Doctor Nikola (Windsor Magazine, 1896)/Chapter 10

HERE are two points to be held in constant remembrance,” said Nikola, “one is that you are not a Chinaman, and the other is that if you go before the chief priest to-morrow morning and pose as one he'll certainly find you out, and then we shall be done for 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 pounds, to get as far as I have in this business, and come what may I am determined not to turn back.”

“But what way is there 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 word 'honesty.' You ought to know what sort of faith we could place in that.”

“Could we not force him to clear out then, 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 only begin to bargain with us, and to be revenged on us, turn traitor when we refused his demand. In that case it would be a case of 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 and let me tackle it.”

I did as he wished, and for nearly half an hour could hear him pacing his room, deep in thought. Throughout the time I did not intrude myself 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 see my way,” he cried. “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 my plan exactly as I wish you will never see me alive again. Give me your best attention, and recollect everything I say. 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. I must get you out of this place within a quarter of an hour, by hook or crook, and even if you have to steal a horse to do it you must be in Pekin before half-past one. Once there you will find the house of Yoo Laoyeh, which is situated in the street at the rear of Legation Street, near the chief gate of the Tartar city.”

“But how am I going to get into the city at all?” I asked, amazed that he should have forgotten what struck me as such a hopeless barrier—the wall. “The gates are closed at sundown and not opened again till sunrise.”

“You'll have to climb the wall,” he answered.

“But, as you know very well, that's altogether impossible,” I said.

“Not a bit of it,” he replied. I will tell you of a place where it is quite practicable. Do you remember the spot where you proposed to Miss Medwin?”

“Perfectly,” I answered with a smile. “But how do you know it?”

“My dear fellow, I was within a hundred yards of you the whole time. No, you need not look at me like that. I was not spying upon you. I had my own reasons for being there, and you see how useful that chance visit has proved. Well, two bastions from where you were seated that day the stones are larger and more uneven than anywhere else along the whole of that side of the city. To my certain knowledge three men have been in the habit of climbing that portion of the ramparts for the last three years, between midnight and sunrise, smuggling in goods to the city in order to avoid paying the octroi duty, which, as you know, is levied during daylight. When you have got over you will find a sentry posted on the other side; to him you will pay three taels, telling him at the same time that you intend returning in an hour, and that you will pay him the same amount for the privilege of getting out. Having passed the sentry you will proceed into the town, find Yoo Laoyeh, and let him know the fix we are in. You may promise him the sum of £100 cash down if he falls in with your suggestions, and you must bring him back with you, willy nilly, as fast as you can travel. I will meet you at the southern gate. Knock four times, and as you knock, cough, that shall be the signal, and as soon as I hear it I will open the gate. All that must be guarded against inside this place shall be my care. Everything outside must be yours. Now let us come along, and see how I can get you out.”

Together we left the room, descended the stairs, and crossing the little ante-chamber entered the big hall. The wind came in through the narrow windows and rustled amid the long silk hangings till the place seemed to be peopled with a thousand silk-clad ghosts. Nikola crossed it swiftly and left by the southern door. I followed close at his heels, and together we passed unobserved through the great courtyard, keeping well in the shadow of the building until we reached the first gate. Fortunately for us this also was unguarded, but we could hear the monk who was supposed to be watching it placidly snoring in the room beside it. Slipping the enormous bar aside we opened it quietly, passed through it, and crossed a little open strip of green towards the outer wall; just however as we were about to turn the corner towards it a sudden sound of voices caused us to hesitate.

“This way,” whispered Nikola seizing my wrist and dragging me to the left. “I can find you another exit. I noticed yesterday a big tree growing by the side of the wall.”

Leaving the great centre gate we turned to our left hand, as I have said, and followed the wall we desired to surmount until we arrived at a large tree whose branches more than overspread it.

“This is the very place, for our purpose,” said Nikola coming to a halt. “You will have to climb the tree and crawl along the branches till you get on to the wall, then you must let yourself down on the other side and be off to the city as hard as you can go. Good-bye, and may good luck go with you.”

I shook him by the hand and sprang into the branches. Hitherto it had seemed as if I had been acting all this in a wonderfully vivid dream. Now however the rough bark of the tree roused me to a sense of the reality of my position. I climbed until I came to the level of the wall, then choosing a thick branch made my way along it until I stood upon the solid masonry. Once on it there only remained a drop of about twelve feet between me and freedom. Bidding Nikola, who was watching me, good-bye in a whisper, I leant over the wall as far as I was able, grasped the coping with both hands and then let myself drop.

Once on the ground on the right side I ran across the open space towards a cluster of small Chinese habitations. In a paddock adjoining one I could dimly make out a number of ponies running loose. Knowing that if I could only secure one of these and find a saddle and bridle in the residence of its owner, I might be in Pekin in under an hour, I resolved to make the attempt.

Creeping up to the nearest of the houses I approached the back door. Inside I could hear the stertorous breathing of the occupants. A joss stick burnt before an image near the door, and though it was well-nigh exhausted by the time I secured it, it still gave me sufficient light to look about me. A moment later I had a saddle and bridle down from a peg and was out among the ponies again.

Securing one animal I saddled him, and as soon as I had done so mounted and set off towards Pekin as fast as the pony could take me. The night was dark, but the track was plain; the little beast was more than willing, and as I did not spare him, something less than three-quarters of an hour after the time I had bid Nikola good-bye found me under the great wall of the city.

Arriving there I searched for a convenient spot, and having found it tied up my pony. When he was made secure I set to work and hunted along the wall until I came to the scaling place of which Nikola had told me.

As I reached it a little light wind came up and sent the dust eddying about me. Hardly a sound disturbed the stillness of the night. Then, after making sure that I was unobserved, and that I had chosen the right spot, I began to climb. It was no easy task. The bricks were large and uneven. Sometimes I got a good hold, but in many cases I had veritably to cling by my nails. The strain was enormous, and when I had been climbing for five minutes there was still so much of the wall ahead that I began to despair of ever getting to the top. But I was not to be beaten; and remembering how much depended upon my getting into the city, I dragged myself wearily on and at last crawled on to the summit. When I reached it I could see the city lying spread out in the half darkness below me. A little to the left of where I stood was the place, to be for ever sacred in my eyes, where I had proposed to, and been accepted by, my sweetheart, while away to the right again was that quarter of the town where at that moment she was in all probability asleep, and I hoped dreaming of me. As soon as I recovered my breath I crossed the wall and descended by the steps on the other side.

As I reached the bottom a man suddenly rose from a dark corner and confronted me. In the half light I could see that he was a Chinese soldier armed with a long spear. Telling him in a whisper, in answer to his inquiry, that I was a friend, I pressed the money that Nikola had given me for that purpose into his not unwilling hand, and as soon as he drew back, astonished by my munificence, sped passed him and darted down the nearest street.

From the place where I had descended from the wall to the thoroughfare where Yoo Laoyeh resided was a distance of about half a mile, and to reach it in the quickest way it was necessary that I should pass the Benfleets' abode. You may imagine what thoughts occupied my brain as I stood opposite it in the silent street and regarded it. Under that roof was sleeping the one woman who was all the world for me. I would have given anything I possessed for five minutes conversation with her. But it was of course not to be thought of, so I turned on my heel and made my way as quickly as possible through a by-lane into the street where the house was situated that I had been sent to find. It was not a big place, and at first glance it did not strike me in a favourable manner. But the style of building did not matter if I found there the man I wanted. I knocked upon the door—which I discovered was heavily barred—but for some minutes got no response; then, just as I was beginning to wonder in what way I could best manage to attract the attention of those inside, I heard a patter of bare feet on the stone passage within. After much fumbling about, the door was opened and a man appeared before me, but the very first glance told me that it was not the person I wanted. I inquired if Yoo Laoyeh were at home, and if so whether I could see him, but from the answer I received I gathered that he had gone out earlier in the evening, and that he was probably at a neighbouring house playing fan-tan.

Asking the man who had opened the door if he could take me to him, and at the same time offering him a bribe to do so, I was immediately conducted into the street again, down a by-lane, up another, and lastly brought to a halt before one of the biggest houses in that quarter. My guide was evidently well known, for when the door had been opened the keeper did not attempt to bar our passage but permitted us to pass through until we reached a fair-sized room at the back. Here quite thirty Chinamen were busily engaged upon their favourite pastime, but though we scanned the rows of faces the man for whom we were searching was not among the number. Having made quite certain of this we left that room and proceeded to another, where fan-tan was also being carried on. Once more however we were doomed to disappointment; Laoyeh was not among those present.

Being anxious to obtain some news of him my guide interrogated one of the players, who informed him that he had seen our man about an hour before. He imagined he had then gone into the room we had first visited. We returned there and made further inquiries, only to elicit the fact that he had been seen to leave the house about half an hour before our arrival.

“Have no fear. I will find him for you,” said my companion, and we thereupon proceeded down the passage past the doorkeeper and into the street again. Once more we took up the chase, passing up one street and down another, to bring up eventually in an opium-house a little behind the English Legation. The outer room, or that nearest the street was filled with customers, but our man was not among them. The inner room was not quite so crowded, and there we found the man we wanted. But there was this drawback, he had smoked his usual number of postprandial pipes and was fast asleep.

It was now hard upon two o'clock, and at most I dared not remain in the city more than another hour. At the same time it would be a most foolish, if not dangerous, proceeding to attempt to travel with my man in his present condition. If he did nothing else he would probably fall down the wall and break his neck, and then I should either have to leave him or remain to answer inconvenient questions; but whatever happened I knew I must carry him out of this house as quickly as possible to some place where I could try to get him round a bit. I said as much to the man who had found him for me, and then between us we got him up, and taking him by either arm, led him off to his home. By the time we got him there he had in a small measure recovered from the effects of his smoke. Then we set to work, using every means known to us, to bring him round, and by half-past two had so far succeeded as to warrant me in thinking I might set off on our return journey.

“But what do you want me for?” asked Laoyeh, who was still a bit mystified, though fortunately not so far gone as to be unable to recognise me.

“You are to come along with me,” I answered, taking good care that the other man was well out of hearing, “out to the Llamaserai, where Nikola wants you. I will tell you the rest as we go.”

As soon as he heard this and had collected a few little necessaries, we left the house and set off together for that part of the wall where I had made my descent into the city. The same soldier was still on guard, and when I had placed the money in his hand he immediately allowed us to pass. Within twenty minutes of leaving Yoo's house we were ready to descend the other side of the wall.

If I had found it difficult to ascend, it was doubly difficult to descend. The night was now very dark, and it was impossible to see what we were doing. The cracks and crannies which were to serve as resting-places for our feet seemed almost impossible to find, and right glad I was when we stood on terra firma at the bottom.

So far my visit to the city had proved most successful. But time was going on and there was still the long distance out to the Serai to be overcome before daylight. I went over to where the pony stood hitched to the tree, exactly as I had left him, and placed my companion upon his back. He was very nearly himself again now, so urging the little animal into a hand canter we set off, I running beside him. In this fashion, running and walking, we stood before the southern gate of the great monastery. I had carried out my share of the business, and when once I had got Laoyeh inside, the direction of the remainder would lie with Nikola.

Having turned the pony loose, his bridle and saddle upon his back, I approached and knocked upon the door, coughing softly as I did so. I had scarcely finished before it opened, and we found Nikola standing upon the threshold. He beckoned to us to enter, and without losing a moment we did as we were ordered. Daylight was now near at hand and the unmistakable chill of dawn was in the air. It was very certain that I had returned none too soon.

Having passed through the gate we left it behind us and made for the second archway on our left. The sentry box—if one might call it by that name—was still deserted, and the guard was snoring as placidly in his little room at the side as when we had crept through that way nearly four hours before. This courtyard, like its predecessor, was empty; but to show what a narrow escape we had had, I may say that as we crossed it we could distinctly hear the jabbering of priests in the dormitories on either hand.

At last we reached the door of the big hall. Opening it carefully we sped across the floor and then up the stairs to our own apartments. Once inside the door was quickly shut, and we were safe. Then Nikola turned to me and putting his hand upon my shoulder said—

“Bruce you have saved me a second time, and I can only say as I said before, you will not find me ungrateful. But there is no time to lose. Yoo Laoyeh, come with us.”

We passed into the inner room, and as soon as we were there Nikola opened a small box he had brought with his other impedimenta, and having bade the man seat himself upon the floor set to work with wonderful dexterity to change his appearance. The operation lasted about a quarter of an hour, and as soon as it was completed Nikola said—

“Now change clothes with him, Bruce, as quickly as possible.”

When this was done I could hardly believe my own eyes, the likeness was so wonderful. There, standing before me, was an exact reproduction of myself. In height, build, dress, and even in feature, the resemblance was most striking. But Nikola was not satisfied.

“You must be changed, too,” he said. “We must do the thing thoroughly or not at all. Sit down!”

I sat down, and he once more set to work. When I left his hands I was a different sort of Chinaman altogether. No one would have known me, and in that case it was most unlikely that our secret would be detected.

On the way from Pekin I had clearly explained to Laoyeh the part he would be called upon to play. Now Nikola gave the final touches to his education, and all was ready.

“But look here,” I cried, as a thought struck me; “we have forgotten one thing—the scar upon my arm.”

“Of course,” said Nikola. “It is just those little bits of forgetfulness that hang people.”

Then turning to my second self he said—

“Give me your left wrist. The Chinaman lifted it up and Nikola forthwith proceeded to paint in upon it an exact imitation of the scar I bore upon mine. Then taking a long strip of native cloth from a chair he constructed a sling, which he placed round my neck. My left arm was placed in rough splints, all of which he had procured from his invaluable medicine chest, and when it had been bandaged I felt I might also defy detection, as far as my wrist was concerned.

Half an hour later the great gong sounded for morning worship, and in a few moments the courtyards and halls were literally alive with men. On Nikola's instructions I descended to the hall alone and mixed with the throng. I was not the only cripple amongst them, for there were dozens of others with their arms in slings. Nor was the fact that I was a stranger likely to attract any undue attention, inasmuch as there were mendicants and people of all sorts and descriptions passing into the Serai directly the gates were opened at daylight.

I had not been in the hall very long before I saw Nikola enter and take up his place beside the chief priest. When the service was at an end it was evident that something unusual was going to take place for the monks and their guests remained where they were, instead of leaving the hall as usual. Then the chief priest mounted the small platform at the further end and seated himself in the large chair of justice. Nikola followed and took a smaller one beside him, and presently two tall monks appeared, bringing with them the man who had brought the accusation against me the previous evening. He seemed pretty certain of being able to prove his case, and I could not help smiling as I watched his confident air. First the old chief priest, who it must be remembered was almost blind with age, addressed him. He said something in reply, and then Nikola spoke. Though the voice he used was not above the ordinary every word rang across the hall.

“Liar and traitor!” he said. “You have brought this charge against my faithful servant for some devilish reason of your own. But old as I am I will meet it, and woe be upon you if it be proved that what you say is false.”

He then turned to a monk standing beside him and said something in a low voice; the man bowed, and leaving the platform disappeared in the direction of our staircase. Presently he returned with Laoyeh; the latter's head was bent and his hands were folded across his chest. He climbed the steps, and when he had done so accuser and accused confronted each other from either end of the platform.

Then it was that I saw the cleverness of Nikola's plan. He had arranged that the trial should take place after the morning service for the reason that, at that time, the big hall would not be thoroughly lighted. As it proved it was still wrapped in more than semi-darkness, and by the promptness with which be commenced business it was evident that he was resolved to have the matter disposed of before it would be possible for anyone to see things too clearly.

First the man who brought the accusation was ordered to tell all he knew. In reply he gave a detailed description of his meeting with me in Canton and led up, with a few unimportant reservations, to the stab he had given me on my wrist. He then unhesitatingly asserted the fact that I was a kueidzu, or foreign devil, and dared the man who was taking my place to disprove it. When he had finished Nikola turned to the chief priest and said—

“My father, you have heard all that this wicked man hath said. He accuses my servant yonder—he himself you will remember being a thief and a would-be murderer by his own confession—of being one of those barbarians whom we all despise. I have found my man faithful and true in all his dealings, but if he is not what he pretends to be then he shall die. On the other hand, if this rogue shall be proved to be in the wrong, and to have lied for the sake of gain, then it shall be my request to you that I be allowed to deal with him. I have no fear; judge therefore between us.”

When he had finished the old man rose and hobbled forward on his stick; he looked steadfastly from one to the other of the two men, and then, addressing Laoyeh, said—

“Come you with me,” and led him into a small room out of the big hall.

For nearly half an hour we sat in silence wondering what the upshot of it all would be. I watched Nikola, who sat during the whole of the time with his chin resting on his hand, staring straight before him. I could not help wondering what schemes the brain behind those extraordinary eyes was working out.

At last our period of waiting was at an end. We heard the tapping of the chief priest's stick upon the flagged floor, and presently he ascended the platform again. Laoyeh followed behind him. Reaching his chair the old man signed for silence, and when he had obtained it said—

“I have examined this man, and the conclusion I have come to is that the charge this fellow has brought against him is absolutely without truth in every particular. That man is no more a foreign devil than I am.”

Then facing Nikola he continued—

“The rogue yonder is now your property to do with as you will.”

Nikola rose slowly from his chair and faced the unhappy man.

“Now, dog!” he cried, “I have to deal with you. Is it for this that you came into the world? Is it you who dares to malign this man, my servant? Draw closer to me.”

The man approached a few paces, and it was easily seen that he was afraid. Then for nearly a minute Nikola gazed fixedly at him, and I cannot remember ever to have seen those terrible eyes look so fierce and cruel. If you can imagine a rabbit gazing into the eyes of a serpent you will have some idea of how the man faced his persecutor. Slowly, inch by inch, Nikola raised his right hand until it pointed to the wall a little above the other's head. Then it began to descend again, and as it did so the poor wretch's head went down also until he stood almost in a stooping posture.

“You see,” said Nikola, “you are in my power. You cannot move unless I bid you do so.”

“I cannot move,” echoed the man almost unconsciously.

“Try how you will, you cannot stand upright,” said Nikola.

“I cannot stand upright,” repeated the man in the same monotonous voice, and as he spoke I saw large drops of perspiration fall from his face upon the floor. You may be sure every eye in that large hall was riveted upon them, and even the chief priest was craning forward in his chair in order that he might not lose a word.

“Look into my face,” said Nikola, and his words cut like a sharp knife.

The man lifted his eyes and did as he was ordered, but without raising his head.

“Now leave this place,” said Nikola, “and remember that until this time to-morrow you cannot stand upright like your fellow-men. Let that be a warning to you to remember that for the future my servants must be sacred. Go!”

He pointed with his right hand to the doors at the end of the hall, and, bent double, the man went down the aisle between the rows of gaping monks out into the courtyard and the streaming sunshine of the new born day. The chief priest had risen to his feet, and calling up a monk who stood near him said—

“Follow him and see that he leaves the Serai.”

Then approaching Nikola he said—

“My master, I see that thou art he who we were told to expect. In what way can thy servant help thee?”

“Give me an interview and I will tell you,” said Nikola.

“Follow me then,” said the old man, and they disappeared into the room where the chief priest had conducted the examination of Laoyeh. After that the meeting dispersed.

As soon as the hall was empty I seized my opportunity and went upstairs to our own apartment. There I discovered Laoyeh. According to Nikola's instructions we changed clothes again, and then I set to work to divest him of his disguise. When he was himself again I gave him the peddler's dress which Nikola had prepared for this occasion, and also the reward which had been promised him. Then bidding him good-bye I bade him get out of the monastery as quickly as he possibly could.

It was nearly an hour later before Nikola joined me. When he did he could hardly conceal his exultation.

“Bruce,” he said in a low whisper, almost forgetting his usual caution in the excitement of the moment, “I have discovered everything. I have got the chart and I have got the password. I know where the monastery is, and at daybreak to-morrow morning we'll set out to find it.”