Sax Rohmer

“ To learn, while one is searching for a malign and implacable enemy in Egypt, that that enemy, having secretly returned to London, is weaving his evil spells around “some we loved, the loveliest and the best,” is to know the meaning of an ordeal.
In pursuit of Antony Ferrara—the incarnation of an awful evil—Dr. Cairn had deserted his practice and had left England for Egypt. Now he was hurrying back again; for while he had sought in strange and dark places of that land of mystery for Antony Ferrara, the latter had been darkly active in London! ”

“ They are products of feverish swamps and deathly jungles. I hate orchids. The atmosphere of an orchid house cannot possibly be clear and healthy. One might as well spend one's time in a bacteriological laboratory.”
Myra shook her head with a pretended air of seriousness.
“You must not let Mr. Saunderson hear you,” she said. “His orchids are his children. Their very mystery enthralls him. Really, Robert, they are most fascinating. To look at one of those shapeless bulbs, and to speculate upon what kind of bloom it will produce, is almost as thrilling as reading a sensational novel. ”

“ Robert Cairn groaned, dropping into the big leathern armchair, and burying his face in his hands.
“Our position is maddening,” continued the elder man. “We know that Ferrara visits Mr. Saunderson's house; we know that he is laughing at our vain attempts to trap him. Crowning comedy of all, Saunderson does not know the truth, and is not the type of man who could ever understand. In fact, we dare not tell him, and we dare not tell Myra. The result is that those whom we would protect are unwittingly working against us, and against themselves.”
“That perfume!” burst out Robert Cairn. ”

“ A thing more deadly than the plague is abroad here in London. Apart from the personal aspect of the matter—of which I dare not think—what do we know of Ferrara's activities? His record is damnable. To our certain knowledge, his victims are many. If the murder of his adoptive father, Sir Michael, was actually the first of his crimes, we know of three other poor souls who beyond any shadow of doubt were launched into eternity by the black arts of this ghastly villain. ”

“ As the dim light crept along the aisle between the orchids, Robert Cairn saw his father's horror-stricken face, and saw a strange green plant growing in a sort of tub, before which the doctor stood. Four huge, smooth, egg-shaped buds grew upon the leafless stems. ”

“ In the face of science, in the face of modern skepticism, in the face of our belief in a benign God, this creature, Antony Ferrara, has proved himself conclusively to be—”
“He is what the benighted ancients called a magician,” interrupted Dr. Cairn quietly. “He is what was known in the Middle Ages as a wizard. What that means, exactly, few modern thinkers know; but I know, and one day others will know. Meanwhile his shadow lies upon a certain house.”
Robert Cairn shook his clenched fists in the air. In some men the gesture would have seemed melodramatic ”

“ It was like an oven, and the smell was stifling.”
“What smell?” asked Dr. Cairn. “Can you describe it?”
“Excuse me, sir, but I seem to notice it here in this room to-night. I think I noticed it about the place before, but never so strong as in the orchid houses.”
“Go on!” said Dr. Cairn.
“I went through the first house, and saw nothing. The shadow of the wall prevented the moonlight from shining in there; but just as I was about to enter the middle house, I thought I saw—a face.”
“What do you mean by saying that you thought you saw a face?” snapped Mr. Saunderson. ”

“ One is on the point of blooming—if it is not blooming already. He calls it the Mystery.”
At that, the doctor's excitement overcame him. Suddenly leaning out of the window, he shouted to the chauffeur:
“Quicker! Quicker! Never mind risks! Keep on top speed!”
“What is it, sir?” cried his son. “Heavens, what is it?”
“Did you say that it might have bloomed, Rob?”
“Myra”—Robert Cairn swallowed noisily—“told me three days ago that it was expected to bloom before the end of the week.”
“What is it like?”
“A thing four feet high, with huge egg-shaped buds.” ”

“ You will be surprised to hear that Antony is back in London, and is a frequent visitor here, It is quite like old times. “Keep calm, my boy,” urged the doctor. “It can profit us nothing, it can profit Myra nothing, for you to shatter your nerves at a time when real trials are before you. You are inviting another breakdown. Oh, I know it is hard; but for everybody's sake try to keep yourself in hand.”
“I am trying my best, sir,” replied Robert hollowly.
Dr. Cairn nodded.
“We must be diplomatic,” he continued. “That James Saunderson proposed to return to London, I had no idea. ”

“ Although you will find it hard to believe—and you have had dreadful opportunities to peer behind the veil—I hope very shortly to be able to answer that question, and to tell you who Antony Ferrara really is.”
Robert Cairn beat his fist upon the arm of the chair.
“I sometimes wonder,” he said, “that either of us has remained sane. Oh, what does it mean? What can we do? What can we do?”
“We must watch, Rob. To enlist the services of Saunderson would be almost impossible. He lives in his orchid houses; they are his world. ”

“ In her plain white linen frock, with the sun in her hair and her eyes looking unnaturally large, owing to the pallor of her beautiful face, she seemed to the man who rose to greet her an ethereal creature, but lightly linked to the flesh and blood world. ”

“ Does he not command a whole shadow army? Mr. Saunderson is entirely unsuspicious. Myra thinks of the fiend as a brother; and yet she has never once spoken of him. I wonder—”
Dr. Cairn sat deep in reflection. Suddenly he took out his watch.
“Go there now,” he said. “You will be in time for lunch. Remain there until I come. From to-day onward, although you should not have to bear such a strain, we must watch—watch night and day!”
III
Myra Duquesne came under an arch of roses to the wooden seat where Robert Cairn awaited her. ”

“ It is needless to recount here the disjointed sentences, punctuated with those first kisses which sweeten the memory of old age, that now passed for conversation—broken words which lovers have believed to be conversation since the world began. ”

“ Cairn, glancing toward the open door. “It is the odor of that black magic which, by all natural law, should be buried and lost forever in the tombs of the ancient wizards. Only two living men within my knowledge know the use and the hidden meaning of that perfume. Only one living man has ever dared to make it and use it.”
“Antony Ferrara!”
“We knew he was here, boy; now we know that he is using his powers here. Something tells me that we come to the end of the fight. May victory be with the just!”
II
Half Moon Street was bathed in tropical sunlight. ”

“ Cairn. “I could believe once more in the justice of Heaven, if the great knowledge of Sir Michael Ferrara should prove to be the weapon to destroy the fiend whom we raised—he and I—may we be forgiven!”
Robert Cairn's excitement was dreadful.
“Can you tell me nothing?” he cried. “What do you hope? What do you fear?”
“Don't ask me, Rob,” replied his father. “You will know within five minutes.”
The car was leaping along the dark suburban roads at a speed little below that of an express train. ”

“ The priestesses were consecrated to this. Let me get into the air!”
Mr. Saunderson, silent with amazement met them.
“Don't speak,” said. Dr. Cairn to him. “Look at the dead stems of your Mystery. You will find a thread of bright hair in the heart of each!”
Dr. Cairn opened the door of the sick room and beckoned to his son, who, haggard, trembling, waited upon the landing.
“Come in, boy,” he said softly, “and thank God!”
Robert Cairn, on tiptoe, entered. Myra Duquesne, pathetically pale but with that ominous shadow gone from her face, turned her wistful eyes toward the door ”

“ Robert Cairn nodded.
“What may have happened since—what may have happened!”
“You take too gloomy a view. James Saunderson is a Roman guardian. Even Antony Ferrara could make little headway there.”
“But Myra says that—Ferrara is—a frequent visitor.”
“And Saunderson,” replied Dr. Cairn, with a grim smile, “is a Scotsman! Rely upon his diplomacy, Rob. Myra will be safe enough.”
“God grant that she is!”
At that, silence fell between them, until, punctually to time, the train slowed into Charing Cross. Inspired by a common anxiety, Dr. ”