He seemed like one who stands above all ordinary human frailties and
emotions.
"Your prejudice is natural," rejoined Fo-Hi calmly. "You are ignorant
of our sublime motives, but you shall nevertheless assist us to
establish that intellectual control which is destined to be the new
World Force. No doubt you are conscious of a mental hiatus extending
from the moment when you found the pigtail of the worthy Ah-Fang-Fu
about your throat until that when you recovered consciousness in this
room. It has covered a period roughly of twenty-four hours, Dr. Stuart."
"I don't believe it," muttered Stuart--and found his own voice to
seem as unreal as everything else in the nightmare apartment. "If I
had not revived earlier, I should never have revived at all."
He raised his hand to his swollen throat, touching it gingerly.
"Your unconsciousness was prolonged," explained Fo-Hi, consulting an
open book written in Chinese characters, "by an injection which I
found it necessary to make. Otherwise, as you remark, it would have
been prolonged indefinitely. Your clever but rash companion was less
happy."
"What!" cried Stuart--"he is dead? You fiend! You damned yellow
fiend!" Emotion shook him and he sat clutching the leopard-skins and
glaring madly at the cowled figure.
"Fortunately," resumed Fo-Hi, "my people--with one exception--
succeeded in making their escape. I may add that the needless scuffling
attendant upon arresting this unfortunate follower of mine,
immediately outside the door of the house, led to the discovery of
your own presence.
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