Guy Newell Boothby – författare

This is the first in Boothby''s series of Dr. Nikola novels. It opens with the manager of a fine London restaurant preparing for a dinner reserved in an odd letter originating from Brazil 3 months prior, for 4 persons in a private room, where 3 guests will arrive showing cards with a red dot. One will be from China, one from South Africa, one from England, plus the host, Dr Nikola, who is of unknown nationality but is later revealed to travel the world widely. The letter specifies certain preparations, such as no electric lighting but rather candles with red shades, a small jug of fresh milk, and a porcelain saucer.

After the 3 guests arrive, Dr Nikola makes his appearance. He is a somewhat tall slim man, "irreproachably dressed, with a neatness that bordered on the puritanical." After they dine and the servants leave the room, Dr Nicola opens a strange basket and removes a mysterious black cat, for whom the milk had of course been requested.

Dr Nikola explains why he called them together -- to execute his plans of revenge against a very wealthy someone who did him great harm. He offers each of them a large sum of money if they perform as he asks: "I demand from you your whole and entire labour. While you are serving me you are mine body and soul. I know you are trustworthy. I have had good proof that you are--pardon the expression--unscrupulous, and I flatter myself you are silent. What is more, I shall tell you nothing beyond what is necessary for the carrying out of my scheme, so that you could not betray me if you would. Now for my plans!"

In this second of Boothby''s Dr. Nikola novels, adventurer Wilfred Bruce meets Dr. Nokola, who wants to hire Bruce to help him penetrate a secluded Chinese monastic society to obtain the occult secret for immortality. Dr. Nikola demonstrates to Bruce that he and his black cat have magical powers. He learned of the Chinese society from a disgraced Oxford don who spent many years in China and from an old Buddhist priest. He tells Bruce:

"I will confess that the prospect of what I am about to attempt almost frightens me. It is neither more nor less than to penetrate, with the help of certain Chinese secret societies, into the most extraordinary seat of learning that you or any other men ever heard of, and when there to beg, borrow, or steal the marvelous secrets they possess. I cannot go alone, for a hundred reasons, therefore I must find a man to accompany me; that man must be one in a thousand, and he must also necessarily be a consummate Chinese scholar. He must be plucky beyond the average, he must be capable of disguising himself so that his nationality shall never for a moment be suspected, and he must go fully convinced in his own mind that he will never return. If he is prepared to undertake so much I am prepared to be generous."

He is convinced that Bruce is the right man for the task. After consideration of the risks and reward, Bruce joins Dr. Nicola on his quest.