Assisted by his unemotional compatriot, Fu-Manchu discarded the
yellow robe, revealing himself in a white singlet in all his gaunt
ugliness, and extended his frame upon the operating-table.

Li-King-Su ignited the large lamp over the head of the table, and
from his case took out a trephine.

* * * * * * *

"Other points for your guidance from my own considerable store of
experience"--Fu-Manchu was speaking--"are written out clearly in the
notebook which lies upon the table...."

His voice, now, was toneless, emotionless, as though his part in the
critical operation about to be performed were that of a spectator. No
trace of nervousness, of fear, could I discern; his pulse was
practically normal.

How I shuddered as I touched his yellow skin! how my very soul rose
up in revolt! ...

* * * * * * *

"There is the bullet!--quick! ... Steady, Petrie!"

Sir Baldwin Frazer, keen, cool, deft, was metamorphosed, was the
enthusiastic, brilliant surgeon whom I knew and revered, and another
than the nerveless captive who, but a few minutes ago, had stared,
panic-stricken, at Dr. Fu-Manchu.

Although I had met him once or twice professionally, I had never
hitherto seen him operate; and his method was little short of
miraculous. It was stimulating, inspiring. With unerring touch he
whittled madness, death, from the very throne of reason, of life.

Now was the crucial moment of his task ... and, with its coming, every
light in the room suddenly failed--went out!

"My God!" whispered Frazer, in the darkness, "quick! quick! lights!
a match!--a candle!--something, anything!"

There came a faint click, and a beam of white light was directed,
steadily, upon the patient's skull. Li-King-Su--unmoved--held an
electric torch in his hand!

Frazer and I set to work, in a fierce battle to fend off Death, who
already outstretched his pinions over the insensible man--to fend off
Death from the arch-murderer, the enemy of the white races, who lay
there at our mercy! ...

* * * * * * *

"It seems you want a pick-me-up!" said Zarmi. Sir Baldwin Frazer
collapsed into the cane arm-chair. Only a matting curtain separated us
from the room wherein he had successfully performed perhaps the most
wonderful operation of his career.

"I could not have lasted out another thirty seconds, Petrie!