Guy Boothby

“ I answered, “I was compelled to leave his body in the street where I had found it, but it is quite safe.”
“I must go and get it,” she said. And as she spoke she tried to rise, but Nikola put out his hand and stayed her.
“You must not move,” he said. “Leave everything to me. I will take care that your father's body is found and protected.”
“But I must go home.”
“My poor girl,” said Nikola tenderly, “you do not know everything. You have no home to go to. It was wrecked by the mob this evening.” ”

“ But what have you got there?”
“A girl,” I answered, “the daughter of a missionary I believe. She has been wounded, and even now is unconscious. If I had not discovered her she would have been killed by the man who murdered her father.”
“But what on earth made you bring her here?”
“What else could I do? Her father is dead, and I believe the mob has wrecked her house?”
“Put her down,” said Nikola, “and let me look at her.” ”

“ If he is still a priest and we abduct him then we fight the Government and the Church. On the other hand, if he is no longer a priest, and the slightest suspicion of what we are about to do leaks out, then we shall have to fight a society which is ten times as powerful as any government or priesthood in the world.”
“You have Nikola's instructions I suppose?” ”

“ There was an air of suppressed excitement about those Chinamen whom I met that puzzled me, and when I came upon knots of them at street corners, such scraps of conversation as I was able to overhear did not disabuse my mind of the idea that some disturbance was in active preparation. However I had not time to pay much attention to them. I had to find Mr. Williams' house, give him the letter, and get back to Nikola with as little delay as possible. ”

“ It must have been nearly an hour later when I woke to find Nikola shaking me by the shoulder.
“Time's up,” he said. “The ponies are at the door, and we must embark on the next stage of our adventure.” ”

“ Almost instantly she opened her eyes, looked about her, and seeing, as she supposed, two Chinamen bending over her, fell back with an expression of abject terror on her face. But Nikola, who was still kneeling beside her, reassured her, saying in English—
“You need have no fear. You are in safe hands. We will protect you, come what may.” ”

“ Bending a little forward so as to reach his ear I whispered the following sentence into it: “I should like to ask your honourable presence one simple question.”
“This is not the time to ask questions however simple,” he replied; “you must come round in the morning.” ”

“ Then as soon as you can leave this place he will have you escorted carefully to your sister in Pekin. Now I think you had better be going. A conveyance is at the door, and my friend will be waiting to receive you. Mr. Bruce will you conduct Miss Medwin to the chair.”
“You are too good to me.”
“Not at all. You will amply compensate me if you will grant me one favour in return.”
“How can I serve you?”
“By never referring in any way to the fact of your having met us. When I tell you that our lives will in a great measure depend upon your reticence I feel sure you will comply with my request.” ”