文档介绍：FIRE-TONGUE
FIRE-TONGUE
By Sax Rohmer
1
FIRE-TONGUE
CHAPTER I A CLIENT FOR
PAUL HARLEY
Some of Paul Harley's most interesting cases were brought to his
notice in an almost accidental way. Although he closed his office in
Chancery Lane sharply at the hour of six, the hour of six by no means
marked the end of his business day. His work was practically ceaseless.
But even in times of leisure, at the club or theatre, fate would sometimes
cast in his path the first slender thread which was ultimately to lead him
into some unsuspected labyrinth, perhaps in the underworld of London,
perhaps in a city of the Far East.
His investigation of the case of the man with the shaven skull afforded
an instance of this, and even more notable was his first meeting with
Major Jack Ragstaff of the Cavalry Club, a meeting which took place after
the office had been closed, but which led to the unmasking of perhaps the
most cunning murderer in the annals of crime.
One summer's evening when the little clock upon his table was rapidly
approaching the much-desired hour, Harley lay back in his chair and
stared meditatively across his private office in the direction of a large and
very handsome Burmese , which seemed strangely out of place
amid the filing drawers, bookshelves, and other usual impedimenta of a
professional man. A peculiarly uninteresting week was drawing to a close,
and he was wondering if this betokened a decreased activity in the higher
criminal circles, or whether it was merely one of those usual quiescent
periods which characterize every form of warfare.
Paul Harley, although the fact was unknown to the general public,
occupied something of the position of an unofficial field marshal of the
forces arrayed against evildoers. Throughout the war he had undertaken
confidential work of the highest importance, especially in regard to the
Near East, with which he was intimately acquainted. A member of the
English bar, and the last court of a