# XXIII explained — The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu

> Chapter companion for The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer.

## What happens

Nayland Smith persuades a reluctant Mr. Henderson to allow the exhumation of Lord Southery, suspecting that Fu-Manchu has kidnapped him. They enter the vault, find Southery alive, and narrowly escape an attack by Fu-Manchu and a dacoit. Smith is wounded but believes Fu-Manchu intended to ship Southery to China. They await word from Karamanèh for a raid on Fu-Manchu's house.

## Themes in this chapter

### Yellow Peril

Fu-Manchu's plot to kidnap Lord Southery and ship him to China exemplifies the 'Yellow Peril' fear of Eastern domination.

### Fear and Paranoia

The tense atmosphere in the vault, the suspicion of Fu-Manchu's presence, and the dread of his green eyes pervade the chapter.

### Death and Mystery

The exhumation of a 'newly buried man' who speaks from the tomb creates a macabre and mysterious scene.

## Character check-ins

### Nayland Smith

Persuades Henderson to exhume Lord Southery, leads the rescue, and is wounded by a dacoit's knife.

### Dr. Petrie

Assists Smith in the rescue, fires at Fu-Manchu, and tends to Smith's wound.

### Lord Southery

Found alive in his tomb after being kidnapped by Fu-Manchu; speaks of being 'raised from the dead.'

### Mr. Henderson

Lord Southery's solicitor, reluctantly agrees to the exhumation and assists in the vault.

### Dr. Fu-Manchu

Appears at the vault with a dacoit, attacks Smith, and escapes by car; suspected of planning to ship Southery to China.

### Karamanèh

Expected to send word for a raid on Fu-Manchu's house.

## Key lines

> I am raised from the dead.

Lord Southery declares he has been brought back from death.

_Southery's first words after being found alive in the vault._

> The yellow society lacks a Southery, but that Dr. Fu-Manchu was in Germany three years ago I have reason to believe; so that, even without visiting the grave of your great Teutonic rival, who suddenly died at about that time, I venture to predict that they have a Von Homber.

Smith suggests Fu-Manchu's organization has kidnapped other geniuses, including a German rival of Southery.

_Smith speculates on the scope of Fu-Manchu's operations._

> If I am right, and you prevent me from acting, you become a murderer, Mr. Henderson.

Smith warns Henderson that inaction could lead to Southery's death.

_Smith's argument to persuade Henderson to allow the exhumation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se/chapters/xxiii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se/chapters