising."Andyouwishmetodressthewound?"
"No,no,itisworsethanthat."
"Whatthen?"
"Thesedaggersarepoisoned."
"Poisoned!"
"Yes,andthereisnoman,EastorWest,whocantellnowwhatisthepoisonorwhatthecure.ButallthatisknownIknow,formyfatherwasinthistradebeforeme,andwehavehadmuchtodowiththesepoisonedweapons.
