'It is his
hand--it is his hand!'
"Of the pair, I think, the man was the more frightened. But the
girl, uttering a frightful shriek, ran out of the room as though
pursued by a demon. As she did so whoever had been moving behind
the curtain evidently went away. The shadow disappeared, and
Adderley, still staring as if hypnotized at the spot where it had
been, continued to hold my shoulder as in a vise. Then, sinking
down upon a heap of cushions beside me, he loudly and shakily
ordered more champagne.
"Utterly mystified by the incident, I finally left him in a state
of stupor, and returned to my quarters, wondering whether I had
dreamed half of the episode or the whole of it, whether he did
really possess that wonderful palace, or whether he had borrowed
it to impress me."
I ceased speaking, and my story was received in absolute silence,
until:
"And that is all you know?" said Burton.
"Absolutely all. I had to leave about that time, you remember,
and afterward went to France."
"Yes, I remember. It was while you were away that the scandal
arose respecting the mandarin. Extraordinary story, Knox. I
should like to know what it all meant, and what the end of it
was."
Dr. Matheson broke his long silence.
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