William Le Queux.
Devonshire Club, London, 1910.
Chapter One.
Introduces the Stranger.
“My name? Why—what does that matter, Doctor? In an hour—perhaps before—I won’t trouble anybody further.”
“But surely it is your duty, my friend, to let me know your name?” argued the other. “Even if it be in confidence.”
The dying man slowly shook his head in the negative, moved uneasily, and stretching forth his thin trembling hand, answered in indifferent French.
“I regret that I cannot satisfy your curiosity. I have a reason—a—a strong private reason. Here is my key,” he went on, speaking very slowly and with great difficulty in a weak voice scarce above a whisper. “Open my bag, doctor, and;—and you’ll find there a—a big envelope. Will you give it to me?”