Page:Yellow Claw 1920.djvu/202

 “For God’s sake—oh! for God’s sake, have mercy! Let me go!…let me go!” Higher, shriller, more fearful and urgent, grew the voice—“Let me go!”…

Soames’ knees began to tremble beneath him; he clutched at the black wall for support; then turned, and with unsteady footsteps crossed to the door communicating with the corridor which contained his room. It had a lever handle of the Continental pattern, and, trembling with apprehension that it might prove to be locked, Soames pressed down this handle.

The door opened…

“Hina, effendi!—hina!”

The voice sounded like that of Said.…

“Oh! God in Heaven help me!…Help!—help!”…

“Imsik!”…

Footsteps were pattering upon the stone stairs; someone was descending from the warehouse! The frenzied shrieks of the woman continued. Soames broke into a cold perspiration; his heart, which had leaped wildly, seemed now to have changed to a cold stone in his breast. Just at the entrance to the corridor he stood, frozen with horror at those cries.

“Ikfil el-bâb!” came now, in the voice of Ho-Pin,—and nearer.

“Let me go!…only let me go, and I will never breathe a word.…Ah! Ah! Oh! God of