Grey Face by Sax Rohmer

Author:Sax Rohmer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: MysteriousPress.com/Open Road
Published: 2022-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XXII

NEW WONDER

Carey glanced at the clock on Muir Torrington’s mantelpiece, and:

“I look like winning my bet,” he said laughingly.

“You do,” Torrington admitted. “It is excitingly near to the hour. Where do we stand?”

He strode to the end of the room, paused, and turning, strode back again.

“Suppose my Arcadian does not turn up? Am I, or am I not, entitled to open this mysterious parcel which lies at the present moment upon my table?”

Having thus spoken he began again to pace the room.

“Well,” said Carey musingly, “it’s a question of ethics. If you had any reason to regard your unknown acquaintance as a criminal, you would undoubtedly be justified in examining the contents of the packet which he left-in your possession.”

“Ah!” cried Torrington, turning, “you’re placing the onus upon me. Very well, I accept it. I do not think that my Arcadian was a criminal; I prefer to believe that he was an Arcadian in peril of some kind. This being so, am I not equally justified in assuming his absence to mean that the danger which he feared has materialized? He selected me, God knows why, as a friend in need. Surely it is my duty to employ every means in my power to aid him in his necessity.”

“Quite,” Carey agreed—“an aspect of the matter which I had overlooked.”

“Therefore,” Torrington cried, “if he fails to keep his appointment—for he was a man hard pressed, Carey, I assure you—his failure can only mean that the thing he feared has come about. He counted on me, lad, and I shall not fail him. I give him half an hour. If by twelve-thirty he is not here, I propose to open this parcel. Human curiosity I do not deny, but honestly I consider this to be my duty to the unknown. How else, if he is in danger, can I hope to be of assistance to him? The only clue lies here, upon the table.”

Carey helped himself to whisky and soda.

“It’s more than a little complex,” he confessed. “Your whole life, Torrington, forms an almost unbroken series of odd adventures. Fate seems to have singled you out as a repository of other people’s troubles. To me this matter appears trivial, but you met the man face to face. I value your opinion, and therefore, if you assure me that he was really up against some vital problem, why then, yes, I agree with you. We shall serve him best by opening this parcel if he fails to appear to claim it.”

“Right!” Torrington shouted, stalking down upon the speaker; “I knew you would agree with me. There go the church clocks.” He paused, raising his hand. “It’s midnight. I don’t think he is coming, lad. Pass that tin of tobacco. We have half an hour to wait. Let’s forget my dark horse of the Arcade for the time being, and revert to the other matter which we were discussing.”

Torrington raised the lid of the tin and began to fill his briar, staring at

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