held my watch in the other.

"I fancy you'll find me a bit feverish," he said in a curious tone,
almost as though he were joking, and by his manner I at once put him
down as one of those eccentric persons who are sceptical of any
achievements of medical science.

I was holding his wrist and bending towards the light, in order to
distinguish the hands of my watch, when a strange thing happened.

There was a deafening explosion close behind me, which caused me to
jump back startled. I dropped the man's hand and turned quickly in the
direction of the sound; but, as I did so, a second shot from a
revolver held by an unknown person was discharged full in my face.

The truth was instantly plain. I had been entrapped for my watch and
jewellery--like many another medical man in London has been before me;
doctors being always an easy prey for thieves. The ruffian shamming
illness sprang from his bed fully dressed, and at the same moment two
other blackguards, who had been hidden in the room, flung themselves
upon me ere I could realize my deadly peril.

The whole thing had been carefully planned, and it was apparent that
the gang were quite fearless of neighbours overhearing the shots. The
place bore a bad reputation, I knew; but I had never suspected that a
man might be fired at from behind in that cowardly way.

So sudden and startling were the circumstances that I stood for a
moment motionless, unable to fully comprehend their intention. There
was but one explanation. These men intended to kill me!

Without a second's hesitation they rushed upon me, and I realized with
heart-sinking that to attempt to resist would be utterly futile. I was
entirely helpless in their hands!

CHAPTER XXI.

WOMAN'S WILES.

"Look sharp!" cried the black-bearded ruffian who had feigned illness.
"Give him a settler, 'Arry. He wants his nerves calmin' a bit!"

The fellow had seized my wrists, and I saw that one of the men who had
sprung from his place of concealment was pouring some liquid from a
bottle upon a sponge. I caught a whiff of its odour--an odour too
familiar to me--the sickly smell of chloroform.

Fortunately I am pretty athletic, and with a sudden wrench I freed my
wrists from the fellow's grip, and, hitting him one from the shoulder
right between the eyes, sent him spinning back against the chest of
drawers. To act swiftly was my only chance. If once they succeeded in
pressing that sponge to my nostrils and holdi