"Sir Lionel has disappeared!"
CHAPTER XXXVI
THE DUNGEON
We were out in the corridor now, Smith showing the way with the light of his electric pocket-lamp. My mind was clear enough, but I felt as weak as a child.
"You look positively ghastly, old man," rapped Smith, "which is no matter for wonder. I have yet to learn how it happened that you are not lying insensible, or dead, as a result of the drugged wine. When I heard some one moving in your room, it never occurred to me that it was you."
"Smith," I said—"the house seems as still as death."
"You, Kâramaneh, and myself are the only occupants of the east wing.
Homopoulo saw to that."
"Then he——"
"He is a member of the Si-Fan, a creature of Dr. Fu-Manchu—yes, beyond all doubt! Sir Lionel is unfortunate—as ever—in his choice of servants. I blame my own stupidity entirely, Petrie; and I pray that my enlightenment has not come too late."
"What does it all mean?—what have you learnt?"