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Rohmer, Sax, 1883-1959

"The Yellow Claw"

"
"H'm!" said Dunbar; "very ingenious, at any rate. Anything else?"
"Nothing much," said Sowerby, scanning his notes, "that you don't know
already. There was some very good stuff in the place--Oriental ware and
so on, a library of books which I'm told is unique, and a tremendous
stock of opium and hashish. It's a perfect maze of doors and
observation-traps. There's a small kitchen at the end, near the head of
the tunnel--which, by the way, could be used as a means of entrance
and exit at low tide. All the electric power came through the meter of
Kan-Suh Concessions."
"I see," said Dunbar, reflectively, glancing at his watch; "in a word,
we know everything except"...
"What's that?" said Sowerby, looking up.
"The identity of Mr. King!" replied the inspector, reaching for his hat
which lay upon the table.
Sowerby replaced his book in his pocket.
"I wonder if any of the bodies will ever come ashore?" he said.
"God knows!" rapped Dunbar; "we can't even guess how many were aboard.
You might as well come along, Sowerby, I've just heard from Dr.
Cumberly. Mrs. Leroux"...
"Dead?"
"Dying," replied the inspector; "expected to go at any moment. But the
doctor tells me that she may--it's just possible--recover consciousness
before the end; and there's a bare chance".


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