The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer: I begin to understand, Petrie."
He tilted the lamp-shade and made a close examination of the scraps
of paper, matches, and other debris that lay in the grate and on the hearth.
I took up a copper vase from the mantelpiece, and was examining it curiously,
when he turned, a strange expression upon his face.
"Put that back, old man," he said quietly.
Much surprised, I did as he directed.
"Don't touch anything in the room. It may he dangerous."
Something in the tone of his voice chilled me, and I hastily
replaced the vase, and stood by the door of the study,
watching him search, methodically, every inch of the room--
 The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu |