Dr. Nikola Returns by Guy Boothby

Author:Guy Boothby [Boothby, Guy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Serapis Classics
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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X. — AN EXCITING NIGHT IN THE LLAMASERAI

"THERE are two points which we must hold in constant remembrance," said Nikola. "The first is that you are not a Chinaman, and the other is that if you go before the High Priest to-morrow morning and pose as one, he'll certainly find you out, and then we shall be ruined completely. If you run away I had better run too, for all the good I can get by stopping, but that I am resolved not to do. It has cost me many years' labour, to say nothing of some thousands of British sovereigns, to get as far as I have in this business, and come what may I am determined not to turn back."

"But in what way are we to get out of the difficulty?" I asked dejectedly. "If I can't come before them and brazen the matter out, and I can't remain away for fear of confirming what they already suspect, and I can't leave the monastery without drawing down suspicion on you, I must confess I don't see what is to be done. I suppose we couldn't bribe the man to withdraw his charge?"

"Not to be thought of," said Nikola, with conviction. "Our lives would then be simply dependent on his reading of the term 'good faith.' You ought to know what sort of trust we could place in that."

"Could we force him to clear out, and thus let it be supposed that he had brought a false accusation against me, and was afraid to stay and face the consequences?"

"That is not possible either," said Nikola. "He would want to bargain with us, and, to be revenged on us, would turn traitor when we refused his demand. In that case it would be 'pull devil, pull baker,' and the one who could pull the longest would gain the day. No, you had better leave the situation to me. Let me tackle it, and see what is to be done."

I did as he wished, and for nearly half an hour could hear him pacing up and down his room. I did not intrude upon him, or interrupt him in any way. At the end of the time stated he abandoned his sentry-go and came in to me.

"I think I see my way," he said. "But when all is said and done it is almost as desperate as either of the other remedies we thought of. You will have to carry it out, and if you fail—well, Heaven have mercy upon both of us. You have saved my life before, I am going to trust it to you now; but remember this, if you do not carry out my plan exactly as I wish, you will never see me alive again. Give me your best attention, and endeavour to recollect everything I tell you. It is now close on midnight; the gong for early service will sound at half-past five, but it will be daylight an hour before that.

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