Chinese Nero, but with my life! And I object, Petrie, on purely
personal grounds!"

I felt my anger oozing from me; for this was strictly just. I had
nothing to say, and Smith continued:

"You know that she is utterly false, yet a glance or two from those
dark eyes of hers can make a fool of you! A woman made a fool of me,
once; but I learned my lesson; you have failed to learn yours. If you
are determined to go to pieces on the rock that broke up Adam, do so!
But don't involve me in the wreck, Petrie--for that might mean a
yellow emperor of the world, and you know it!"

"Your words are unnecessarily brutal, Smith," I said, feeling very
crestfallen, "but there--perhaps I fully deserve them all."

"You do!" he assured me, but he relaxed immediately. "A murderous
attempt is made upon my life, resulting in the death of a perfectly
innocent man in no way concerned. Along you come and let an
accomplice, perhaps a participant, escape, merely, because she has a
red mouth, or black lashes, or whatever it is that fascinates you so
hopelessly!"

He opened the wicker basket, sniffing at the contents.

"Ah!" he snapped, "do you recognize this odor?"

"Certainly."

"Then you have some idea respecting Karamaneh's quarry?"