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the advice of six colleagues； he had performed an operation that day of
which only two cases were on record； and the result had been brilliant
beyond all expectation。 No other man in London would have had the
daring to plan； or the skill to execute； such a heroic measure。
But he had promised Lady Sannox to see her that evening and it was
already half…past eight。 His hand was outstretched to the bell to order the
carriage when he heard the dull thud of the knocker。 An instant later
there was the shuffling of feet in the hall； and the sharp closing of a door。
〃A patient to see you； sir； in the consulting… room； said the butler。
〃About himself？〃
〃No； sir； I think he wants you to go out。〃
〃It is too late； cried Douglas Stone peevishly。 〃I won't go。〃
〃This is his card； sir。〃
The butler presented it upon the gold salver which had been given to
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his master by the wife of a Prime Minister。
〃‘Hamil Ali； Smyrna。' Hum！ The fellow is a Turk； I suppose。〃
〃Yes； sir。 He seems as if he came from abroad； sir。 And he's in a
terrible way。〃
〃Tut； tut！ I have an engagement。 I must go somewhere else。 But
I'll see him。 Show him in here； Pim。〃
A few moments later the butler swung open the door and ushered in a
small and decrepit man； who walked with a bent back and with the
forward push of the face and blink of the eyes which goes with extreme
short sight。 His face was swarthy； and his hair and beard of the deepest
black。 In one hand he held a turban of white muslin striped with red； in
the other a small chamois leather bag。
〃Good…evening；〃 said Douglas Stone； when the butler had closed the
door。 〃You speak English； I presume？〃
〃Yes； sir。 I am from Asia Minor； but I speak English when I speak
slow。〃
〃You wanted me to go out； I understand？〃
〃Yes； sir。 I wanted very much that you should see my wife。〃
〃I could come in the morning； but I have an engagement which
prevents me from seeing your wife to…night。〃
The Turk's answer was a singular one。 He pulled the string which
closed the mouth of the chamois leather bag； and poured a flood of gold
on to the table。
〃There are one hundred pounds there；〃 said he； 〃and I promise you that
it will not take you an hour。 I have a cab ready at the door。〃
Douglas Stone glanced at his watch。 An hour would not make it too
late to visit Lady Sannox。 He had been there later。 And the fee was an
extraordinarily high one。 He had been pressed by his creditors lately； and
he could not afford to let such a chance pass。 He would go。
〃What is the case？〃 he asked。
〃Oh； it is so sad a one！ So sad a one！ You have not； perhaps； heard
of the daggers of the Almohades？〃
〃Never。〃
〃Ah； they are Eastern daggers of a great age and of a singular shape；
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with the hilt like what you call a stirrup。 I am a curiosity dealer； you
understand； and that is why I have come to England from Smyrna； but
next week I go back once more。 Many things I brought with me； and I
have a few things left； but among them； to my sorrow； is one of these
daggers。〃
〃You will remember that I have an appointment； sir；〃 said the surgeon；
with some irritation。 〃Pray confine yourself to the necessary details。〃
〃You will see that it is necessary。 To…day my wife fell down in a faint
in the room in which I keep my wares； and she cut her lower lip upon this
cursed dagger of Almohades。〃
〃I see；〃 said Douglas Stone； rising。 〃And you wish me to dress the
wound？ 〃
〃No； no； it is worse than that。〃
〃What then？〃 〃These daggers are poisoned。〃
〃Poisoned！〃
〃Yes； and there is no man； East or West； who can tell now what is the
poison or what the cure。 But all that is known I know； for my father was
in this trade before me； and we have had much to do with these poisoned
weapons。〃
〃What are the symptoms？〃
〃Deep sleep； and death in thirty hours。〃
〃And you say there is no cure。 Why then should you pay me this
considerable fee？〃
〃No drug can cure； but the knife may。〃
〃And how？〃
〃The poison is slow of absorption。 It remains for hours in the
wound。〃
〃Washing； then； might cleanse it？〃
〃No more than in a snake…bite。 It is too subtle and too deadly。〃
〃Excision of the wound； then？〃
〃That is it。 If it be on the finger； take the finger off。 So said my
father always。 But think of where this wound is； and that it is my wife。
It is dreadful！〃
But familiarity with such grim matters may take the finer edge from a
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man's sympathy。 To Douglas Stone this was already an interesting case；
and he brushed aside as irrelevant the feeble objections of the husband。
〃It appears to be that or nothing；〃 said he brusquely。 It is better to
lose a lip than a life。〃
〃Ah； yes； I know that you are right。 Well； well； it is kismet； and must
be faced。 I have the cab； and you will come with me and do this thing。〃
Douglas Stone took his case of bistouries from a drawer； and placed it
with a roll of bandage and a compress of lint in his pocket。 He must
waste no more time if he were to see Lady Sannox。
〃I am ready；〃 said he； pulling on his overcoat。 Will you take a glass
of wine before you go out into this cold air？〃
His visitor shrank away； with a protesting hand upraised。
〃You forget that I am a Mussulman； and a true follower of the
Prophet；〃 said he。 〃But tell me what is the bottle of green glass which
you have placed in your pocket？〃
〃It is chloroform。〃
〃Ah； that also is forbidden to us。 It is a spirit； and we make no use of
such things。〃
〃What！ You would allow your wife to go through an operation
without an anaesthetic？〃
〃Ah！ she will feel nothing； poor soul。 The deep sleep has already
come on； which is the first work