The Crystal Claw by William Le Queux

When at last I regained consciousness, after an interval I could not measure, my half-opened eyes fell upon a strange scene, one which at first seemed to be fantastic and unreal.

The room was unfamiliar, of good size and well-furnished but dimly lit, only one light showing in the electrolier in the centre. Even by that light I recognized that it was neglected and evidently had been long closed, for a strange close smell greeted my nostrils and I saw that dust lay thickly upon the round polished table in the centre.

Upon the table a small piece of candle was set upon a plate.

I tried to make out where I was and what had happened. But all I could tell was that I was seated in a cramped position, tied hand and foot. My limbs ached intolerably as though I had remained there many hours.

Suddenly I heard a movement in the shadow, the opening and closing of a door, and a moment later I saw silhouetted before me the figure of old Humphreys.

"Well? " he asked in a hard, sarcastic voice, "and how are you getting on now -- eh?"

"I -- I don't know," I replied so faintly that I could scarcely hear my own voice. "Where am I?"

"You are in my hands at last, Rex Yelverton," he snarled. "You chose to interfere in matters that did not concern you. You have had plenty of warning. But as you refused to heed them I have decided to act."

"What do you mean? " I cried in dismay. "What harm have I done you?"

The old man merely chuckled exultantly at the way I had fallen into the trap he had so cunningly prepared -- with Feng's aid, no doubt, I thought. I had all along believed the old cosmopolitan financier to be my friend. I sat aghast at the astounding discovery that he was my enemy. For a few seconds I remained speechless.

"Now," he said in a deep vindictive voice, "there is but little time left. Look over yonder."

He turned the switch and the room was instantly flooded with light, and as I gazed, dazzled by the sudden brightness, I saw seated in a chair within a few feet of me, a woman's figure.

It was Thelma!

I shrieked her name, but only a faint sound escaped my lips, for my throat was dry and sore, and I could scarcely raise my voice above a hoarse whisper.

Her hair was dishevelled, her eyes were closed, her face was white as marble, and her head hung inertly on one side. She was clearly unconscious.

It must have been her scream of terror that I had heard while we sat at dinner!

"What does this mean? " I demanded trying to rise. But my hands were secured tightly behind my back with a piece of rope, which had been passed through a hole in the wall behind me and secured upon the opposite side.

I was powerless to move more than six inches from the wall!

"It means that you have only five minutes more to live! " the old man answered slowly, with diabolical grin. "You escaped once by a miracle -- but I have taken good care not to fail this time."

"You assassin! " I cried, glaring at him and yet entirely powerless.