"In the first place, my number is up. I see death approaching as clearly as you look to the rise of to-morrow's sun. But I do not intend that my secret shall die with me. Some other human being must carry on the knowledge I have gained during the past year, for I feel there is more in my experience than mere marvel and mystery and adventure. I feel, I _know_, that there is a purpose at work behind it all: that the Great Artificer who planted us, bickering insects, upon this planet never willed that such truths as I have unearthed should sink back into oblivion after a man of the real, outer world has penetrated to them--and sacrificed his life in the doing. It wouldn't square with my idea of the Great Artificer. "Not for your scholarship or your knowledge of the East have I chosen you to be legatee of my secrets--you would hardly flatter yourself that far. I was under no illusion as to your qualifications for partnering me before--but you partnered me handsomely, for all that. You were ready to listen to my theories at a time when men with far bigger pretensions pooh-poohed them; you were intelligent enough to let my brains do duty for the pair of us. The orthodox oriental societies were not always that intelligent. For them, those pretty stones we picked out from under the ruin of Lao Tien Ssu would be there now, and the book which is my chief claim to be remembered would languish still in manuscript. I must have told you that was how I utilised the bulk of my share in the loot? Anyway, it was. _You_ helped me to the ownerless gems, comrade. _You_ had a hand in financing _Treasure of Asia_. _You_, therefore, have assisted materially in throwing light on this dim-lit quarter of the globe. I've known respected God-fearing professional orientalists who couldn't say as much--without a lie. "Now I claim a bigger service of you. I've instructed my lawyers to send you this packet only after my death. It was a pretty blistering oath I collected from the senior partner of the firm, and I think he'll respect it. What I want done with the manuscript is another story. I will be perfectly frank with you. I consider it to be a dangerous thing--unless rightfully used. You wouldn't carry fulminate of mercury about in your pocket, would you? Well, I regard this manuscript as more deadly than fulminate of mercury. I solemnly assure you that I believe death began to close in upon me from the moment I resolved to make a record of the events with which this manuscript deals. It sounds fantastic, does it not? Perhaps you will alter your opinion as you read on.