“Sir Baldwin Frazer.” began Fu-Manchu in that indescribable voice, alternating between the sibilant and the guttural, “you were promised a certain fee for your services by my servant who summoned you.  It shall be paid and the gift of my personal gratitude be added to it.”

He turned himself with difficulty to address Sir Baldwin; and it became apparent to me that he was almost completely paralyzed down one side of his body.  Some little use he could make of his hand and arm, for he still clutched the heavy carven stick, but the right side of his face was completely immobile; and rarely had I seen anything more ghastly than the effect produced upon that wonderful, Satanic countenance.  The mouth, from the center of the thin lips, opened only to the left, as he spoke; in a word, seen in profile from where I sat, or rather crouched, it was the face of a dead man.

Sir Baldwin Frazer uttered no word, but, crouching upon the bench even as I crouched, stared—­horror written upon every lineament—­at Dr. Fu-Manchu.  The latter continued:—­

“Your experience, Sir Baldwin, will enable you readily to diagnose my symptoms.  Owing to the passage of a bullet along a portion of the third left frontal into the postero-parietal convolution—­upon which, from its lodgment in the skull, it continues to press—­hemiplegia of the right side has supervened.  Aphasia is present also....”

The effort of speech was ghastly.  Beads of perspiration dewed Fu-Manchu’s brow, and I marveled at the iron will of the man, whereby alone he forced his half-numbed brain to perform its function.  He seemed to select his words elaborately and by this monstrous effort of will to compel his partially paralyzed tongue to utter them.  Some of the syllables were slurred; but nevertheless distinguishable.  It was a demonstration of sheer Force unlike any I had witnessed, and it impressed me unforgettably.

“The removal of this injurious particle,” he continued, “would be an operation which I myself could undertake to perform successfully upon another.  It is a matter of some delicacy as you, Sir Baldwin, and”—­ slowly, horribly, turning the half-dead and half-living head towards me—­“you, Dr. Petrie, will appreciate.  In the event of clumsy surgery, death may supervene; failing this, permanent hemiplegia—­or”—­the film lifted from the green eyes, and for a moment they flickered with transient horror—­“idiocy!  Any one of three of my pupils whom I might name could perform this operation with ease, but their services are not available.  Only one English surgeon occurred to me in this connection, and you, Sir Baldwin”—­again he slowly turned his head—­ “were he.  Dr. Petrie will act as anaesthetist, and, your duties completed, you shall return to your home richer by the amount stipulated.  I have suitably prepared myself for the operation, and I can assure you of the soundness of my heart.  I may advise you, Dr. Petrie”—­again turning to me—­“that my constitution is inured to the use of opium.  You will make due allowance for this.  Mr. Li-King-Su, a graduate of Canton, will act as dresser.”