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diff --git a/old/thjwl10.txt b/old/thjwl10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9df351c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/thjwl10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9181 @@ +The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Jewel of Seven Stars +by Bram Stoker +(#5 in our series by Bram Stoker) + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the laws for your country before redistributing these files!!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. + +Please do not remove this. + +This should be the first thing seen when anyone opens the book. +Do not change or edit it without written permission. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.07/27/01*END* + + + + + + + + + + + +Produced by Sue Asscher + + + + + +The Jewel of Seven Stars +by Bram Stoker + +To Eleanor and Constance Hoyt + +Contents + +I A Summons in the Night +II Strange Instructions +III The Watchers +IV The Second Attempt +V More Strange Instructions +VI Suspicions +VII The Traveller's Loss +VIII The Finding of the Lamps +IX The Need of Knowledge +X The Valley of the Sorcerer +XI A Queen's Tomb +XII The Magic Coffer +XIII Awaking From the Trance +XIV The Birth-Mark +XV The Purpose of Queen Tera +XVI The Cavern XVII Doubts and Fears +XVIII The Lesson of the "Ka" +XIX The Great Experiment + + + + + +Chapter I +A Summons in the Night + + + + + +It all seemed so real that I could hardly imagine that it had ever +occurred before; and yet each episode came, not as a fresh step in the +logic of things, but as something expected. It is in such a wise that +memory plays its pranks for good or ill; for pleasure or pain; for weal +or woe. It is thus that life is bittersweet, and that which has been +done becomes eternal. + +Again, the light skiff, ceasing to shoot through the lazy water as when +the oars flashed and dripped, glided out of the fierce July sunlight +into the cool shade of the great drooping willow branches--I standing up +in the swaying boat, she sitting still and with deft fingers guarding +herself from stray twigs or the freedom of the resilience of moving +boughs. Again, the water looked golden-brown under the canopy of +translucent green; and the grassy bank was of emerald hue. Again, we +sat in the cool shade, with the myriad noises of nature both without and +within our bower merging into that drowsy hum in whose sufficing +environment the great world with its disturbing trouble, and its more +disturbing joys, can be effectually forgotten. Again, in that blissful +solitude the young girl lost the convention of her prim, narrow +upbringing, and told me in a natural, dreamy way of the loneliness of +her new life. With an undertone of sadness she made me feel how in that +spacious home each one of the household was isolated by the personal +magnificence of her father and herself; that there confidence had no +altar, and sympathy no shrine; and that there even her father's face was +as distant as the old country life seemed now. Once more, the wisdom of +my manhood and the experience of my years laid themselves at the girl's +feet. It was seemingly their own doing; for the individual "I" had no +say in the matter, but only just obeyed imperative orders. And once +again the flying seconds multiplied themselves endlessly. For it is in +the arcana of dreams that existences merge and renew themselves, change +and yet keep the same--like the soul of a musician in a fugue. And so +memory swooned, again and again, in sleep. + +It seems that there is never to be any perfect rest. Even in Eden the +snake rears its head among the laden boughs of the Tree of Knowledge. +The silence of the dreamless night is broken by the roar of the +avalanche; the hissing of sudden floods; the clanging of the engine bell +marking its sweep through a sleeping American town; the clanking of +distant paddles over the sea.... Whatever it is, it is breaking the +charm of my Eden. The canopy of greenery above us, starred with +diamond-points of light, seems to quiver in the ceaseless beat of +paddles; and the restless bell seems as though it would never cease.... + +All at once the gates of Sleep were thrown wide open, and my waking ears +took in the cause of the disturbing sounds. Waking existence is prosaic +enough--there was somebody knocking and ringing at someone's street door. + +I was pretty well accustomed in my Jermyn Street chambers to passing +sounds; usually I did not concern myself, sleeping or waking, with the +doings, however noisy, of my neighbours. But this noise was too +continuous, too insistent, too imperative to be ignored. There was some +active intelligence behind that ceaseless sound; and some stress or need +behind the intelligence. I was not altogether selfish, and at the +thought of someone's need I was, without premeditation, out of bed. +Instinctively I looked at my watch. It was just three o'clock; there +was a faint edging of grey round the green blind which darkened my room. +It was evident that the knocking and ringing were at the door of our own +house; and it was evident, too, that there was no one awake to answer +the call. I slipped on my dressing-gown and slippers, and went down to +the hall door. When I opened it there stood a dapper groom, with one +hand pressed unflinchingly on the electric bell whilst with the other he +raised a ceaseless clangour with the knocker. The instant he saw me the +noise ceased; one hand went up instinctively to the brim of his hat, and +the other produced a letter from his pocket. A neat brougham was +opposite the door, the horses were breathing heavily as though they had +come fast. A policeman, with his night lantern still alight at his +belt, stood by, attracted to the spot by the noise. + +"Beg pardon, sir, I'm sorry for disturbing you, but my orders was +imperative; I was not to lose a moment, but to knock and ring till +someone came. May I ask you, sir, if Mr. Malcolm Ross lives here?" + +"I am Mr. Malcolm Ross." + +"Then this letter is for you, sir, and the bro'am is for you too, sir!" + +I took, with a strange curiosity, the letter which he handed to me. As +a barrister I had had, of course, odd experiences now and then, +including sudden demands upon my time; but never anything like this. I +stepped back into the hall, closing the door to, but leaving it ajar; +then I switched on the electric light. The letter was directed in a +strange hand, a woman's. It began at once without "dear sir" or any +such address: + +"You said you would like to help me if I needed it; and I believe you +meant what you said. The time has come sooner than I expected. I am in +dreadful trouble, and do not know where to turn, or to whom to apply. An +attempt has, I fear, been made to murder my Father; though, thank God, +he still lives. But he is quite unconscious. The doctors and police +have been sent for; but there is no one here whom I can depend on. Come +at once if you are able to; and forgive me if you can. I suppose I +shall realise later what I have done in asking such a favour; but at +present I cannot think. Come! Come at once! MARGARET TRELAWNY." + +Pain and exultation struggled in my mind as I read; but the mastering +thought was that she was in trouble and had called on me--me! My +dreaming of her, then, was not altogether without a cause. I called out +to the groom: + +"Wait! I shall be with you in a minute!" Then I flew upstairs. + +A very few minutes sufficed to wash and dress; and we were soon driving +through the streets as fast as the horses could go. It was market +morning, and when we got out on Piccadilly there was an endless stream of +carts coming from the west; but for the rest the roadway was clear, and +we went quickly. I had told the groom to come into the brougham with me +so that he could tell me what had happened as we went along. He sat +awkwardly, with his hat on his knees as he spoke. + +"Miss Trelawny, sir, sent a man to tell us to get out a carriage at +once; and when we was ready she come herself and gave me the letter and +told Morgan--the coachman, sir--to fly. She said as I was to lose not a +second, but to keep knocking till someone come." + +"Yes, I know, I know--you told me! What I want to know is, why she sent +for me. What happened in the house?" + +"I don't quite know myself, sir; except that master was found in his +room senseless, with the sheets all bloody, and a wound on his head. +He couldn't be waked nohow. Twas Miss Trelawny herself as found him." + +"How did she come to find him at such an hour? It was late in the +night, I suppose?" + +"I don't know, sir; I didn't hear nothing at all of the details." + +As he could tell me no more, I stopped the carriage for a moment to let +him get out on the box; then I turned the matter over in my mind as I +sat alone. There were many things which I could have asked the servant; +and for a few moments after he had gone I was angry with myself for not +having used my opportunity. On second thought, however, I was glad the +temptation was gone. I felt that it would be more delicate to learn +what I wanted to know of Miss Trelawny's surroundings from herself, +rather than from her servants. + +We bowled swiftly along Knightsbridge, the small noise of our well- +appointed vehicle sounding hollowly in the morning air. We turned up +the Kensington Palace Road and presently stopped opposite a great house +on the left-hand side, nearer, so far as I could judge, the Notting Hill +than the Kensington end of the avenue. It was a truly fine house, not +only with regard to size but to architecture. Even in the dim grey +light of the morning, which tends to diminish the size of things, it +looked big. + +Miss Trelawny met me in the hall. She was not in any way shy. She +seemed to rule all around her with a sort of high-bred dominance, all +the more remarkable as she was greatly agitated and as pale as snow. In +the great hall were several servants, the men standing together near the +hall door, and the women clinging together in the further corners and +doorways. A police superintendent had been talking to Miss Trelawny; +two men in uniform and one plain-clothes man stood near him. As she +took my hand impulsively there was a look of relief in her eyes, and she +gave a gentle sigh of relief. Her salutation was simple. + +"I knew you would come!" + +The clasp of the hand can mean a great deal, even when it is not +intended to mean anything especially. Miss Trelawny's hand somehow +became lost in my own. It was not that it was a small hand; it was fine +and flexible, with long delicate fingers--a rare and beautiful hand; it +was the unconscious self-surrender. And though at the moment I could +not dwell on the cause of the thrill which swept me, it came back to me +later. + +She turned and said to the police superintendent: + +"This is Mr. Malcolm Ross." The police officer saluted as he answered: + +"I know Mr. Malcolm Ross, miss. Perhaps he will remember I had the +honour of working with him in the Brixton Coining case." I had not at +first glance noticed who it was, my whole attention having been taken +with Miss Trelawny. + +"Of course, Superintendent Dolan, I remember very well!" I said as we +shook hands. I could not but note that the acquaintanceship seemed a +relief to Miss Trelawny. There was a certain vague uneasiness in her +manner which took my attention; instinctively I felt that it would be +less embarrassing for her to speak with me alone. So I said to the +Superintendent: + +"Perhaps it will be better if Miss Trelawny will see me alone for a few +minutes. You, of course, have already heard all she knows; and I shall +understand better how things are if I may ask some questions. I will +then talk the matter over with you if I may." + +"I shall be glad to be of what service I can, sir," he answered +heartily. + +Following Miss Trelawny, I moved over to a dainty room which opened from +the hall and looked out on the garden at the back of the house. When we +had entered and I had closed the door she said: + +"I will thank you later for your goodness in coming to me in my trouble; +but at present you can best help me when you know the facts." + +"Go on," I said. "Tell me all you know and spare no detail, however +trivial it may at the present time seem to be." She went on at once: + +"I was awakened by some sound; I do not know what. I only know that it +came through my sleep; for all at once I found myself awake, with my +heart beating wildly, listening anxiously for some sound from my +Father's room. My room is next Father's, and I can often hear him +moving about before I fall asleep. He works late at night, sometimes +very late indeed; so that when I wake early, as I do occasionally, or in +the grey of the dawn, I hear him still moving. I tried once to +remonstrate with him about staying up so late, as it cannot be good for +him; but I never ventured to repeat the experiment. You know how stern +and cold he can be--at least you may remember what I told you about him; +and when he is polite in this mood he is dreadful. When he is angry I +can bear it much better; but when he is slow and deliberate, and the +side of his mouth lifts up to show the sharp teeth, I think I feel--well, +I don't know how! Last night I got up softly and stole to the door, for +I really feared to disturb him. There was not any noise of moving, and +no kind of cry at all; but there was a queer kind of dragging sound, and +a slow, heavy breathing. Oh! it was dreadful, waiting there in the dark +and the silence, and fearing--fearing I did not know what! + +"At last I took my courage a deux mains, and turning the handle as +softly as I could, I opened the door a tiny bit. It was quite dark +within; I could just see the outline of the windows. But in the +darkness the sound of breathing, becoming more distinct, was appalling. +As I listened, this continued; but there was no other sound. I pushed +the door open all at once. I was afraid to open it slowly; I felt as if +there might be some dreadful thing behind it ready to pounce out on me! +Then I switched on the electric light, and stepped into the room. I +looked first at the bed. The sheets were all crumpled up, so that I +knew Father had been in bed; but there was a great dark red patch in the +centre of the bed, and spreading to the edge of it, that made my heart +stand still. As I was gazing at it the sound of the breathing came +across the room, and my eyes followed to it. There was Father on his +right side with the other arm under him, just as if his dead body had +been thrown there all in a heap. The track of blood went across the +room up to the bed, and there was a pool all around him which looked +terribly red and glittering as I bent over to examine him. The place +where he lay was right in front of the big safe. He was in his pyjamas. +The left sleeve was torn, showing his bare arm, and stretched out toward +the safe. It looked--oh! so terrible, patched all with blood, and with +the flesh torn or cut all around a gold chain bangle on his wrist. I +did not know he wore such a thing, and it seemed to give me a new shock +of surprise." + +She paused a moment; and as I wished to relieve her by a moment's +divergence of thought, I said: + +"Oh, that need not surprise you. You will see the most unlikely men +wearing bangles. I have seen a judge condemn a man to death, and the +wrist of the hand he held up had a gold bangle." She did not seem to +heed much the words or the idea; the pause, however, relieved her +somewhat, and she went on in a steadier voice: + +"I did not lose a moment in summoning aid, for I feared he might bleed +to death. I rang the bell, and then went out and called for help as +loudly as I could. In what must have been a very short time--though it +seemed an incredibly long one to me--some of the servants came running +up; and then others, till the room seemed full of staring eyes, and +dishevelled hair, and night clothes of all sorts. + +"We lifted Father on a sofa; and the housekeeper, Mrs. Grant, who seemed +to have her wits about her more than any of us, began to look where the +flow of blood came from. In a few seconds it became apparent that it +came from the arm which was bare. There was a deep wound--not clean-cut +as with a knife, but like a jagged rent or tear--close to the wrist, +which seemed to have cut into the vein. Mrs. Grant tied a handkerchief +round the cut, and screwed it up tight with a silver paper-cutter; and +the flow of blood seemed to be checked at once. By this time I had come +to my senses--or such of them as remained; and I sent off one man for the +doctor and another for the police. When they had gone, I felt that, +except for the servants, I was all alone in the house, and that I knew +nothing--of my Father or anything else; and a great longing came to me to +have someone with me who could help me. Then I thought of you and your +kind offer in the boat under the willow-tree; and, without waiting to +think, I told the men to get a carriage ready at once, and I scribbled a +note and sent it on to you." + +She paused. I did not like to say just then anything of how I felt. I +looked at her; I think she understood, for her eyes were raised to mine +for a moment and then fell, leaving her cheeks as red as peony roses. +With a manifest effort she went on with her story: + +"The Doctor was with us in an incredibly short time. The groom had met +him letting himself into his house with his latchkey, and he came here +running. He made a proper tourniquet for poor Father's arm, and then +went home to get some appliances. I dare say he will be back almost +immediately. Then a policeman came, and sent a message to the station; +and very soon the Superintendent was here. Then you came." + +There was a long pause, and I ventured to take her hand for an instant. +Without a word more we opened the door, and joined the Superintendent in +the hall. He hurried up to us, saying as he came: + +"I have been examining everything myself, and have sent off a message to +Scotland Yard. You see, Mr. Ross, there seemed so much that was odd +about the case that I thought we had better have the best man of the +Criminal Investigation Department that we could get. So I sent a note +asking to have Sergeant Daw sent at once. You remember him, sir, in +that American poisoning case at Hoxton." + +"Oh yes," I said, "I remember him well; in that and other cases, for I +have benefited several times by his skill and acumen. He has a mind +that works as truly as any that I know. When I have been for the +defence, and believed my man was innocent, I was glad to have him +against us!" + +"That is high praise, sir!" said the Superintendent gratified: "I am +glad you approve of my choice; that I did well in sending for him." + +I answered heartily: + +"Could not be better. I do not doubt that between you we shall get at +the facts--and what lies behind them!" + +We ascended to Mr. Trelawny's room, where we found everything exactly as +his daughter had described. + +There came a ring at the house bell, and a minute later a man was shown +into the room. A young man with aquiline features, keen grey eyes, and +a forehead that stood out square and broad as that of a thinker. In his +hand he had a black bag which he at once opened. Miss Trelawny +introduced us: "Doctor Winchester, Mr. Ross, Superintendent Dolan." We +bowed mutually, and he, without a moment's delay, began his work. We +all waited, and eagerly watched him as he proceeded to dress the wound. +As he went on he turned now and again to call the Superintendent's +attention to some point about the wound, the latter proceeding to enter +the fact at once in his notebook. + +"See! several parallel cuts or scratches beginning on the left side of +the wrist and in some places endangering the radial artery. + +"These small wounds here, deep and jagged, seem as if made with a blunt +instrument. This in particular would seem as if made with some kind of +sharp wedge; the flesh round it seems torn as if with lateral pressure." + +Turning to Miss Trelawny he said presently: + +"Do you think we might remove this bangle? It is not absolutely +necessary, as it will fall lower on the wrist where it can hang loosely; +but it might add to the patient's comfort later on." The poor girl +flushed deeply as she answered in a low voice: + +"I do not know. I--I have only recently come to live with my Father; and +I know so little of his life or his ideas that I fear I can hardly judge +in such a matter. The Doctor, after a keen glance at her, said in a +very kindly way: + +"Forgive me! I did not know. But in any case you need not be +distressed. It is not required at present to move it. Were it so I +should do so at once on my own responsibility. If it be necessary later +on, we can easily remove it with a file. Your Father doubtless has some +object in keeping it as it is. See! there is a tiny key attached to it. +. . ." As he was speaking he stopped and bent lower, taking from my +hand the candle which I held and lowering it till its light fell on the +bangle. Then motioning me to hold the candle in the same position, he +took from his pocket a magnifying-glass which he adjusted. When he had +made a careful examination he stood up and handed the magnifying-glass +to Dolan, saying as he did so: + +"You had better examine it yourself. That is no ordinary bangle. The +gold is wrought over triple steel links; see where it is worn away. It +is manifestly not meant to be removed lightly; and it would need more +than an ordinary file to do it." + +The Superintendent bent his great body; but not getting close enough +that way knelt down by the sofa as the Doctor had done. He examined the +bangle minutely, turning it slowly round so that no particle of it +escaped observation. Then he stood up and handed the magnifying-glass to +me. "When you have examined it yourself," he said, "let the lady look +at it if she will," and he commenced to write at length in his +notebook. + +I made a simple alteration in his suggestion. I held out the glass +toward Miss Trelawny, saying: + +"Had you not better examine it first?" She drew back, slightly raising +her hand in disclaimer, as she said impulsively: + +"Oh no! Father would doubtless have shown it to me had he wished me to +see it. I would not like to without his consent." Then she added, +doubtless fearing lest her delicacy of view should give offence to the +rest of us: + +"Of course it is right that you should see it. You have to examine and +consider everything; and indeed--indeed I am grateful to you. . ." + +She turned away; I could see that she was crying quietly. It was +evident to me that even in the midst of her trouble and anxiety there +was a chagrin that she knew so little of her father; and that her +ignorance had to be shown at such a time and amongst so many strangers. +That they were all men did not make the shame more easy to bear, though +there was a certain relief in it. Trying to interpret her feelings I +could not but think that she must have been glad that no woman's eyes--of +understanding greater than man's--were upon her in that hour. + +When I stood up from my examination, which verified to me that of the +Doctor, the latter resumed his place beside the couch and went on with +his ministrations. Superintendent Dolan said to me in a whisper: + +"I think we are fortunate in our doctor!" I nodded, and was about to add +something in praise of his acumen, when there came a low tapping at the +door. + + + +II Strange Instructions + +Superintendent Dolan went quietly to the door; by a sort of natural +understanding he had taken possession of affairs in the room. The rest +of us waited. He opened the door a little way; and then with a gesture +of manifest relief threw it wide, and a young man stepped in. A young +man clean-shaven, tall and slight; with an eagle face and bright, quick +eyes that seemed to take in everything around him at a glance. As he +came in, the Superintendent held out his hand; the two men shook hands +warmly. + +"I came at once, sir, the moment I got your message. I am glad I still +have your confidence." + +"That you'll always have," said the Superintendent heartily. "I have +not forgotten our old Bow Street days, and I never shall!" Then, +without a word of preliminary, he began to tell everything he knew up to +the moment of the newcomer's entry. Sergeant Daw asked a few questions--a +very few--when it was necessary for his understanding of circumstances or +the relative positions of persons; but as a rule Dolan, who knew his +work thoroughly, forestalled every query, and explained all necessary +matters as he went on. Sergeant Daw threw occasionally swift glances +round him; now at one of us; now at the room or some part of it; now at +the wounded man lying senseless on the sofa. + +When the Superintendent had finished, the Sergeant turned to me and +said: + +"Perhaps you remember me, sir. I was with you in that Hoxton case." + +"I remember you very well," I said as I held out my hand. The +Superintendent spoke again: + +"You understand, Sergeant Daw, that you are put in full charge of this +case." + +"Under you I hope, sir," he interrupted. The other shook his head and +smiled as he said: + +"It seems to me that this is a case that will take all a man's time and +his brains. I have other work to do; but I shall be more than +interested, and if I can help in any possible way I shall be glad to do +so!" + +"All right, sir," said the other, accepting his responsibility with a +sort of modified salute; straightway he began his investigation. + +First he came over to the Doctor and, having learned his name and +address, asked him to write a full report which he could use, and which +he could refer to headquarters if necessary. Doctor Winchester bowed +gravely as he promised. Then the Sergeant approached me and said sotto +voce: + +"I like the look of your doctor. I think we can work together!" +Turning to Miss Trelawny he asked: + +"Please let me know what you can of your Father; his ways of life, his +history--in fact of anything of whatsoever kind which interests him, or +in which he may be concerned." I was about to interrupt to tell him +what she had already said of her ignorance in all matters of her father +and his ways, but her warning hand was raised to me pointedly and she +spoke herself. + +"Alas! I know little or nothing. Superintendent Dolan and Mr. Ross +know already all I can say." + +"Well, ma'am, we must be content to do what we can," said the officer +genially. "I'll begin by making a minute examination. You say that you +were outside the door when you heard the noise?" + +"I was in my room when I heard the queer sound--indeed it must have been +the early part of whatever it was which woke me. I came out of my room +at once. Father's door was shut, and I could see the whole landing and +the upper slopes of the staircase. No one could have left by the door +unknown to me, if that is what you mean!" + +"That is just what I do mean, miss. If every one who knows anything +will tell me as well as that, we shall soon get to the bottom of this." + +He then went over to the bed, looked at it carefully, and asked: + +"Has the bed been touched?" + +"Not to my knowledge," said Miss Trelawny, "but I shall ask Mrs. Grant-- +the housekeeper," she added as she rang the bell. Mrs. Grant answered +it in person. "Come in," said Miss Trelawny. "These gentlemen want to +know, Mrs. Grant, if the bed has been touched." + +"Not by me, ma'am." + +"Then," said Miss Trelawny, turning to Sergeant Daw, "it cannot have +been touched by any one. Either Mrs. Grant or I myself was here all the +time, and I do not think any of the servants who came when I gave the +alarm were near the bed at all. You see, Father lay here just under the +great safe, and every one crowded round him. We sent them all away in a +very short time." Daw, with a motion of his hand, asked us all to stay +at the other side of the room whilst with a magnifying-glass he examined +the bed, taking care as he moved each fold of the bed-clothes to replace +it in exact position. Then he examined with his magnifying-glass the +floor beside it, taking especial pains where the blood had trickled over +the side of the bed, which was of heavy red wood handsomely carved. +Inch by inch, down on his knees, carefully avoiding any touch with the +stains on the floor, he followed the blood-marks over to the spot, close +under the great safe, where the body had lain. All around and about +this spot he went for a radius of some yards; but seemingly did not meet +with anything to arrest special attention. Then he examined the front +of the safe; round the lock, and along the bottom and top of the double +doors, more especially at the places of their touching in front. + +Next he went to the windows, which were fastened down with the hasps. + +"Were the shutters closed?" he asked Miss Trelawny in a casual way as +though he expected the negative answer, which came. + +All this time Doctor Winchester was attending to his patient; now +dressing the wounds in the wrist or making minute examination all over +the head and throat, and over the heart. More than once he put his nose +to the mouth of the senseless man and sniffed. Each time he did so he +finished up by unconsciously looking round the room, as though in search +of something. + +Then we heard the deep strong voice of the Detective: + +"So far as I can see, the object was to bring that key to the lock of +the safe. There seems to be some secret in the mechanism that I am +unable to guess at, though I served a year in Chubb's before I joined +the police. It is a combination lock of seven letters; but there seems +to be a way of locking even the combination. It is one of Chatwood's; I +shall call at their place and find out something about it." Then +turning to the Doctor, as though his own work were for the present done, +he said: + +"Have you anything you can tell me at once, Doctor, which will not +interfere with your full report? If there is any doubt I can wait, but +the sooner I know something definite the better." Doctor Winchester +answered at once: + +"For my own part I see no reason in waiting. I shall make a full report +of course. But in the meantime I shall tell you all I know--which is +after all not very much, and all I think--which is less definite. There +is no wound on the head which could account for the state of stupor in +which the patient continues. I must, therefore, take it that either he +has been drugged or is under some hypnotic influence. So far as I can +judge, he has not been drugged--at least by means of any drug of whose +qualities I am aware. Of course, there is ordinarily in this room so +much of a mummy smell that it is difficult to be certain about anything +having a delicate aroma. I dare say that you have noticed the peculiar +Egyptians scents, bitumen, nard, aromatic gums and spices, and so forth. +It is quite possible that somewhere in this room, amongst the curios and +hidden by stronger scents, is some substance or liquid which may have +the effect we see. It is possible that the patient has taken some drug, +and that he may in some sleeping phase have injured himself. I do not +think this is likely; and circumstances, other than those which I have +myself been investigating, may prove that this surmise is not correct. +But in the meantime it is possible; and must, till it be disproved, be +kept within our purview." Here Sergeant Daw interrupted: + +"That may be, but if so, we should be able to find the instrument with +which the wrist was injured. There would be marks of blood somewhere." + +"Exactly so!" said the Doctor, fixing his glasses as though preparing +for an argument. "But if it be that the patient has used some strange +drug, it may be one that does not take effect at once. As we are as yet +ignorant of its potentialities--if, indeed, the whole surmise is correct +at all--we must be prepared at all points." + +Here Miss Trelawny joined in the conversation: + +"That would be quite right, so far as the action of the drug was +concerned; but according to the second part of your surmise the wound +may have been self-inflicted, and this after the drug had taken +effect." + +"True!" said the Detective and the Doctor simultaneously. She went on: + +"As however, Doctor, your guess does not exhaust the possibilities, we +must bear in mind that some other variant of the same root-idea may be +correct. I take it, therefore, that our first search, to be made on +this assumption, must be for the weapon with which the injury was done +to my Father's wrist." + +"Perhaps he put the weapon in the safe before he became quite +unconscious," said I, giving voice foolishly to a half-formed thought. + +"That could not be," said the Doctor quickly. "At least I think it +could hardly be," he added cautiously, with a brief bow to me. "You +see, the left hand is covered with blood; but there is no blood mark +whatever on the safe." + +"Quite right!" I said, and there was a long pause. + +The first to break the silence was the Doctor. + +"We shall want a nurse here as soon as possible; and I know the very one +to suit. I shall go at once to get her if I can. I must ask that till +I return some of you will remain constantly with the patient. It may be +necessary to remove him to another room later on; but in the meantime he +is best left here. Miss Trelawny, may I take it that either you or Mrs. +Grant will remain here--not merely in the room, but close to the patient +and watchful of him--till I return?" + +She bowed in reply, and took a seat beside the sofa. The Doctor gave +her some directions as to what she should do in case her father should +become conscious before his return. + +The next to move was Superintendent Dolan, who came close to Sergeant +Daw as he said: + +"I had better return now to the station--unless, of course, you should +wish me to remain for a while." + +He answered, "Is Johnny Wright still in your division?" + +"Yes! Would you like him to be with you?" The other nodded reply. +"Then I will send him on to you as soon as can be arranged. He shall +then stay with you as long as you wish. I will tell him that he is to +take his instructions entirely from you." + +The Sergeant accompanied him to the door, saying as he went: + +"Thank you, sir; you are always thoughtful for men who are working with +you. It is a pleasure to me to be with you again. I shall go back to +Scotland Yard and report to my chief. Then I shall call at Chatwood's; +and I shall return here as soon as possible. I suppose I may take it, +miss, that I may put up here for a day or two, if required. It may be +some help, or possibly some comfort to you, if I am about, until we +unravel this mystery." + +"I shall be very grateful to you." He looked keenly at her for a few +seconds before he spoke again. + +"Before I go have I permission to look about your Father's table and +desk? There might be something which would give us a clue--or a lead at +all events." Her answer was so unequivocal as almost to surprise him. + +"You have the fullest possible permission to do anything which may help +us in this dreadful trouble--to discover what it is that is wrong with my +Father, or which may shield him in the future!" + +He began at once a systematic search of the dressing-table, and after +that of the writing-table in the room. In one of the drawers he found a +letter sealed; this he brought at once across the room and handed to +Miss Trelawny. + +"A letter--directed to me--and in my Father's hand!" she said as she +eagerly opened it. I watched her face as she began to read; but seeing +at once that Sergeant Daw kept his keen eyes on her face, unflinchingly +watching every flitting expression, I kept my eyes henceforth fixed on +his. When Miss Trelawny had read her letter through, I had in my mind a +conviction, which, however, I kept locked in my own heart. Amongst the +suspicions in the mind of the Detective was one, rather perhaps +potential than definite, of Miss Trelawny herself. + +For several minutes Miss Trelawny held the letter in her hand with her +eyes downcast, thinking. Then she read it carefully again; this time +the varying expressions were intensified, and I thought I could easily +follow them. When she had finished the second reading, she paused +again. Then, though with some reluctance, she handed the letter to the +Detective. He read it eagerly but with unchanging face; read it a +second time, and then handed it back with a bow. She paused a little +again, and then handed it to me. As she did so she raised her eyes to +mine for a single moment appealingly; a swift blush spread over her pale +cheeks and forehead. + +With mingled feelings I took it, but, all said, I was glad. She did not +show any perturbation in giving the letter to the Detective--she might +not have shown any to anyone else. But to me. . . I feared to follow the +thought further; but read on, conscious that the eyes of both Miss +Trelawny and the Detective were fixed on me. + +"MY DEAR DAUGHTER, I want you to take this letter as an instruction-- +absolute and imperative, and admitting of no deviation whatever--in case +anything untoward or unexpected by you or by others should happen to me. +If I should be suddenly and mysteriously stricken down--either by +sickness, accident or attack--you must follow these directions +implicitly. If I am not already in my bedroom when you are made +cognisant of my state, I am to be brought there as quickly as possible. +Even should I be dead, my body is to be brought there. Thenceforth, +until I am either conscious and able to give instructions on my own +account, or buried, I am never to be left alone--not for a single +instant. From nightfall to sunrise at least two persons must remain in +the room. It will be well that a trained nurse be in the room from time +to time, and will note any symptoms, either permanent or changing, which +may strike her. My solicitors, Marvin & Jewkes, of 27B Lincoln's Inn, +have full instructions in case of my death; and Mr. Marvin has himself +undertaken to see personally my wishes carried out. I should advise +you, my dear Daughter, seeing that you have no relative to apply to, to +get some friend whom you can trust to either remain within the house +where instant communication can be made, or to come nightly to aid in +the watching, or to be within call. Such friend may be either male or +female; but, whichever it may be, there should be added one other +watcher or attendant at hand of the opposite sex. Understand, that it +is of the very essence of my wish that there should be, awake and +exercising themselves to my purposes, both masculine and feminine +intelligences. Once more, my dear Margaret, let me impress on you the +need for observation and just reasoning to conclusions, howsoever +strange. If I am taken ill or injured, this will be no ordinary +occasion; and I wish to warn you, so that your guarding may be complete. + +"Nothing in my room--I speak of the curios--must be removed or displaced +in any way, or for any cause whatever. I have a special reason and a +special purpose in the placing of each; so that any moving of them would +thwart my plans. + +"Should you want money or counsel in anything, Mr. Marvin will carry out +your wishes; to the which he has my full instructions." + + "ABEL TRELAWNY." + +I read the letter a second time before speaking, for I feared to betray +myself. The choice of a friend might be a momentous occasion for me. I +had already ground for hope, that she had asked me to help her in the +first throe of her trouble; but love makes its own doubtings, and I +feared. My thoughts seemed to whirl with lightning rapidity, and in a +few seconds a whole process of reasoning became formulated. I must not +volunteer to be the friend that the father advised his daughter to have +to aid her in her vigil; and yet that one glance had a lesson which I +must not ignore. Also, did not she, when she wanted help, send to me--to +me a stranger, except for one meeting at a dance and one brief afternoon +of companionship on the river? Would it not humiliate her to make her +ask me twice? Humiliate her! No! that pain I could at all events save +her; it is not humiliation to refuse. So, as I handed her back the +letter, I said: + +"I know you will forgive me, Miss Trelawny, if I presume too much; but +if you will permit me to aid in the watching I shall be proud. Though +the occasion is a sad one, I shall be so far happy to be allowed the +privilege." + +Despite her manifest and painful effort at self-control, the red tide +swept her face and neck. Even her eyes seemed suffused, and in stern +contrast with her pale cheeks when the tide had rolled back. She +answered in a low voice: + +"I shall be very grateful for your help!" Then in an afterthought she +added: + +"But you must not let me be selfish in my need! I know you have many +duties to engage you; and though I shall value your help highly--most +highly--it would not be fair to monopolise your time." + +"As to that," I answered at once, "my time is yours. I can for today +easily arrange my work so that I can come here in the afternoon and stay +till morning. After that, if the occasion still demands it, I can so +arrange my work that I shall have more time still at my disposal." + +She was much moved. I could see the tears gather in her eyes, and she +turned away her head. The Detective spoke: + +"I am glad you will be here, Mr. Ross. I shall be in the house myself, +as Miss Trelawny will allow me, if my people in Scotland Yard will +permit. That letter seems to put a different complexion on everything; +though the mystery remains greater than ever. If you can wait here an +hour or two I shall go to headquarters, and then to the safe-makers. +After that I shall return; and you can go away easier in your mind, for +I shall be here." + +When he had gone, we two, Miss Trelawny and I, remained in silence. At +last she raised her eyes and looked at me for a moment; after that I +would not have exchanged places with a king. For a while she busied +herself round the extemporised bedside of her father. Then, asking me +to be sure not to take my eyes off him till she returned, she hurried +out. + +In a few minutes she came back with Mrs. Grant and two maids and a +couple of men, who bore the entire frame and furniture of a light iron +bed. This they proceeded to put together and to make. When the work +was completed, and the servants had withdrawn, she said to me: + +"It will be well to be all ready when the Doctor returns. He will +surely want to have Father put to bed; and a proper bed will be better +for him than the sofa." She then got a chair close beside her father, +and sat down watching him. + +I went about the room, taking accurate note of all I saw. And truly +there were enough things in the room to evoke the curiosity of any man-- +even though the attendant circumstances were less strange. The whole +place, excepting those articles of furniture necessary to a +well-furnished bedroom, was filled with magnificent curios, chiefly +Egyptian. As the room was of immense size there was opportunity for the +placing of a large number of them, even if, as with these, they were of +huge proportions. + +Whilst I was still investigating the room there came the sound of wheels +on the gravel outside the house. There was a ring at the hall door, and +a few minutes later, after a preliminary tap at the door and an +answering "Come in!" Doctor Winchester entered, followed by a young +woman in the dark dress of a nurse. + +"I have been fortunate!" he said as he came in. "I found her at once +and free. Miss Trelawny, this is Nurse Kennedy!" + + + + + +Chapter III +The Watchers + + + + +I was struck by the way the two young women looked at each other. I +suppose I have been so much in the habit of weighing up in my own mind +the personality of witnesses and of forming judgment by their +unconscious action and mode of bearing themselves, that the habit +extends to my life outside as well as within the court-house. At this +moment of my life anything that interested Miss Trelawny interested me; +and as she had been struck by the newcomer I instinctively weighed her +up also. By comparison of the two I seemed somehow to gain a new +knowledge of Miss Trelawny. Certainly, the two women made a good +contrast. Miss Trelawny was of fine figure; dark, straight-featured. +She had marvellous eyes; great, wide-open, and as black and soft as +velvet, with a mysterious depth. To look in them was like gazing at a +black mirror such as Doctor Dee used in his wizard rites. I heard an +old gentleman at the picnic, a great oriental traveller, describe the +effect of her eyes "as looking at night at the great distant lamps of a +mosque through the open door." The eyebrows were typical. Finely +arched and rich in long curling hair, they seemed like the proper +architectural environment of the deep, splendid eyes. Her hair was +black also, but was as fine as silk. Generally black hair is a type of +animal strength and seems as if some strong expression of the forces of +a strong nature; but in this case there could be no such thought. There +were refinement and high breeding; and though there was no suggestion of +weakness, any sense of power there was, was rather spiritual than +animal. The whole harmony of her being seemed complete. Carriage, +figure, hair, eyes; the mobile, full mouth, whose scarlet lips and white +teeth seemed to light up the lower part of the face--as the eyes did the +upper; the wide sweep of the jaw from chin to ear; the long, fine +fingers; the hand which seemed to move from the wrist as though it had a +sentience of its own. All these perfections went to make up a +personality that dominated either by its grace, its sweetness, its +beauty, or its charm. + +Nurse Kennedy, on the other hand, was rather under than over a woman's +average height. She was firm and thickset, with full limbs and broad, +strong, capable hands. Her colour was in the general effect that of an +autumn leaf. The yellow-brown hair was thick and long, and the +golden-brown eyes sparkled from the freckled, sunburnt skin. Her rosy +cheeks gave a general idea of rich brown. The red lips and white teeth +did not alter the colour scheme, but only emphasized it. She had a snub +nose--there was no possible doubt about it; but like such noses in +general it showed a nature generous, untiring, and full of good-nature. +Her broad white forehead, which even the freckles had spared, was full +of forceful thought and reason. + +Doctor Winchester had on their journey from the hospital, coached her in +the necessary particulars, and without a word she took charge of the +patient and set to work. Having examined the new-made bed and shaken +the pillows, she spoke to the Doctor, who gave instructions; presently +we all four, stepping together, lifted the unconscious man from the +sofa. + +Early in the afternoon, when Sergeant Daw had returned, I called at my +rooms in Jermyn Street, and sent out such clothes, books and papers as I +should be likely to want within a few days. Then I went on to keep my +legal engagements. + +The Court sat late that day as an important case was ending; it was +striking six as I drove in at the gate of the Kensington Palace Road. I +found myself installed in a large room close to the sick chamber. + +That night we were not yet regularly organised for watching, so that the +early part of the evening showed an unevenly balanced guard. Nurse +Kennedy, who had been on duty all day, was lying down, as she had +arranged to come on again by twelve o'clock. Doctor Winchester, who was +dining in the house, remained in the room until dinner was announced; +and went back at once when it was over. During dinner Mrs. Grant +remained in the room, and with her Sergeant Daw, who wished to complete +a minute examination which he had undertaken of everything in the room +and near it. At nine o'clock Miss Trelawny and I went in to relieve the +Doctor. She had lain down for a few hours in the afternoon so as to be +refreshed for her work at night. She told me that she had determined +that for this night at least she would sit up and watch. I did not try +to dissuade her, for I knew that her mind was made up. Then and there I +made up my mind that I would watch with her--unless, of course, I should +see that she really did not wish it. I said nothing of my intentions +for the present. We came in on tiptoe, so silently that the Doctor, who +was bending over the bed, did not hear us, and seemed a little startled +when suddenly looking up he saw our eyes upon him. I felt that the +mystery of the whole thing was getting on his nerves, as it had already +got on the nerves of some others of us. He was, I fancied, a little +annoyed with himself for having been so startled, and at once began to +talk in a hurried manner as though to get over our idea of his +embarrassment: + +"I am really and absolutely at my wits' end to find any fit cause for +this stupor. I have made again as accurate an examination as I know +how, and I am satisfied that there is no injury to the brain, that is, +no external injury. Indeed, all his vital organs seem unimpaired. I +have given him, as you know, food several times and it has manifestly +done him good. His breathing is strong and regular, and his pulse is +slower and stronger than it was this morning. I cannot find evidence of +any known drug, and his unconsciousness does not resemble any of the +many cases of hypnotic sleep which I saw in the Charcot Hospital in +Paris. And as to these wounds"--he laid his finger gently on the +bandaged wrist which lay outside the coverlet as he spoke, "I do not +know what to make of them. They might have been made by a +carding-machine; but that supposition is untenable. It is within the +bounds of possibility that they might have been made by a wild animal if +it had taken care to sharpen its claws. That too is, I take it, +impossible. By the way, have you any strange pets here in the house; +anything of an exceptional kind, such as a tiger-cat or anything out of +the common?" Miss Trelawny smiled a sad smile which made my heart ache, +as she made answer: + +"Oh no! Father does not like animals about the house, unless they are +dead and mummied." This was said with a touch of bitterness--or +jealousy, I could hardly tell which. "Even my poor kitten was only +allowed in the house on sufferance; and though he is the dearest and +best-conducted cat in the world, he is now on a sort of parole, and is +not allowed into this room." + +As she was speaking a faint rattling of the door handle was heard. +Instantly Miss Trelawny's face brightened. She sprang up and went over +to the door, saying as she went: + +"There he is! That is my Silvio. He stands on his hind legs and +rattles the door handle when he wants to come into a room." She opened +the door, speaking to the cat as though he were a baby: "Did him want +his movver? Come then; but he must stay with her!" She lifted the cat, +and came back with him in her arms. He was certainly a magnificent +animal. A chinchilla grey Persian with long silky hair; a really lordly +animal with a haughty bearing despite his gentleness; and with great +paws which spread out as he placed them on the ground. Whilst she was +fondling him, he suddenly gave a wriggle like an eel and slipped out of +her arms. He ran across the room and stood opposite a low table on +which stood the mummy of an animal, and began to mew and snarl. Miss +Trelawny was after him in an instant and lifted him in her arms, kicking +and struggling and wriggling to get away; but not biting or scratching, +for evidently he loved his beautiful mistress. He ceased to make a +noise the moment he was in her arms; in a whisper she admonished him: + +"O you naughty Silvio! You have broken your parole that mother gave for +you. Now, say goodnight to the gentlemen, and come away to mother's +room!" As she was speaking she held out the cat's paw to me to shake. +As I did so I could not but admire its size and beauty. "Why," said I, +"his paw seems like a little boxing-glove full of claws." She smiled: + +"So it ought to. Don't you notice that my Silvio has seven toes, see!" +she opened the paw; and surely enough there were seven separate claws, +each of them sheathed in a delicate, fine, shell-like case. As I gently +stroked the foot the claws emerged and one of them accidentally--there +was no anger now and the cat was purring--stuck into my hand. +Instinctively I said as I drew back: + +"Why, his claws are like razors!" + +Doctor Winchester had come close to us and was bending over looking at +the cat's claws; as I spoke he said in a quick, sharp way: + +"Eh!" I could hear the quick intake of his breath. Whilst I was +stroking the now quiescent cat, the Doctor went to the table and tore +off a piece of blotting-paper from the writing-pad and came back. He +laid the paper on his palm and, with a simple "pardon me!" to Miss +Trelawny, placed the cat's paw on it and pressed it down with his other +hand. The haughty cat seemed to resent somewhat the familiarity, and +tried to draw its foot away. This was plainly what the Doctor wanted, +for in the act the cat opened the sheaths of its claws and and made +several reefs in the soft paper. Then Miss Trelawny took her pet away. +She returned in a couple of minutes; as she came in she said: + +"It is most odd about that mummy! When Silvio came into the room +first--indeed I took him in as a kitten to show to Father--he went on +just the same way. He jumped up on the table, and tried to scratch and +bite the mummy. That was what made Father so angry, and brought the +decree of banishment on poor Silvio. Only his parole, given through me, +kept him in the house." + +Whilst she had been gone, Doctor Winchester had taken the bandage from +her father's wrist. The wound was now quite clear, as the separate cuts +showed out in fierce red lines. The Doctor folded the blotting-paper +across the line of punctures made by the cat's claws, and held it down +close to the wound. As he did so, he looked up triumphantly and +beckoned us over to him. + +The cuts in the paper corresponded with the wounds in the wrist! No +explanation was needed, as he said; + +"It would have been better if master Silvio had not broken his parole!" + +We were all silent for a little while. Suddenly Miss Trelawny said: + +"But Silvio was not in here last night!" + +"Are you sure? Could you prove that if necessary?" She hesitated +before replying: + +"I am certain of it; but I fear it would be difficult to prove. Silvio +sleeps in a basket in my room. I certainly put him to bed last night; I +remember distinctly laying his little blanket over him, and tucking him +in. This morning I took him out of the basket myself. I certainly +never noticed him in here; though, of course, that would not mean much, +for I was too concerned about poor father, and too much occupied with +him, to notice even Silvio." + +The Doctor shook his head as he said with a certain sadness: + +"Well, at any rate it is no use trying to prove anything now. Any cat +in the world would have cleaned blood-marks--did any exist--from his paws +in a hundredth part of the time that has elapsed." + +Again we were all silent; and again the silence was broken by Miss +Trelawny: + +"But now that I think of it, it could not have been poor Silvio that +injured Father. My door was shut when I first heard the sound; and +Father's was shut when I listened at it. When I went in, the injury had +been done; so that it must have been before Silvio could possibly have +got in." This reasoning commended itself, especially to me as a +barrister, for it was proof to satisfy a jury. It gave me a distinct +pleasure to have Silvio acquitted of the crime--possibly because he was +Miss Trelawny's cat and was loved by her. Happy cat! Silvio's mistress +was manifestly pleased as I said: + +"Verdict, 'not guilty!'" Doctor Winchester after a pause observed: + +"My apologies to master Silvio on this occasion; but I am still puzzled +to know why he is so keen against that mummy. Is he the same toward the +other mummies in the house? There are, I suppose, a lot of them. I saw +three in the hall as I came in." + +"There are lots of them," she answered. "I sometimes don't know whether +I am in a private house or the British Museum. But Silvio never +concerns himself about any of them except that particular one. I +suppose it must be because it is of an animal, not a man or a woman." + +"Perhaps it is of a cat!" said the Doctor as he started up and went +across the room to look at the mummy more closely. "Yes," he went on, +"it is the mummy of a cat; and a very fine one, too. If it hadn't been +a special favourite of some very special person it would never have +received so much honour. See! A painted case and obsidian eyes--just +like a human mummy. It is an extraordinary thing, that knowledge of +kind to kind. Here is a dead cat--that is all; it is perhaps four or +five thousand years old--and another cat of another breed, in what is +practically another world, is ready to fly at it, just as it would if it +were not dead. I should like to experiment a bit about that cat if you +don't mind, Miss Trelawny." She hesitated before replying: + +"Of course, do anything you may think necessary or wise; but I hope it +will not be anything to hurt or worry my poor Silvio." The Doctor +smiled as he answered: + +"Oh, Silvio would be all right: it is the other one that my sympathies +would be reserved for." + +"How do you mean?" + +"Master Silvio will do the attacking; the other one will do the +suffering." + +"Suffering?" There was a note of pain in her voice. The Doctor smiled +more broadly: + +"Oh, please make your mind easy as to that. The other won't suffer as +we understand it; except perhaps in his structure and outfit." + +"What on earth do you mean?" + +"Simply this, my dear young lady, that the antagonist will be a mummy +cat like this one. There are, I take it, plenty of them to be had in +Museum Street. I shall get one and place it here instead of that one-- +you won't think that a temporary exchange will violate your Father's +instructions, I hope. We shall then find out, to begin with, whether +Silvio objects to all mummy cats, or only to this one in particular." + +"I don't know," she said doubtfully. "Father's instructions seem very +uncompromising." Then after a pause she went on: "But of course under +the circumstances anything that is to be ultimately for his good must be +done. I suppose there can't be anything very particular about the mummy +of a cat." + +Doctor Winchester said nothing. He sat rigid, with so grave a look on +his face that his extra gravity passed on to me; and in its enlightening +perturbation I began to realise more than I had yet done the strangeness +of the case in which I was now so deeply concerned. When once this +thought had begun there was no end to it. Indeed it grew, and +blossomed, and reproduced itself in a thousand different ways. The room +and all in it gave grounds for strange thoughts. There were so many +ancient relics that unconsciously one was taken back to strange lands +and strange times. There were so many mummies or mummy objects, round +which there seemed to cling for ever the penetrating odours of bitumen, +and spices and gums--"Nard and Circassia's balmy smells"--that one was +unable to forget the past. Of course, there was but little light in the +room, and that carefully shaded; so that there was no glare anywhere. +None of that direct light which can manifest itself as a power or an +entity, and so make for companionship. The room was a large one, and +lofty in proportion to its size. In its vastness was place for a +multitude of things not often found in a bedchamber. In far corners +of the room were shadows of uncanny shape. More than once as I thought, +the multitudinous presence of the dead and the past took such hold on me +that I caught myself looking round fearfully as though some strange +personality or influence was present. Even the manifest presence of +Doctor Winchester and Miss Trelawny could not altogether comfort or +satisfy me at such moments. It was with a distinct sense of relief that +I saw a new personality in the room in the shape of Nurse Kennedy. +There was no doubt that that business-like, self-reliant, capable young +woman added an element of security to such wild imaginings as my own. +She had a quality of common sense that seemed to pervade everything +around her, as though it were some kind of emanation. Up to that moment +I had been building fancies around the sick man; so that finally all +about him, including myself, had become involved in them, or enmeshed, +or saturated, or. . . But now that she had come, he relapsed into his +proper perspective as a patient; the room was a sick-room, and the +shadows lost their fearsome quality. The only thing which it could not +altogether abrogate was the strange Egyptian smell. You may put a mummy +in a glass case and hermetically seal it so that no corroding air can +get within; but all the same it will exhale its odour. One might think +that four or five thousand years would exhaust the olfactory qualities +of anything; but experience teaches us that these smells remain, and +that their secrets are unknown to us. Today they are as much mysteries +as they were when the embalmers put the body in the bath of natron. . . + + +All at once I sat up. I had become lost in an absorbing reverie. The +Egyptian smell had seemed to get on my nerves--on my memory--on my very +will. + +At that moment I had a thought which was like an inspiration. If I was +influenced in such a manner by the smell, might it not be that the sick +man, who lived half his life or more in the atmosphere, had gradually +and by slow but sure process taken into his system something which had +permeated him to such degree that it had a new power derived from +quantity--or strength--or . . . + +I was becoming lost again in a reverie. This would not do. I must take +such precaution that I could remain awake, or free from such entrancing +thought. I had had but half a night's sleep last night; and this night +I must remain awake. Without stating my intention, for I feared that I +might add to the trouble and uneasiness of Miss Trelawny, I went +downstairs and out of the house. I soon found a chemist's shop, and +came away with a respirator. When I got back, it was ten o'clock; the +Doctor was going for the night. The Nurse came with him to the door of +the sick-room, taking her last instructions. Miss Trelawny sat still +beside the bed. Sergeant Daw, who had entered as the Doctor went out, +was some little distance off. + +When Nurse Kennedy joined us, we arranged that she should sit up till +two o'clock, when Miss Trelawny would relieve her. Thus, in accordance +with Mr. Trelawny's instructions, there would always be a man and a +woman in the room; and each one of us would overlap, so that at no time +would a new set of watchers come on duty without some one to tell of +what--if anything--had occurred. I lay down on a sofa in my own room, +having arranged that one of the servants should call me a little before +twelve. In a few moments I was asleep. + +When I was waked, it took me several seconds to get back my thoughts so +as to recognise my own identity and surroundings. The short sleep had, +however, done me good, and I could look on things around me in a more +practical light than I had been able to do earlier in the evening. I +bathed my face, and thus refreshed went into the sick-room. I moved +very softly. The Nurse was sitting by the bed, quiet and alert; the +Detective sat in an arm-chair across the room in deep shadow. He did +not move when I crossed, until I got close to him, when he said in a +dull whisper: + +"It is all right; I have not been asleep!" An unnecessary thing to say, +I thought--it always is, unless it be untrue in spirit. When I told him +that his watch was over; that he might go to bed till I should call him +at six o'clock, he seemed relieved and went with alacrity. At the door +he turned and, coming back to me, said in a whisper: + +"I sleep lightly and I shall have my pistols with me. I won't feel so +heavy-headed when I get out of this mummy smell." + +He too, then, had shared my experience of drowsiness! + +I asked the Nurse if she wanted anything. I noticed that she had a +vinaigrette in her lap. Doubtless she, too, had felt some of the +influence which had so affected me. She said that she had all she +required, but that if she should want anything she would at once let me +know. I wished to keep her from noticing my respirator, so I went to +the chair in the shadow where her back was toward me. Here I quietly +put it on, and made myself comfortable. + +For what seemed a long time, I sat and thought and thought. It was +a wild medley of thoughts, as might have been expected from the +experiences of the previous day and night. Again I found myself +thinking of the Egyptian smell; and I remember that I felt a delicious +satisfaction that I did not experience it as I had done. The respirator +was doing its work. + +It must have been that the passing of this disturbing thought made for +repose of mind, which is the corollary of bodily rest, for, though I +really cannot remember being asleep or waking from it, I saw a vision--I +dreamed a dream, I scarcely know which. + +I was still in the room, seated in the chair. I had on my respirator +and knew that I breathed freely. The Nurse sat in her chair with her +back toward me. She sat quite still. The sick man lay as still as the +dead. It was rather like the picture of a scene than the reality; all +were still and silent; and the stillness and silence were continuous. +Outside, in the distance I could hear the sounds of a city, the +occasional roll of wheels, the shout of a reveller, the far-away echo of +whistles and the rumbling of trains. The light was very, very low; the +reflection of it under the green-shaded lamp was a dim relief to the +darkness, rather than light. The green silk fringe of the lamp had +merely the colour of an emerald seen in the moonlight. The room, for all +its darkness, was full of shadows. It seemed in my whirling thoughts as +though all the real things had become shadows--shadows which moved, for +they passed the dim outline of the high windows. Shadows which had +sentience. I even thought there was sound, a faint sound as of the mew +of a cat--the rustle of drapery and a metallic clink as of metal faintly +touching metal. I sat as one entranced. At last I felt, as in +nightmare, that this was sleep, and that in the passing of its portals +all my will had gone. + +All at once my senses were full awake. A shriek rang in my ears. The +room was filled suddenly with a blaze of light. There was the sound of +pistol shots--one, two; and a haze of white smoke in the room. When my +waking eyes regained their power, I could have shrieked with horror +myself at what I saw before me. + + + + + +Chapter IV +The Second Attempt + + + + +The sight which met my eyes had the horror of a dream within a dream, +with the certainty of reality added. The room was as I had seen it +last; except that the shadowy look had gone in the glare of the many +lights, and every article in it stood stark and solidly real. + +By the empty bed sat Nurse Kennedy, as my eyes had last seen her, +sitting bolt upright in the arm-chair beside the bed. She had placed a +pillow behind her, so that her back might be erect; but her neck was +fixed as that of one in a cataleptic trance. She was, to all intents +and purposes, turned into stone. There was no special expression on her +face--no fear, no horror; nothing such as might be expected of one in +such a condition. Her open eyes showed neither wonder nor interest. +She was simply a negative existence, warm, breathing, placid; but +absolutely unconscious of the world around her. The bedclothes were +disarranged, as though the patient had been drawn from under them +without throwing them back. The corner of the upper sheet hung upon the +floor; close by it lay one of the bandages with which the Doctor had +dressed the wounded wrist. Another and another lay further along the +floor, as though forming a clue to where the sick man now lay. This was +almost exactly where he had been found on the previous night, under the +great safe. Again, the left arm lay toward the safe. But there had +been a new outrage, an attempt had been made to sever the arm close to +the bangle which held the tiny key. A heavy "kukri" knife--one of the +leaf-shaped knives which the Gurkhas and others of the hill tribes of +India use with such effect--had been taken from its place on the wall, +and with it the attempt had been made. It was manifest that just at the +moment of striking, the blow had been arrested, for only the point of +the knife and not the edge of the blade had struck the flesh. As it +was, the outer side of the arm had been cut to the bone and the blood +was pouring out. In addition, the former wound in front of the arm had +been cut or torn about terribly, one of the cuts seemed to jet out blood +as if with each pulsation of the heart. By the side of her father knelt +Miss Trelawny, her white nightdress stained with the blood in which she +knelt. In the middle of the room Sergeant Daw, in his shirt and +trousers and stocking feet, was putting fresh cartridges into his +revolver in a dazed mechanical kind of way. His eyes were red and +heavy, and he seemed only half awake, and less than half conscious of +what was going on around him. Several servants, bearing lights of +various kinds, were clustered round the doorway. + +As I rose from my chair and came forward, Miss Trelawny raised her eyes +toward me. When she saw me she shrieked and started to her feet, +pointing towards me. Never shall I forget the strange picture she made, +with her white drapery all smeared with blood which, as she rose from +the pool, ran in streaks toward her bare feet. I believe that I had +only been asleep; that whatever influence had worked on Mr. Trelawny and +Nurse Kennedy--and in less degree on Sergeant Daw--had not touched me. +The respirator had been of some service, though it had not kept off the +tragedy whose dire evidences were before me. I can understand now--I +could understand even then--the fright, added to that which had gone +before, which my appearance must have evoked. I had still on the +respirator, which covered mouth and nose; my hair had been tossed in my +sleep. Coming suddenly forward, thus enwrapped and dishevelled, in that +horrified crowd, I must have had, in the strange mixture of lights, an +extraordinary and terrifying appearance. It was well that I recognised +all this in time to avert another catastrophe; for the half-dazed, +mechanically-acting Detective put in the cartridges and had raised his +revolver to shoot at me when I succeeded in wrenching off the respirator +and shouting to him to hold his hand. In this also he acted +mechanically; the red, half-awake eyes had not in them even then the +intention of conscious action. The danger, however, was averted. The +relief of the situation, strangely enough, came in a simple fashion. +Mrs. Grant, seeing that her young mistress had on only her nightdress, +had gone to fetch a dressing-gown, which she now threw over her. This +simple act brought us all back to the region of fact. With a long +breath, one and all seemed to devote themselves to the most pressing +matter before us, that of staunching the flow of blood from the arm of +the wounded man. Even as the thought of action came, I rejoiced; for +the bleeding was very proof that Mr. Trelawny still lived. + +Last night's lesson was not thrown away. More than one of those present +knew now what to do in such an emergency, and within a few seconds +willing hands were at work on a tourniquet. A man was at once +despatched for the doctor, and several of the servants disappeared to +make themselves respectable. We lifted Mr. Trelawny on to the sofa +where he had lain yesterday; and, having done what we could for him, +turned our attention to the Nurse. In all the turmoil she had not +stirred; she sat there as before, erect and rigid, breathing softly and +naturally and with a placid smile. As it was manifestly of no use to +attempt anything with her till the doctor had come, we began to think of +the general situation. + +Mrs. Grant had by this time taken her mistress away and changed her +clothes; for she was back presently in a dressing-gown and slippers, and +with the traces of blood removed from her hands. She was now much +calmer, though she trembled sadly; and her face was ghastly white. When +she had looked at her father's wrist, I holding the tourniquet, she +turned her eyes round the room, resting them now and again on each one +of us present in turn, but seeming to find no comfort. It was so +apparent to me that she did not know where to begin or whom to trust +that, to reassure her, I said: + +"I am all right now; I was only asleep." Her voice had a gulp in it as +she said in a low voice: + +"Asleep! You! and my Father in danger! I thought you were on the +watch!" I felt the sting of justice in the reproach; but I really +wanted to help her, so I answered: + +"Only asleep. It is bad enough, I know; but there is something more +than an "only" round us here. Had it not been that I took a definite +precaution I might have been like the Nurse there." She turned her eyes +swiftly on the weird figure, sitting grimly upright like a painted +statue; and then her face softened. With the action of habitual +courtesy she said: + +"Forgive me! I did not mean to be rude. But I am in such distress and +fear that I hardly know what I am saying. Oh, it is dreadful! I fear +for fresh trouble and horror and mystery every moment." This cut me to +the very heart, and out of the heart's fulness I spoke: + +"Don't give me a thought! I don't deserve it. I was on guard, and yet +I slept. All that I can say is that I didn't mean to, and I tried to +avoid it; but it was over me before I knew it. Anyhow, it is done now; +and can't be undone. Probably some day we may understand it all; but +now let us try to get at some idea of what has happened. Tell me what +you remember!" The effort to recollect seemed to stimulate her; she +became calmer as she spoke: + +"I was asleep, and woke suddenly with the same horrible feeling on me +that Father was in great and immediate danger. I jumped up and ran, +just as I was, into his room. It was nearly pitch dark, but as I opened +the door there was light enough to see Father's nightdress as he lay on +the floor under the safe, just as on that first awful night. Then I +think I must have gone mad for a moment." She stopped and shuddered. +My eyes lit on Sergeant Daw, still fiddling in an aimless way with the +revolver. Mindful of my work with the tourniquet, I said calmly: + +"Now tell us, Sergeant Daw, what did you fire at?" The policeman seemed +to pull himself together with the habit of obedience. Looking around at +the servants remaining in the room, he said with that air of importance +which, I take it, is the regulation attitude of an official of the law +before strangers: + +"Don't you think, sir, that we can allow the servants to go away? We +can then better go into the matter." I nodded approval; the servants +took the hint and withdrew, though unwillingly, the last one closing the +door behind him. Then the Detective went on: + +"I think I had better tell you my impressions, sir, rather than recount +my actions. That is, so far as I remember them." There was a mortified +deference now in his manner, which probably arose from his consciousness +of the awkward position in which he found himself. "I went to sleep +half-dressed--as I am now, with a revolver under my pillow. It was the +last thing I remember thinking of. I do not know how long I slept. I +had turned off the electric light, and it was quite dark. I thought I +heard a scream; but I can't be sure, for I felt thick-headed as a man +does when he is called too soon after an extra long stretch of work. +Not that such was the case this time. Anyhow my thoughts flew to the +pistol. I took it out, and ran on to the landing. Then I heard a sort +of scream, or rather a call for help, and ran into this room. The room +was dark, for the lamp beside the Nurse was out, and the only light was +that from the landing, coming through the open door. Miss Trelawny was +kneeling on the floor beside her father, and was screaming. I thought I +saw something move between me and the window; so, without thinking, and +being half dazed and only half awake, I shot at it. It moved a little +more to the right between the windows, and I shot again. Then you came +up out of the big chair with all that muffling on your face. It seemed +to me, being as I say half dazed and half awake--I know, sir, you will +take this into account--as if it had been you, being in the same +direction as the thing I had fired at. And so I was about to fire again +when you pulled off the wrap." Here I asked him--I was cross-examining +now and felt at home: + +"You say you thought I was the thing you fired at. What thing?" The +man scratched his head, but made no reply. + +"Come, sir," I said, "what thing; what was it like?" The answer came in +a low voice: + +"I don't know, sir. I thought there was something; but what it was, or +what it was like, I haven't the faintest notion. I suppose it was +because I had been thinking of the pistol before I went to sleep, and +because when I came in here I was half dazed and only half awake--which I +hope you will in future, sir, always remember." He clung to that +formula of excuse as though it were his sheet-anchor. I did not want to +antagonise the man; on the contrary I wanted to have him with us. +Besides, I had on me at that time myself the shadow of my own default; +so I said as kindly as I knew how: + +"Quite right! Sergeant. Your impulse was correct; though of course in +the half-somnolent condition in which you were, and perhaps partly +affected by the same influence--whatever it may be--which made me sleep +and which has put the Nurse in that cataleptic trance, it could not be +expected that you would paused to weigh matters. But now, whilst the +matter is fresh, let me see exactly where you stood and where I sat. We +shall be able to trace the course of your bullets." The prospect of +action and the exercise of his habitual skill seemed to brace him at +once; he seemed a different man as he set about his work. I asked Mrs. +Grant to hold the tourniquet, and went and stood where he had stood and +looked where, in the darkness, he had pointed. I could not but notice +the mechanical exactness of his mind, as when he showed me where he had +stood, or drew, as a matter of course, the revolver from his pistol +pocket, and pointed with it. The chair from which I had risen still +stood in its place. Then I asked him to point with his hand only, as I +wished to move in the track of his shot. + +Just behind my chair, and a little back of it, stood a high buhl +cabinet. The glass door was shattered. I asked: + +"Was this the direction of your first shot or your second?" The answer +came promptly. + +"The second; the first was over there!" + +He turned a little to the left, more toward the wall where the great +safe stood, and pointed. I followed the direction of his hand and came +to the low table whereon rested, amongst other curios, the mummy of the +cat which had raised Silvio's ire. I got a candle and easily found the +mark of the bullet. It had broken a little glass vase and a tazza of +black basalt, exquisitely engraved with hieroglyphics, the graven lines +being filled with some faint green cement and the whole thing being +polished to an equal surface. The bullet, flattened against the wall, +lay on the table. + +I then went to the broken cabinet. It was evidently a receptacle for +valuable curios; for in it were some great scarabs of gold, agate, green +jasper, amethyst, lapis lazuli, opal, granite, and blue-green china. +None of these things happily were touched. The bullet had gone through +the back of the cabinet; but no other damage, save the shattering of the +glass, had been done. I could not but notice the strange arrangement of +the curios on the shelf of the cabinet. All the scarabs, rings, +amulets, &c. were arranged in an uneven oval round an exquisitely-carved +golden miniature figure of a hawk-headed God crowned with a disk and +plumes. I did not wait to look further at present, for my attention was +demanded by more pressing things; but I determined to make a more minute +examination when I should have time. It was evident that some of the +strange Egyptian smell clung to these old curios; through the broken +glass came an added whiff of spice and gum and bitumen, almost stronger +than those I had already noticed as coming from others in the room. + +All this had really taken but a few minutes. I was surprised when my +eye met, through the chinks between the dark window blinds and the +window cases, the brighter light of the coming dawn. When I went back +to the sofa and took the tourniquet from Mrs. Grant, she went over and +pulled up the blinds. + +It would be hard to imagine anything more ghastly than the appearance of +the room with the faint grey light of early morning coming in upon it. +As the windows faced north, any light that came was a fixed grey light +without any of the rosy possibility of dawn which comes in the eastern +quarter of heaven. The electric lights seemed dull and yet glaring; and +every shadow was of a hard intensity. There was nothing of morning +freshness; nothing of the softness of night. All was hard and cold and +inexpressibly dreary. The face of the senseless man on the sofa seemed +of a ghastly yellow; and the Nurse's face had taken a suggestion of +green from the shade of the lamp near her. Only Miss Trelawny's face +looked white; and it was of a pallor which made my heart ache. It +looked as if nothing on God's earth could ever again bring back to it +the colour of life and happiness. + +It was a relief to us all when Doctor Winchester came in, breathless +with running. He only asked one question: + +"Can anyone tell me anything of how this wound was gotten?" On seeing +the headshake which went round us under his glance, he said no more, but +applied himself to his surgical work. For an instant he looked up at +the Nurse sitting so still; but then bent himself to his task, a grave +frown contracting his brows. It was not till the arteries were tied and +the wounds completely dressed that he spoke again, except, of course, +when he had asked for anything to be handed to him or to be done for +him. When Mr. Trelawny's wounds had been thoroughly cared for, he said +to Miss Trelawny: + +"What about Nurse Kennedy?" She answered at once: + +"I really do not know. I found her when I came into the room at +half-past two o'clock, sitting exactly as she does now. We have not +moved her, or changed her position. She has not wakened since. Even +Sergeant Daw's pistol-shots did not disturb her." + +"Pistol-shots? Have you then discovered any cause for this new +outrage?" The rest were silent, so I answered: + +"We have discovered nothing. I was in the room watching with the Nurse. +Earlier in the evening I fancied that the mummy smells were making me +drowsy, so I went out and got a respirator. I had it on when I came on +duty; but it did not keep me from going to sleep. I awoke to see the +room full of people; that is, Miss Trelawny and Sergeant Daw, being only +half awake and still stupefied by the same scent or influence which had +affected us, fancied that he saw something moving through the shadowy +darkness of the room, and fired twice. When I rose out of my chair, +with my face swathed in the respirator, he took me for the cause of the +trouble. Naturally enough, he was about to fire again, when I was +fortunately in time to manifest my identity. Mr. Trelawny was lying +beside the safe, just as he was found last night; and was bleeding +profusely from the new wound in his wrist. We lifted him on the sofa, +and made a tourniquet. That is, literally and absolutely, all that any +of us know as yet. We have not touched the knife, which you see lies +close by the pool of blood. Look!" I said, going over and lifting it. +"The point is red with the blood which has dried." + +Doctor Winchester stood quite still a few minutes before speaking: + +"Then the doings of this night are quite as mysterious as those of last +night?" + +"Quite!" I answered. He said nothing in reply, but turning to Miss +Trelawny said: + +"We had better take Nurse Kennedy into another room. I suppose there is +nothing to prevent it?" + +"Nothing! Please, Mrs. Grant, see that Nurse Kennedy's room is ready; +and ask two of the men to come and carry her in." Mrs. Grant went out +immediately; and in a few minutes came back saying: + +"The room is quite ready; and the men are here." By her direction two +footmen came into the room and, lifting up the rigid body of Nurse +Kennedy under the supervision of the Doctor, carried her out of the +room. Miss Trelawny remained with me in the sick chamber, and Mrs. +Grant went with the Doctor into the Nurse's room. + +When we were alone Miss Trelawny came over to me, and taking both my +hands in hers, said: + +"I hope you won't remember what I said. I did not mean it, and I was +distraught." I did not make reply; but I held her hands and kissed +them. There are different ways of kissing a lady's hands. This way was +intended as homage and respect; and it was accepted as such in the +high-bred, dignified way which marked Miss Trelawny's bearing and every +movement. I went over to the sofa and looked down at the senseless man. +The dawn had come much nearer in the last few minutes, and there was +something of the clearness of day in the light. As I looked at the +stern, cold, set face, now as white as a marble monument in the pale +grey light, I could not but feel that there was some deep mystery beyond +all that had happened within the last twenty-six hours. Those beetling +brows screened some massive purpose; that high, broad forehead held some +finished train of reasoning, which the broad chin and massive jaw would +help to carry into effect. As I looked and wondered, there began to +steal over me again that phase of wandering thought which had last night +heralded the approach of sleep. I resisted it, and held myself sternly +to the present. This was easier to do when Miss Trelawny came close to +me, and, leaning her forehead against my shoulder, began to cry +silently. Then all the manhood in me woke, and to present purpose. It +was of little use trying to speak; words were inadequate to thought. But +we understood each other; she did not draw away when I put arm +protectingly over her shoulder as I used to do with my little sister +long ago when in her childish trouble she would come to her big brother +to be comforted. That very act or attitude of protection made me more +resolute in my purpose, and seemed to clear my brain of idle, dreamy +wandering in thought. With an instinct of greater protection, however, +I took away my arm as I heard the Doctor's footstep outside the door. + +When Doctor Winchester came in he looked intently at the patient before +speaking. His brows were set, and his mouth was a thin, hard line. +Presently he said: + +"There is much in common between the sleep of your Father and Nurse +Kennedy. Whatever influence has brought it about has probably worked the +same way in both cases. In Kennedy's case the coma is less marked. I +cannot but feel, however, that with her we may be able to do more and +more quickly than with this patient, as our hands are not tied. I have +placed her in a draught; and already she shows some signs, though very +faint ones, of ordinary unconsciousness. The rigidity of her limbs is +less, and her skin seems more sensitive--or perhaps I should say less +insensitive--to pain." + +"How is it, then," I asked, "that Mr. Trelawny is still in this state of +insensibility; and yet, so far as we know, his body has not had such +rigidity at all?" + +"That I cannot answer. The problem is one which we may solve in a few +hours; or it may need a few days. But it will be a useful lesson in +diagnosis to us all; and perhaps to many and many others after us, who +knows!" he added, with the genuine fire of an enthusiast. + +As the morning wore on, he flitted perpetually between the two rooms, +watching anxiously over both patients. He made Mrs. Grant remain with +the Nurse, but either Miss Trelawny or I, generally both of us, remained +with the wounded man. We each managed, however, to get bathed and +dressed; the Doctor and Mrs. Grant remained with Mr. Trelawny whilst we +had breakfast. + +Sergeant Daw went off to report at Scotland Yard the progress of the +night; and then to the local station to arrange for the coming of his +comrade, Wright, as fixed with Superintendent Dolan. When he returned I +could not but think that he had been hauled over the coals for shooting +in a sick-room; or perhaps for shooting at all without certain and +proper cause. His remark to me enlightened me in the matter: + +"A good character is worth something, sir, in spite of what some of them +say. See! I've still got leave to carry my revolver." + +That day was a long and anxious one. Toward nightfall Nurse Kennedy so +far improved that the rigidity of her limbs entirely disappeared. She +still breathed quietly and regularly; but the fixed expression of her +face, though it was a calm enough expression, gave place to fallen +eyelids and the negative look of sleep. Doctor Winchester had, towards +evening, brought two more nurses, one of whom was to remain with Nurse +Kennedy and the other to share in the watching with Miss Trelawny, who +had insisted on remaining up herself. She had, in order to prepare for +the duty, slept for several hours in the afternoon. We had all taken +counsel together, and had arranged thus for the watching in Mr. +Trelawny's room. Mrs. Grant was to remain beside the patient till +twelve, when Miss Trelawny would relieve her. The new nurse was to sit +in Miss Trelawny's room, and to visit the sick chamber each quarter of +an hour. The Doctor would remain till twelve; when I was to relieve +him. One or other of the detectives was to remain within hail of the +room all night; and to pay periodical visits to see that all was well. +Thus, the watchers would be watched; and the possibility of such events +as last night, when the watchers were both overcome, would be avoided. + +When the sun set, a strange and grave anxiety fell on all of us; and in +our separate ways we prepared for the vigil. Doctor Winchester had +evidently been thinking of my respirator, for he told me he would go out +and get one. Indeed, he took to the idea so kindly that I persuaded +Miss Trelawny also to have one which she could put on when her time for +watching came. + +And so the night drew on. + + + + + +Chapter V +More Strange Instructions + + + + +When I came from my room at half-past eleven o'clock I found all well in +the sick-room. The new nurse, prim, neat, and watchful, sat in the +chair by the bedside where Nurse Kennedy had sat last night. A little +way off, between the bed and the safe, sat Dr. Winchester alert and +wakeful, but looking strange and almost comic with the respirator over +mouth and nose. As I stood in the doorway looking at them I heard a +slight sound; turning round I saw the new detective, who nodded, held up +the finger of silence and withdrew quietly. Hitherto no one of the +watchers was overcome by sleep. + +I took a chair outside the door. As yet there was no need for me to +risk coming again under the subtle influence of last night. Naturally +my thoughts went revolving round the main incidents of the last day and +night, and I found myself arriving at strange conclusions, doubts, +conjectures; but I did not lose myself, as on last night, in trains of +thought. The sense of the present was ever with me, and I really felt +as should a sentry on guard. Thinking is not a slow process; and when +it is earnest the time can pass quickly. It seemed a very short time +indeed till the door, usually left ajar, was pulled open and Dr. +Winchester emerged, taking off his respirator as he came. His act, when +he had it off, was demonstrative of his keenness. He turned up the +outside of the wrap and smelled it carefully. + +"I am going now," he said. "I shall come early in the morning; unless, +of course, I am sent for before. But all seems well tonight." + +The next to appear was Sergeant Daw, who went quietly into the room and +took the seat vacated by the Doctor. I still remained outside; but +every few minutes looked into the room. This was rather a form than a +matter of utility, for the room was so dark that coming even from the +dimly-lighted corridor it was hard to distinguish anything. + +A little before twelve o'clock Miss Trelawny came from her room. Before +coming to her father's she went into that occupied by Nurse Kennedy. +After a couple of minutes she came out, looking, I thought, a trifle +more cheerful. She had her respirator in her hand, but before putting +it on, asked me if anything special had occurred since she had gone to +lie down. I answered in a whisper--there was no loud talking in the +house tonight--that all was safe, was well. She then put on her +respirator, and I mine; and we entered the room. The Detective and the +Nurse rose up, and we took their places. Sergeant Daw was the last to +go out; he closed the door behind him as we had arranged. + +For a while I sat quiet, my heart beating. The place was grimly dark. +The only light was a faint one from the top of the lamp which threw a +white circle on the high ceiling, except the emerald sheen of the shade +as the light took its under edges. Even the light only seemed to +emphasize the blackness of the shadows. These presently began to seem, +as on last night, to have a sentience of their own. I did not myself +feel in the least sleepy; and each time I went softly over to look at +the patient, which I did about every ten minutes, I could see that Miss +Trelawny was keenly alert. Every quarter of an hour one or other of the +policemen looked in through the partly opened door. Each time both Miss +Trelawny and I said through our mufflers, "all right," and the door was +closed again. + +As the time wore on, the silence and the darkness seemed to increase. +The circle of light on the ceiling was still there, but it seemed less +brilliant than at first. The green edging of the lamp-shade became like +Maori greenstone rather than emerald. The sounds of the night without +the house, and the starlight spreading pale lines along the edges of the +window-cases, made the pall of black within more solemn and more +mysterious. + +We heard the clock in the corridor chiming the quarters with its silver +bell till two o'clock; and then a strange feeling came over me. I could +see from Miss Trelawny's movement as she looked round, that she also had +some new sensation. The new detective had just looked in; we two were +alone with the unconscious patient for another quarter of an hour. + +My heart began to beat wildly. There was a sense of fear over me. Not +for myself; my fear was impersonal. It seemed as though some new person +had entered the room, and that a strong intelligence was awake close to +me. Something brushed against my leg. I put my hand down hastily and +touched the furry coat of Silvio. With a very faint far-away sound of a +snarl he turned and scratched at me. I felt blood on my hand. I rose +gently and came over to the bedside. Miss Trelawny, too, had stood up +and was looking behind her, as though there was something close to her. +Her eyes were wild, and her breast rose and fell as though she were +fighting for air. When I touched her she did not seem to feel me; she +worked her hands in front of her, as though she was fending off +something. + +There was not an instant to lose. I seized her in my arms and rushed +over to the door, threw it open, and strode into the passage, calling +loudly: + +"Help! Help!" + +In an instant the two Detectives, Mrs. Grant, and the Nurse appeared on +the scene. Close on their heels came several of the servants, both men +and women. Immediately Mrs. Grant came near enough, I placed Miss +Trelawny in her arms, and rushed back into the room, turning up the +electric light as soon as I could lay my hand on it. Sergeant Daw and +the Nurse followed me. + +We were just in time. Close under the great safe, where on the two +successive nights he had been found, lay Mr. Trelawny with his left arm, +bare save for the bandages, stretched out. Close by his side was a +leaf-shaped Egyptian knife which had lain amongst the curios on the +shelf of the broken cabinet. Its point was stuck in the parquet floor, +whence had been removed the blood-stained rug. + +But there was no sign of disturbance anywhere; nor any sign of any one +or anything unusual. The Policemen and I searched the room accurately, +whilst the Nurse and two of the servants lifted the wounded man back to +bed; but no sign or clue could we get. Very soon Miss Trelawny returned +to the room. She was pale but collected. When she came close to me she +said in a low voice: + +"I felt myself fainting. I did not know why; but I was afraid!" + +The only other shock I had was when Miss Trelawny cried out to me, as I +placed my hand on the bed to lean over and look carefully at her father: + +"You are wounded. Look! look! your hand is bloody. There is blood on +the sheets!" I had, in the excitement, quite forgotten Silvio's scratch. +As I looked at it, the recollection came back to me; but before I could +say a word Miss Trelawny had caught hold of my hand and lifted it up. +When she saw the parallel lines of the cuts she cried out again: + +"It is the same wound as Father's!" Then she laid my hand down gently +but quickly, and said to me and to Sergeant Daw: + +"Come to my room! Silvio is there in his basket." We followed her, and +found Silvio sitting in his basket awake. He was licking his paws. The +Detective said: + +"He is there sure enough; but why licking his paws?" + +Margaret--Miss Trelawny--gave a moan as she bent over and took one of +the forepaws in her hand; but the cat seemed to resent it and snarled. +At that Mrs. Grant came into the room. When she saw that we were +looking at the cat she said: + +"The Nurse tells me that Silvio was asleep on Nurse Kennedy's bed ever +since you went to your Father's room until a while ago. He came there +just after you had gone to master's room. Nurse says that Nurse Kennedy +is moaning and muttering in her sleep as though she had a nightmare. I +think we should send for Dr. Winchester." + +"Do so at once, please!" said Miss Trelawny; and we went back to the +room. + +For a while Miss Trelawny stood looking at her father, with her brows +wrinkled. Then, turning to me, as though her mind were made up, she +said: + +"Don't you think we should have a consultation on Father? Of course I +have every confidence in Doctor Winchester; he seems an immensely clever +young man. But he is a young man; and there must be men who have +devoted themselves to this branch of science. Such a man would have +more knowledge and more experience; and his knowledge and experience +might help to throw light on poor Father's case. As it is, Doctor +Winchester seems to be quite in the dark. Oh! I don't know what to do. +It is all so terrible!" Here she broke down a little and cried; and I +tried to comfort her. + +Doctor Winchester arrived quickly. His first thought was for his +patient; but when he found him without further harm, he visited Nurse +Kennedy. When he saw her, a hopeful look came into his eyes. Taking a +towel, he dipped a corner of it in cold water and flicked on the face. +The skin coloured, and she stirred slightly. He said to the new nurse-- +Sister Doris he called her: + +"She is all right. She will wake in a few hours at latest. She may be +dizzy and distraught at first, or perhaps hysterical. If so, you know +how to treat her." + +"Yes, sir!" answered Sister Doris demurely; and we went back to Mr. +Trelawny's room. As soon as we had entered, Mrs. Grant and the Nurse +went out so that only Doctor Winchester, Miss Trelawny, and myself +remained in the room. When the door had been closed Doctor Winchester +asked me as to what had occurred. I told him fully, giving exactly +every detail so far as I could remember. Throughout my narrative, which +did not take long, however, he kept asking me questions as to who had +been present and the order in which each one had come into the room. He +asked other things, but nothing of any importance; these were all that +took my attention, or remained in my memory. When our conversation was +finished, he said in a very decided way indeed, to Miss Trelawny: + +"I think, Miss Trelawny, that we had better have a consultation on this +case." She answered at once, seemingly a little to his surprise: + +"I am glad you have mentioned it. I quite agree. Who would you +suggest?" + +"Have you any choice yourself?" he asked. "Any one to whom your Father +is known? Has he ever consulted any one?" + +"Not to my knowledge. But I hope you will choose whoever you think +would be best. My dear Father should have all the help that can be had; +and I shall be deeply obliged by your choosing. Who is the best man in +London--anywhere else--in such a case?" + +"There are several good men; but they are scattered all over the world. +Somehow, the brain specialist is born, not made; though a lot of hard +work goes to the completing of him and fitting him for his work. He +comes from no country. The most daring investigator up to the present +is Chiuni, the Japanese; but he is rather a surgical experimentalist +than a practitioner. Then there is Zammerfest of Uppsala, and Fenelon +of the University of Paris, and Morfessi of Naples. These, of course, +are in addition to our own men, Morrison of Aberdeen and Richardson of +Birmingham. But before them all I would put Frere of King's College. Of +all that I have named he best unites theory and practice. He has no +hobbies--that have been discovered at all events; and his experience is +immense. It is the regret of all of us who admire him that the nerve so +firm and the hand so dexterous must yield to time. For my own part I +would rather have Frere than any one living." + +"Then," said Miss Trelawny decisively, "let us have Doctor Frere--by the +way, is he 'Doctor' or 'Mister'?--as early as we can get him in the +morning!" + +A weight seemed removed from him, and he spoke with greater ease and +geniality than he had yet shown: + +"He is Sir James Frere. I shall go to him myself as early as it is +possibly to see him, and shall ask him to come here at once." Then +turning to me he said: + +"You had better let me dress your hand." + +"It is nothing," I said. + +"Nevertheless it should be seen to. A scratch from any animal might +turn out dangerous; there is nothing like being safe." I submitted; +forthwith he began to dress my hand. He examined with a +magnifying-glass the several parallel wounds, and compared them with the +slip of blotting-paper, marked with Silvio's claws, which he took from +his pocket-book. He put back the paper, simply remarking: + +"It's a pity that Silvio slips in--and out--just when he shouldn't." + +The morning wore slowly on. By ten o'clock Nurse Kennedy had so far +recovered that she was able to sit up and talk intelligibly. But she +was still hazy in her thoughts; and could not remember anything that had +happened on the previous night, after her taking her place by the +sick-bed. As yet she seemed neither to know nor care what had happened. + +It was nearly eleven o'clock when Doctor Winchester returned with Sir +James Frere. Somehow I felt my heart sink when from the landing I saw +them in the hall below; I knew that Miss Trelawny was to have the pain +of telling yet another stranger of her ignorance of her father's life. + +Sir James Frere was a man who commanded attention followed by respect. +He knew so thoroughly what he wanted himself, that he placed at once on +one side all wishes and ideas of less definite persons. The mere flash +of his piercing eyes, or the set of his resolute mouth, or the lowering +of his great eyebrows, seemed to compel immediate and willing obedience +to his wishes. Somehow, when we had all been introduced and he was well +amongst us, all sense of mystery seemed to melt away. It was with a +hopeful spirit that I saw him pass into the sick-room with Doctor +Winchester. + +They remained in the room a long time; once they sent for the Nurse, the +new one, Sister Doris, but she did not remain long. Again they both +went into Nurse Kennedy's room. He sent out the nurse attendant on her. +Doctor Winchester told me afterward that Nurse Kennedy, though she was +ignorant of later matters, gave full and satisfactory answers to all +Doctor Frere's questions relating to her patient up to the time she +became unconscious. Then they went to the study, where they remained so +long, and their voices raised in heated discussion seemed in such +determined opposition, that I began to feel uneasy. As for Miss +Trelawny, she was almost in a state of collapse from nervousness before +they joined us. Poor girl! she had had a sadly anxious time of it, and +her nervous strength had almost broken down. + +They came out at last, Sir James first, his grave face looking as +unenlightening as that of the sphinx. Doctor Winchester followed him +closely; his face was pale, but with that kind of pallor which looked +like a reaction. It gave me the idea that it had been red not long +before. Sir James asked that Miss Trelawny would come into the study. +He suggested that I should come also. When we had entered, Sir James +turned to me and said: + +"I understand from Doctor Winchester that you are a friend of Miss +Trelawny, and that you have already considerable knowledge of this case. +Perhaps it will be well that you should be with us. I know you already +as a keen lawyer, Mr. Ross, though I never had the pleasure of meeting +you. As Doctor Winchester tells me that there are some strange matters +outside this case which seem to puzzle him--and others--and in which he +thinks you may yet be specially interested, it might be as well that you +should know every phase of the case. For myself I do not take much +account of mysteries--except those of science; and as there seems to be +some idea of an attempt at assassination or robbery, all I can say is +that if assassins were at work they ought to take some elementary +lessons in anatomy before their next job, for they seem thoroughly +ignorant. If robbery were their purpose, they seem to have worked with +marvellous inefficiency. That, however, is not my business." Here he +took a big pinch of snuff, and turning to to Miss Trelawny, went on: +"Now as to the patient. Leaving out the cause of his illness, all we can +say at present is that he appears to be suffering from a marked attack +of catalepsy. At present nothing can be done, except to sustain his +strength. The treatment of my friend Doctor Winchester is mainly such +as I approve of; and I am confident that should any slight change arise +he will be able to deal with it satisfactorily. It is an interesting +case--most interesting; and should any new or abnormal development arise +I shall be happy to come at any time. There is just one thing to which +I wish to call your attention; and I put it to you, Miss Trelawny, +directly, since it is your responsibility. Doctor Winchester informs me +that you are not yourself free in the matter, but are bound by an +instruction given by your Father in case just such a condition of things +should arise. I would strongly advise that the patient be removed to +another room; or, as an alternative, that those mummies and all such +things should be removed from his chamber. Why, it's enough to put any +man into an abnormal condition, to have such an assemblage of horrors +round him, and to breathe the atmosphere which they exhale. You have +evidence already of how such mephitic odour may act. That nurse-- +Kennedy, I think you said, Doctor--isn't yet out of her state of +catalepsy; and you, Mr. Ross, have, I am told, experienced something of +the same effects. I know this"--here his eyebrows came down more than +ever, and his mouth hardened--"if I were in charge here I should insist +on the patient having a different atmosphere; or I would throw up the +case. Doctor Winchester already knows that I can only be again +consulted on this condition being fulfilled. But I trust that you will +see your way, as a good daughter to my mind should, to looking to your +Father's health and sanity rather than to any whim of his--whether +supported or not by a foregoing fear, or by any number of "penny +dreadful" mysteries. The day has hardly come yet, I am glad to say, +when the British Museum and St. Thomas's Hospital have exchanged their +normal functions. Good-day, Miss Trelawny. I earnestly hope that I may +soon see your Father restored. Remember, that should you fulfil the +elementary condition which I have laid down, I am at your service day or +night. Good-morning, Mr. Ross. I hope you will be able to report to me +soon, Doctor Winchester." + +When he had gone we stood silent, till the rumble of his carriage wheels +died away. The first to speak was Doctor Winchester: + +"I think it well to say that to my mind, speaking purely as a physician, +he is quite right. I feel as if I could have assaulted him when he made +it a condition of not giving up the case; but all the same he is right +as to treatment. He does not understand that there is something odd +about this special case; and he will not realise the knot that we are +all tied up in by Mr. Trelawny's instructions. Of course--" He was +interrupted by Miss Trelawny: + +"Doctor Winchester, do you, too, wish to give up the case; or are you +willing to continue it under the conditions you know?" + +"Give it up! Less now than ever. Miss Trelawny, I shall never give it +up, so long as life is left to him or any of us!" She said nothing, but +held out her hand, which he took warmly. + +"Now," said she, "if Sir James Frere is a type of the cult of +Specialists, I want no more of them. To start with, he does not seem to +know any more than you do about my Father's condition; and if he were a +hundredth part as much interested in it as you are, he would not stand +on such punctilio. Of course, I am only too anxious about my poor +Father; and if I can see a way to meet either of Sir James Frere's +conditions, I shall do so. I shall ask Mr. Marvin to come here today, +and advise me as to the limit of Father's wishes. If he thinks I am +free to act in any way on my own responsibility, I shall not hesitate to +do so." Then Doctor Winchester took his leave. + + Miss Trelawny sat down and wrote a letter to Mr. Marvin, telling him of +the state of affairs, and asking him to come and see her and to bring +with him any papers which might throw any light on the subject. She +sent the letter off with a carriage to bring back the solicitor; we +waited with what patience we could for his coming. + +It is not a very long journey for oneself from Kensington Palace Gardens +to Lincoln's Inn Fields; but it seemed endlessly long when waiting for +someone else to take it. All things, however, are amenable to Time; it +was less than an hour all told when Mr. Marvin was with us. + +He recognised Miss Trelawny's impatience, and when he had learned +sufficient of her father's illness, he said to her: + +"Whenever you are ready I can go with you into particulars regarding +your Father's wishes." + +"Whenever you like," she said, with an evident ignorance of his meaning. +"Why not now?" He looked at me, as to a fellow man of business, and +stammered out: + +"We are not alone." + +"I have brought Mr. Ross here on purpose," she answered. "He knows so +much at present, that I want him to know more." The solicitor was a +little disconcerted, a thing which those knowing him only in courts +would hardly have believed. He answered, however, with some hesitation: + +"But, my dear young lady--Your Father's wishes!--Confidence between father +and child--" + +Here she interrupted him; there was a tinge of red in her pale cheeks as +she did so: + +"Do you really think that applies to the present circumstances, Mr. +Marvin? My Father never told me anything of his affairs; and I can now, +in this sad extremity, only learn his wishes through a gentleman who is +a stranger to me and of whom I never even heard till I got my Father's +letter, written to be shown to me only in extremity. Mr. Ross is a new +friend; but he has all my confidence, and I should like him to be +present. Unless, of course," she added, "such a thing is forbidden by +my Father. Oh! forgive me, Mr. Marvin, if I seem rude; but I have been +in such dreadful trouble and anxiety lately, that I have hardly command +of myself." She covered her eyes with her hand for a few seconds; we +two men looked at each other and waited, trying to appear unmoved. She +went on more firmly; she had recovered herself: + +"Please! please do not think I am ungrateful to you for your kindness in +coming here and so quickly. I really am grateful; and I have every +confidence in your judgment. If you wish, or think it best, we can be +alone." I stood up; but Mr. Marvin made a dissentient gesture. He was +evidently pleased with her attitude; there was geniality in his voice +and manner as he spoke: + +"Not at all! Not at all! There is no restriction on your Father's +part; and on my own I am quite willing. Indeed, all told, it may be +better. From what you have said of Mr. Trelawny's illness, and the +other--incidental--matters, it will be well in case of any grave +eventuality, that it was understood from the first, that circumstances +were ruled by your Father's own imperative instructions. For, please +understand me, his instructions are imperative--most imperative. They +are so unyielding that he has given me a Power of Attorney, under which +I have undertaken to act, authorising me to see his written wishes +carried out. Please believe me once for all, that he intended fully +everything mentioned in that letter to you! Whilst he is alive he is to +remain in his own room; and none of his property is to be removed from +it under any circumstances whatever. He has even given an inventory of +the articles which are not to be displaced." + +Miss Trelawny was silent. She looked somewhat distressed; so, thinking +that I understood the immediate cause, I asked: + +"May we see the list?" Miss Trelawny's face at once brightened; but it +fell again as the lawyer answered promptly--he was evidently prepared for +the question: + +"Not unless I am compelled to take action on the Power of Attorney. I +have brought that instrument with me. You will recognise, Mr. Ross"--he +said this with a sort of business conviction which I had noticed in his +professional work, as he handed me the deed--"how strongly it is worded, +and how the grantor made his wishes apparent in such a way as to leave +no loophole. It is his own wording, except for certain legal +formalities; and I assure you I have seldom seen a more iron-clad +document. Even I myself have no power to make the slightest relaxation +of the instructions, without committing a distinct breach of faith. And +that, I need not tell you, is impossible." He evidently added the last +words in order to prevent an appeal to his personal consideration. He +did not like the seeming harshness of his words, however, for he added: + +"I do hope, Miss Trelawny, that you understand that I am willing-- +frankly and unequivocally willing--to do anything I can, within the +limits of my power, to relieve your distress. But your Father had, in +all his doings, some purpose of his own which he did not disclose to me. +So far as I can see, there is not a word of his instructions that he had +not thought over fully. Whatever idea he had in his mind was the idea +of a lifetime; he had studied it in every possible phase, and was +prepared to guard it at every point. + +"Now I fear I have distressed you, and I am truly sorry for it; for I +see you have much--too much--to bear already. But I have no alternative. +If you want to consult me at any time about anything, I promise you I +will come without a moment's delay, at any hour of the day or night. +There is my private address," he scribbled in his pocket-book as he +spoke, "and under it the address of my club, where I am generally to be +found in the evening." He tore out the paper and handed it to her. She +thanked him. He shook hands with her and with me and withdrew. + +As soon as the hall door was shut on him, Mrs. Grant tapped at the door +and came in. There was such a look of distress in her face that Miss +Trelawny stood up, deadly white, and asked her: + +"What is it, Mrs. Grant? What is it? Any new trouble?" + +"I grieve to say, miss, that the servants, all but two, have given +notice and want to leave the house today. They have talked the matter +over among themselves; the butler has spoken for the rest. He says as +how they are willing to forego their wages, and even to pay their legal +obligations instead of notice; but that go today they must." + +"What reason do they give?" + +"None, miss. They say as how they're sorry, but that they've nothing to +say. I asked Jane, the upper housemaid, miss, who is not with the rest +but stops on; and she tells me confidential that they've got some notion +in their silly heads that the house is haunted!" + +We ought to have laughed, but we didn't. I could not look in Miss +Trelawny's face and laugh. The pain and horror there showed no sudden +paroxysm of fear; there was a fixed idea of which this was a +confirmation. For myself, it seemed as if my brain had found a voice. +But the voice was not complete; there was some other thought, darker and +deeper, which lay behind it, whose voice had not sounded as yet. + + + + + +Chapter VI +Suspicions + + + + +The first to get full self-command was Miss Trelawny. There was a +haughty dignity in her bearing as she said: + +"Very well, Mrs. Grant; let them go! Pay them up to today, and a +month's wages. They have hitherto been very good servants; and the +occasion of their leaving is not an ordinary one. We must not expect +much faithfulness from any one who is beset with fears. Those who +remain are to have in future double wages; and please send these to me +presently when I send word." Mrs. Grant bristled with smothered +indignation; all the housekeeper in her was outraged by such generous +treatment of servants who had combined to give notice: + +"They don't deserve it, miss; them to go on so, after the way they have +been treated here. Never in my life have I seen servants so well +treated or anyone so good to them and gracious to them as you have been. +They might be in the household of a King for treatment. And now, just +as there is trouble, to go and act like this. It's abominable, that's +what it is!" + +Miss Trelawny was very gentle with her, and smothered her ruffled +dignity; so that presently she went away with, in her manner, a lesser +measure of hostility to the undeserving. In quite a different frame of +mind she returned presently to ask if her mistress would like her to +engage a full staff of other servants, or at any rate try to do so. +"For you know, ma'am," she went on, "when once a scare has been +established in the servants' hall, it's wellnigh impossible to get rid +of it. Servants may come; but they go away just as quick. There's no +holding them. They simply won't stay; or even if they work out their +month's notice, they lead you that life that you wish every hour of the +day that you hadn't kept them. The women are bad enough, the huzzies; +but the men are worse!" There was neither anxiety nor indignation in +Miss Trelawny's voice or manner as she said: + +"I think, Mrs. Grant, we had better try to do with those we have. +Whilst my dear Father is ill we shall not be having any company, so that +there will be only three now in the house to attend to. If those +servants who are willing to stay are not enough, I should only get +sufficient to help them to do the work. It will not, I should think, be +difficult to get a few maids; perhaps some that you know already. And +please bear in mind, that those whom you get, and who are suitable and +will stay, are henceforth to have the same wages as those who are +remaining. Of course, Mrs. Grant, you well enough understand that +though I do not group you in any way with the servants, the rule of +double salary applies to you too." As she spoke she extended her long, +fine-shaped hand, which the other took and then, raising it to her lips, +kissed it impressively with the freedom of an elder woman to a younger. +I could not but admire the generosity of her treatment of her servants. +In my mind I endorsed Mrs. Grant's sotto voce remark as she left the +room: + +"No wonder the house is like a King's house, when the mistress is a +Princess!" + +"A Princess!" That was it. The idea seemed to satisfy my mind, and to +bring back in a wave of light the first moment when she swept across my +vision at the ball in Belgrave Square. A queenly figure! tall and slim, +bending, swaying, undulating as the lily or the lotos. Clad in a +flowing gown of some filmy black material shot with gold. For ornament +in her hair she wore an old Egyptian jewel, a tiny crystal disk, set +between rising plumes carved in lapis lazuli. On her wrist was a broad +bangle or bracelet of antique work, in the shape of a pair of spreading +wings wrought in gold, with the feathers made of coloured gems. For all +her gracious bearing toward me, when our hostess introduced me, I was +then afraid of her. It was only when later, at the picnic on the river, +I had come to realise her sweet and gentle, that my awe changed to +something else. + +For a while she sat, making some notes or memoranda. Then putting them +away, she sent for the faithful servants. I thought that she had better +have this interview alone, and so left her. When I came back there were +traces of tears in her eyes. + +The next phase in which I had a part was even more disturbing, and +infinitely more painful. Late in the afternoon Sergeant Daw came into +the study where I was sitting. After closing the door carefully and +looking all round the room to make certain that we were alone, he came +close to me. + +"What is it?" I asked him. "I see you wish to speak to me privately." + +"Quite so, sir! May I speak in absolute confidence?" + +"Of course you may. In anything that is for the good of Miss Trelawny-- +and of course Mr. Trelawny--you may be perfectly frank. I take it that +we both want to serve them to the best of our powers." He hesitated +before replying: + +"Of course you know that I have my duty to do; and I think you know me +well enough to know that I will do it. I am a policeman--a detective; +and it is my duty to find out the facts of any case I am put on, without +fear or favour to anyone. I would rather speak to you alone, in +confidence if I may, without reference to any duty of anyone to anyone, +except mine to Scotland Yard." + +"Of course! of course!" I answered mechanically, my heart sinking, I did +not know why. "Be quite frank with me. I assure you of my confidence." + +"Thank you, sir. I take it that what I say is not to pass beyond you-- +not to anyone. Not to Miss Trelawny herself, or even to Mr. Trelawny +when he becomes well again." + +"Certainly, if you make it a condition!" I said a little more stiffly. +The man recognised the change in my voice or manner, and said +apologetically: + +"Excuse me, sir, but I am going outside my duty in speaking to you at +all on the subject. I know you, however, of old; and I feel that I can +trust you. Not your word, sir, that is all right; but your discretion!" + +I bowed. "Go on!" I said. He began at once: + +"I have gone over this case, sir, till my brain begins to reel; but I +can't find any ordinary solution of it. At the time of each attempt no +one has seemingly come into the house; and certainly no one has got out. +What does it strike you is the inference?" + +"That the somebody--or the something--was in the house already," I +answered, smiling in spite of myself. + +"That's just what I think," he said, with a manifest sigh of relief. +"Very well! Who can be that someone?" + +"'Someone, or something,' was what I said," I answered. + +"Let us make it 'someone,' Mr. Ross! That cat, though he might have +scratched or bit, never pulled the old gentleman out of bed, and tried +to get the bangle with the key off his arm. Such things are all very +well in books where your amateur detectives, who know everything before +it's done, can fit them into theories; but in Scotland Yard, where the +men aren't all idiots either, we generally find that when crime is done, +or attempted, it's people, not things, that are at the bottom of it." + +"Then make it 'people' by all means, Sergeant." + +"We were speaking of 'someone,' sir." + +"Quite right. Someone, be it!" + +"Did it ever strike you, sir, that on each of the three separate +occasions where outrage was effected, or attempted, there was one person +who was the first to be present and to give the alarm?" + +"Let me see! Miss Trelawny, I believe, gave the alarm on the first +occasion. I was present myself, if fast asleep, on the second; and so +was Nurse Kennedy. When I woke there were several people in the room; +you were one of them. I understand that on that occasion also Miss +Trelawny was before you. At the last attempt I was Miss Trelawny +fainted. I carried her out and went back. In returning, I was first; +and I think you were close behind me." + +Sergeant Daw thought for a moment before replying: + +"She was present, or first, in the room on all the occasions; there was +only damage done in the first and second!" + +The inference was one which I, as a lawyer, could not mistake. I +thought the best thing to do was to meet it half-way. I have always +found that the best way to encounter an inference is to cause it to be +turned into a statement. + +"You mean," I said, "that as on the only occasions when actual harm was +done, Miss Trelawny's being the first to discover it is a proof that she +did it; or was in some way connected with the attempt, as well as the +discovery?" + +"I didn't venture to put it as clear as that; but that is where the +doubt which I had leads." Sergeant Daw was a man of courage; he +evidently did not shrink from any conclusion of his reasoning on facts. + +We were both silent for a while. Fears began crowding in on my own +mind. Not doubts of Miss Trelawny, or of any act of hers; but fears +lest such acts should be misunderstood. There was evidently a mystery +somewhere; and if no solution to it could be found, the doubt would be +cast on someone. In such cases the guesses of the majority are bound to +follow the line of least resistance; and if it could be proved that any +personal gain to anyone could follow Mr. Trelawny's death, should such +ensue, it might prove a difficult task for anyone to prove innocence in +the face of suspicious facts. I found myself instinctively taking that +deferential course which, until the plan of battle of the prosecution is +unfolded, is so safe an attitude for the defence. It would never do for +me, at this stage, to combat any theories which a detective might form. +I could best help Miss Trelawny by listening and understanding. When +the time should come for the dissipation and obliteration of the +theories, I should be quite willing to use all my militant ardour, and +all the weapons at my command. + +"You will of course do your duty, I know," I said, "and without fear. +What course do you intend to take?" + +"I don't know as yet, sir. You see, up to now it isn't with me even a +suspicion. If any one else told me that that sweet young lady had a +hand in such a matter, I would think him a fool; but I am bound to +follow my own conclusions. I know well that just as unlikely persons +have been proved guilty, when a whole court--all except the prosecution +who knew the facts, and the judge who had taught his mind to wait--would +have sworn to innocence. I wouldn't, for all the world, wrong such a +young lady; more especial when she has such a cruel weight to bear. And +you will be sure that I won't say a word that'll prompt anyone else to +make such a charge. That's why I speak to you in confidence, man to +man. You are skilled in proofs; that is your profession. Mine only +gets so far as suspicions, and what we call our own proofs--which are +nothing but ex parte evidence after all. You know Miss Trelawny better +than I do; and though I watch round the sick-room, and go where I like +about the house and in and out of it, I haven't the same opportunities +as you have of knowing the lady and what her life is, or her means are; +or of anything else which might give me a clue to her actions. If I +were to try to find out from her, it would at once arouse her +suspicions. Then, if she were guilty, all possibility of ultimate proof +would go; for she would easily find a way to baffle discovery. But if +she be innocent, as I hope she is, it would be doing a cruel wrong to +accuse her. I have thought the matter over according to my lights +before I spoke to you; and if I have taken a liberty, sir, I am truly +sorry." + +"No liberty in the world, Daw," I said warmly, for the man's courage and +honesty and consideration compelled respect. "I am glad you have spoken +to me so frankly. We both want to find out the truth; and there is so +much about this case that is strange--so strange as to go beyond all +experiences--that to aim at truth is our only chance of making anything +clear in the long-run--no matter what our views are, or what object we +wish to achieve ultimately!" The Sergeant looked pleased as he went on: + +"I thought, therefore, that if you had it once in your mind that +somebody else held to such a possibility, you would by degrees get +proof; or at any rate such ideas as would convince yourself, either for +or against it. Then we would come to some conclusion; or at any rate we +should so exhaust all other possibilities that the most likely one would +remain as the nearest thing to proof, or strong suspicion, that we could +get. After that we should have to--" + +Just at this moment the door opened and Miss Trelawny entered the room. +The moment she saw us she drew back quickly, saying: + +"Oh, I beg pardon! I did not know you were here, and engaged." By the +time I had stood up, she was about to go back. + +"Do come in," I said; "Sergeant Daw and I were only talking matters +over." + +Whilst she was hesitating, Mrs. Grant appeared, saying as she entered +the room: "Doctor Winchester is come, miss, and is asking for you." + +I obeyed Miss Trelawny's look; together we left the room. + +When the Doctor had made his examination, he told us that there was +seemingly no change. He added that nevertheless he would like to stay +in the house that night is he might. Miss Trelawny looked glad, and +sent word to Mrs. Grant to get a room ready for him. Later in the day, +when he and I happened to be alone together, he said suddenly: + +"I have arranged to stay here tonight because I want to have a talk +with you. And as I wish it to be quite private, I thought the least +suspicious way would be to have a cigar together late in the evening +when Miss Trelawny is watching her father." We still kept to our +arrangement that either the sick man's daughter or I should be on watch +all night. We were to share the duty at the early hours of the morning. +I was anxious about this, for I knew from our conversation that the +Detective would watch in secret himself, and would be particularly alert +about that time. + +The day passed uneventfully. Miss Trelawny slept in the afternoon; and +after dinner went to relieve the Nurse. Mrs. Grant remained with her, +Sergeant Daw being on duty in the corridor. Doctor Winchester and I +took our coffee in the library. When we had lit our cigars he said +quietly: + +"Now that we are alone I want to have a confidential talk. We are +'tiled,' of course; for the present at all events?" + +"Quite so!" I said, my heart sinking as I thought of my conversation +with Sergeant Daw in the morning, and of the disturbing and harrowing +fears which it had left in my mind. He went on: + +"This case is enough to try the sanity of all of us concerned in it. +The more I think of it, the madder I seem to get; and the two lines, +each continually strengthened, seem to pull harder in opposite +directions." + +"What two lines?" He looked at me keenly for a moment before replying. +Doctor Winchester's look at such moments was apt to be disconcerting. +It would have been so to me had I had a personal part, other than my +interest in Miss Trelawny, in the matter. As it was, however, I stood +it unruffled. I was now an attorney in the case; an amicus curiae in +one sense, in another retained for the defence. The mere thought that +in this clever man's mind were two lines, equally strong and opposite, +was in itself so consoling as to neutralise my anxiety as to a new +attack. As he began to speak, the Doctor's face wore an inscrutable +smile; this, however, gave place to a stern gravity as he proceeded: + +"Two lines: Fact and--Fancy! In the first there is this whole thing; +attacks, attempts at robbery and murder; stupefyings; organised +catalepsy which points to either criminal hypnotism and thought +suggestion, or some simple form of poisoning unclassified yet in our +toxicology. In the other there is some influence at work which is not +classified in any book that I know--outside the pages of romance. I +never felt in my life so strongly the truth of Hamlet's words: + + 'There are more things in Heaven and earth... + Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.' + +"Let us take the 'Fact' side first. Here we have a man in his home; +amidst his own household; plenty of servants of different classes in the +house, which forbids the possibility of an organised attempt made from +the servants" hall. He is wealthy, learned, clever. From his +physiognomy there is no doubting that he is a man of iron will and +determined purpose. His daughter--his only child, I take it, a young +girl bright and clever--is sleeping in the very next room to his. There +is seemingly no possible reason for expecting any attack or disturbance +of any kind; and no reasonable opportunity for any outsider to effect +it. And yet we have an attack made; a brutal and remorseless attack, +made in the middle of the night. Discovery is made quickly; made with +that rapidity which in criminal cases generally is found to be not +accidental, but of premeditated intent. The attacker, or attackers, are +manifestly disturbed before the completion of their work, whatever their +ultimate intent may have been. And yet there is no possible sign of +their escape; no clue, no disturbance of anything; no open door or +window; no sound. Nothing whatever to show who had done the deed, or +even that a deed has been done; except the victim, and his surroundings +incidental to the deed! + +"The next night a similar attempt is made, though the house is full of +wakeful people; and though there are on watch in the room and around it +a detective officer, a trained nurse, an earnest friend, and the man's +own daughter. The nurse is thrown into a catalepsy, and the watching +friend--though protected by a respirator--into a deep sleep. Even the +detective is so far overcome with some phase of stupor that he fires off +his pistol in the sick-room, and can't even tell what he thought he was +firing at. That respirator of yours is the only thing that seems to +have a bearing on the 'fact' side of the affair. That you did not lose +your head as the others did--the effect in such case being in proportion +to the amount of time each remained in the room--points to the +probability that the stupefying medium was not hypnotic, whatever else +it may have been. But again, there is a fact which is contradictory. +Miss Trelawny, who was in the room more than any of you--for she was in +and out all the time and did her share of permanent watching also--did +not seem to be affected at all. This would show that the influence, +whatever it is, does not affect generally--unless, of course, it was that +she was in some way inured to it. If it should turn out that it be some +strange exhalation from some of those Egyptian curios, that might +account for it; only, we are then face to face with the fact that Mr. +Trelawny, who was most of all in the room--who, in fact, lived more than +half his life in it--was affected worst of all. What kind of influence +could it be which would account for all these different and +contradictory effects? No! the more I think of this form of the +dilemma, the more I am bewildered! Why, even if it were that the +attack, the physical attack, on Mr. Trelawny had been made by some one +residing in the house and not within the sphere of suspicion, the +oddness of the stupefyings would still remain a mystery. It is not easy +to put anyone into a catalepsy. Indeed, so far as is known yet in +science, there is no way to achieve such an object at will. The crux of +the whole matter is Miss Trelawny, who seems to be subject to none of +the influences, or possibly of the variants of the same influence at +work. Through all she goes unscathed, except for that one slight +semi-faint. It is most strange!" + +I listened with a sinking heart; for, though his manner was not +illuminative of distrust, his argument was disturbing. Although it was +not so direct as the suspicion of the Detective, it seemed to single out +Miss Trelawny as different from all others concerned; and in a mystery +to be alone is to be suspected, ultimately if not immediately. I +thought it better not to say anything. In such a case silence is indeed +golden; and if I said nothing now I might have less to defend, or +explain, or take back later. I was, therefore, secretly glad that his +form of putting his argument did not require any answer from me--for the +present, at all events. Doctor Winchester did not seem to expect any +answer--a fact which, when I recognised it, gave my pleasure, I hardly +knew why. He paused for a while, sitting with his chin in his hand, his +eyes staring at vacancy, whilst his brows were fixed. His cigar was +held limp between his fingers; he had apparently forgotten it. In an +even voice, as though commencing exactly where he had left off, he +resumed his argument: + +"The other horn of the dilemma is a different affair altogether; and if +we once enter on it we must leave everything in the shape of science and +experience behind us. I confess that it has its fascinations for me; +though at every new thought I find myself romancing in a way that makes +me pull up suddenly and look facts resolutely in the face. I sometimes +wonder whether the influence or emanation from the sick-room at times +affects me as it did the others--the Detective, for instance. Of course +it may be that if it is anything chemical, any drug, for example, in +vaporeal form, its effects may be cumulative. But then, what could +there be that could produce such an effect? The room is, I know, full +of mummy smell; and no wonder, with so many relics from the tomb, let +alone the actual mummy of that animal which Silvio attacked. By the +way, I am going to test him tomorrow; I have been on the trace of a +mummy cat, and am to get possession of it in the morning. When I bring +it here we shall find out if it be a fact that racial instinct can +survive a few thousand years in the grave. However, to get back to the +subject in hand. These very mummy smells arise from the presence of +substances, and combinations of substances, which the Egyptian priests, +who were the learned men and scientists of their time, found by the +experience of centuries to be strong enough to arrest the natural forces +of decay. There must be powerful agencies at work to effect such a +purpose; and it is possible that we may have here some rare substance or +combination whose qualities and powers are not understood in this later +and more prosaic age. I wonder if Mr. Trelawny has any knowledge, or +even suspicion, of such a kind? I only know this for certain, that a +worse atmosphere for a sick chamber could not possibly be imagined; and +I admire the courage of Sir James Frere in refusing to have anything to +do with a case under such conditions. These instructions of Mr. +Trelawny to his daughter, and from what you have told me, the care with +which he has protected his wishes through his solicitor, show that he +suspected something, at any rate. Indeed, it would almost seem as if he +expected something to happen. . . . I wonder if it would be possible to +learn anything about that! Surely his papers would show or suggest +something. . . . It is a difficult matter to tackle; but it might have to +be done. His present condition cannot go on for ever; and if anything +should happen there would have to be an inquest. In such case full +examination would have to be made into everything. . . . As it stands, +the police evidence would show a murderous attack more than once +repeated. As no clue is apparent, it would be necessary to seek one in +a motive." + +He was silent. The last words seemed to come in a lower and lower tone +as he went on. It had the effect of hopelessness. It came to me as a +conviction that now was my time to find out if he had any definite +suspicion; and as if in obedience to some command, I asked: + +"Do you suspect anyone?" He seemed in a way startled rather than +surprised as he turned his eyes on me: + +"Suspect anyone? Any thing, you mean. I certainly suspect that there +is some influence; but at present my suspicion is held within such +limit. Later on, if there be any sufficiently definite conclusion to my +reasoning, or my thinking--for there are not proper data for reasoning--I +may suspect; at present however--" + +He stopped suddenly and looked at the door. There was a faint sound as +the handle turned. My own heart seemed to stand still. There was over +me some grim, vague apprehension. The interruption in the morning, when +I was talking with the Detective, came back upon me with a rush. + +The door opened, and Miss Trelawny entered the room. + +When she saw us, she started back; and a deep flush swept her face. For +a few seconds she paused; at such a time a few succeeding seconds seem +to lengthen in geometrical progression. The strain upon me, and, as I +could easily see, on the Doctor also, relaxed as she spoke: + +"Oh, forgive me, I did not know that you were engaged. I was looking +for you, Doctor Winchester, to ask you if I might go to bed tonight +with safety, as you will be here. I feel so tired and worn-out that I +fear I may break down; and tonight I would certainly not be of any +use." Doctor Winchester answered heartily: + +"Do! Do go to bed by all means, and get a good night's sleep. God +knows! you want it. I am more than glad you have made the suggestion, +for I feared when I saw you tonight that I might have you on my hands a +patient next." + +She gave a sigh of relief, and the tired look seemed to melt from her +face. Never shall I forget the deep, earnest look in her great, +beautiful black eyes as she said to me: + +"You will guard Father tonight, won't you, with Doctor Winchester? I +am so anxious about him that every second brings new fears. But I am +really worn-out; and if I don't get a good sleep, I think I shall go +mad. I will change my room for tonight. I'm afraid that if I stay so +close to Father's room I shall multiply every sound into a new terror. +But, of course, you will have me waked if there be any cause. I shall +be in the bedroom of the little suite next the boudoir off the hall. I +had those rooms when first I came to live with Father, and I had no care +then. . . . It will be easier to rest there; and perhaps for a few hours +I may forget. I shall be all right in the morning. Good-night!" + +When I had closed the door behind her and come back to the little table +at which we had been sitting, Doctor Winchester said: + +"That poor girl is overwrought to a terrible degree. I am delighted +that she is to get a rest. It will be life to her; and in the morning +she will be all right. Her nervous system is on the verge of a +breakdown. Did you notice how fearfully disturbed she was, and how red +she got when she came in and found us talking? An ordinary thing like +that, in her own house with her own guests, wouldn't under normal +circumstances disturb her!" + +I was about to tell him, as an explanation in her defence, how her +entrance was a repetition of her finding the Detective and myself alone +together earlier in the day, when I remembered that that conversation +was so private that even an allusion to it might be awkward in evoking +curiosity. So I remained silent. + +We stood up to go to the sick-room; but as we took our way through the +dimly-lighted corridor I could not help thinking, again and again, and +again--ay, and for many a day after--how strange it was that she had +interrupted me on two such occasions when touching on such a theme. + +There was certainly some strange web of accidents, in whose meshes we +were all involved. + + + + + +Chapter VII +The Traveller's Loss + + + + +That night everything went well. Knowing that Miss Trelawny herself was +not on guard, Doctor Winchester and I doubled our vigilance. The Nurses +and Mrs. Grant kept watch, and the Detectives made their visit each +quarter of an hour. All night the patient remained in his trance. He +looked healthy, and his chest rose and fell with the easy breathing of a +child. But he never stirred; only for his breathing he might have been +of marble. Doctor Winchester and I wore our respirators, and irksome +they were on that intolerably hot night. Between midnight and three +o'clock I felt anxious, and had once more that creepy feeling to which +these last few nights had accustomed me; but the grey of the dawn, +stealing round the edges of the blinds, came with inexpressible relief, +followed by restfulness, went through the household. During the hot +night my ears, strained to every sound, had been almost painfully +troubled; as though my brain or sensoria were in anxious touch with +them. Every breath of the Nurse or the rustle of her dress; every soft +pat of slippered feet, as the Policeman went his rounds; every moment of +watching life, seemed to be a new impetus to guardianship. Something of +the same feeling must have been abroad in the house; now and again I +could hear upstairs the sound of restless feet, and more than once +downstairs the opening of a window. With the coming of the dawn, +however, all this ceased, and the whole household seemed to rest. +Doctor Winchester went home when Sister Doris came to relieve Mrs. +Grant. He was, I think, a little disappointed or chagrined that nothing +of an exceptional nature had happened during his long night vigil. + +At eight o'clock Miss Trelawny joined us, and I was amazed as well as +delighted to see how much good her night's sleep had done her. She was +fairly radiant; just as I had seen her at our first meeting and at the +picnic. There was even a suggestion of colour in her cheeks, which, +however, looked startlingly white in contrast with her black brows and +scarlet lips. With her restored strength, there seemed to have come a +tenderness even exceeding that which she had at first shown to her sick +father. I could not but be moved by the loving touches as she fixed his +pillows and brushed the hair from his forehead. + +I was wearied out myself with my long spell of watching; and now that +she was on guard I started off to bed, blinking my tired eyes in the full +light and feeling the weariness of a sleepless night on me all at once. + +I had a good sleep, and after lunch I was about to start out to walk to +Jermyn Street, when I noticed an importunate man at the hall door. The +servant in charge was the one called Morris, formerly the "odd man," but +since the exodus of the servants promoted to be butler pro tem. The +stranger was speaking rather loudly, so that there was no difficulty in +understanding his grievance. The servant man was respectful in both +words and demeanour; but he stood squarely in front of the great double +door, so that the other could not enter. The first words which I heard +from the visitor sufficiently explained the situation: + +"That's all very well, but I tell you I must see Mr. Trelawny! What is +the use of your saying I can't, when I tell you I must. You put me off, +and off, and off! I came here at nine; you said then that he was not +up, and that as he was not well he could not be disturbed. I came at +twelve; and you told me again he was not up. I asked then to see any of +his household; you told me that Miss Trelawny was not up. Now I come +again at three, and you tell me he is still in bed, and is not awake +yet. Where is Miss Trelawny? 'She is occupied and must not be +disturbed!' Well, she must be disturbed! Or some one must. I am here +about Mr. Trelawny's special business; and I have come from a place +where servants always begin by saying No. 'No' isn't good enough for me +this time! I've had three years of it, waiting outside doors and tents +when it took longer to get in than it did into the tombs; and then you +would think, too, the men inside were as dead as the mummies. I've had +about enough of it, I tell you. And when I come home, and find the door +of the man I've been working for barred, in just the same way and with +the same old answers, it stirs me up the wrong way. Did Mr. Trelawny +leave orders that he would not see me when I should come?" + +He paused and excitedly mopped his forehead. The servant answered very +respectfully: + +"I am very sorry, sir, if in doing my duty I have given any offence. +But I have my orders, and must obey them. If you would like to leave +any message, I will give it to Miss Trelawny; and if you will leave your +address, she can communicate with you if she wishes." The answer came +in such a way that it was easy to see that the speaker was a kind- +hearted man, and a just one. + +"My good fellow, I have no fault to find with you personally; and I am +sorry if I have hurt your feelings. I must be just, even if I am angry. +But it is enough to anger any man to find himself in the position I am. +Time is pressing. There is not an hour--not a minute--to lose! And yet +here I am, kicking my heels for six hours; knowing all the time that +your master will be a hundred times angrier than I am, when he hears how +the time has been fooled away. He would rather be waked out of a +thousand sleeps than not see me just at present--and before it is too +late. My God! it's simply dreadful, after all I've gone through, to +have my work spoiled at the last and be foiled in the very doorway by a +stupid flunkey! Is there no one with sense in the house; or with +authority, even if he hasn't got sense? I could mighty soon convince +him that your master must be awakened; even if he sleeps like the Seven +Sleepers--" + +There was no mistaking the man's sincerity, or the urgency and +importance of his business; from his point of view at any rate. I +stepped forward. + +"Morris," I said, "you had better tell Miss Trelawny that this gentleman +wants to see her particularly. If she is busy, ask Mrs. Grant to tell +her." + +"Very good, sir!" he answered in a tone of relief, and hurried away. + +I took the stranger into the little boudoir across the hall. As we went +he asked me: + +"Are you the secretary?" + +"No! I am a friend of Miss Trelawny's. My name is Ross." + +"Thank you very much, Mr. Ross, for your kindness!" he said. "My name +is Corbeck. I would give you my card, but they don't use cards where +I've come from. And if I had had any, I suppose they, too, would have +gone last night--" + +He stopped suddenly, as though conscious that he had said too much. We +both remained silent; as we waited I took stock of him. A short, sturdy +man, brown as a coffee-berry; possibly inclined to be fat, but now lean +exceedingly. The deep wrinkles in his face and neck were not merely +from time and exposure; there were those unmistakable signs where flesh +or fat has fallen away, and the skin has become loose. The neck was +simply an intricate surface of seams and wrinkles, and sun-scarred with +the burning of the Desert. The Far East, the Tropic Seasons, and the +Desert--each can have its colour mark. But all three are quite +different; and an eye which has once known, can thenceforth easily +distinguish them. The dusky pallor of one; the fierce red-brown of the +other; and of the third, the dark, ingrained burning, as though it had +become a permanent colour. Mr. Corbeck had a big head, massive and +full; with shaggy, dark red-brown hair, but bald on the temples. His +forehead was a fine one, high and broad; with, to use the terms of +physiognomy, the frontal sinus boldly marked. The squareness of it +showed "ratiocination"; and the fulness under the eyes "language". He +had the short, broad nose that marks energy; the square chin--marked +despite a thick, unkempt beard--and massive jaw that showed great +resolution. + +"No bad man for the Desert!" I thought as I looked. + +Miss Trelawny came very quickly. When Mr. Corbeck saw her, he seemed +somewhat surprised. But his annoyance and excitement had not +disappeared; quite enough remained to cover up any such secondary and +purely exoteric feeling as surprise. But as she spoke he never took his +eyes off her; and I made a mental note that I would find some early +opportunity of investigating the cause of his surprise. She began with +an apology which quite smoothed down his ruffled feelings: + +"Of course, had my Father been well you would not have been kept +waiting. Indeed, had not I been on duty in the sick-room when you +called the first time, I should have seen you at once. Now will you +kindly tell me what is the matter which so presses?" He looked at me and +hesitated. She spoke at once: + +"You may say before Mr. Ross anything which you can tell me. He has my +fullest confidence, and is helping me in my trouble. I do not think you +quite understand how serious my Father's condition is. For three days +he has not waked, or given any sign of consciousness; and I am in +terrible trouble about him. Unhappily I am in great ignorance of my +Father and his life. I only came to live with him a year ago; and I +know nothing whatever of his affairs. I do not even know who you are, +or in what way your business is associated with him." She said this +with a little deprecating smile, all conventional and altogether +graceful; as though to express in the most genuine way her absurd +ignorance. + +He looked steadily at her for perhaps a quarter of a minute; then he +spoke, beginning at once as though his mind were made up and his +confidence established: + +"My name is Eugene Corbeck. I am a Master of Arts and Doctor of Laws +and Master of Surgery of Cambridge; Doctor of Letters of Oxford; Doctor +of Science and Doctor of Languages of London University; Doctor of +Philosophy of Berlin; Doctor of Oriental Languages of Paris. I have +some other degrees, honorary and otherwise, but I need not trouble you +with them. Those I have name will show you that I am sufficiently +feathered with diplomas to fly into even a sick-room. Early in life-- +fortunately for my interests and pleasures, but unfortunately for my +pocket--I fell in with Egyptology. I must have been bitten by some +powerful scarab, for I took it bad. I went out tomb-hunting; and +managed to get a living of a sort, and to learn some things that you +can't get out of books. I was in pretty low water when I met your +Father, who was doing some explorations on his own account; and since +then I haven't found that I have many unsatisfied wants. He is a real +patron of the arts; no mad Egyptologist can ever hope for a better +chief!" + +He spoke with feeling; and I was glad to see that Miss Trelawny coloured +up with pleasure at the praise of her father. I could not help +noticing, however, that Mr. Corbeck was, in a measure, speaking as if +against time. I took it that he wished, while speaking, to study his +ground; to see how far he would be justified in taking into confidence +the two strangers before him. As he went on, I could see that his +confidence kept increasing. When I thought of it afterward, and +remembered what he had said, I realised that the measure of the +information which he gave us marked his growing trust. + +"I have been several times out on expeditions in Egypt for your Father; +and I have always found it a delight to work for him. Many of his +treasures--and he has some rare ones, I tell you-he has procured through +me, either by my exploration or by purchase--or--or--otherwise. Your +Father, Miss Trelawny, has a rare knowledge. He sometimes makes up his +mind that he wants to find a particular thing, of whose existence--if it +still exists--he has become aware; and he will follow it all over the +world till he gets it. I've been on just such a chase now." + +He stopped suddenly, as suddenly as thought his mouth had been shut by +the jerk of a string. We waited; when he went on he spoke with a +caution that was new to him, as though he wished to forestall our asking +any questions: + +"I am not at liberty to mention anything of my mission; where it was +to, what it was for, or anything at all about it. Such matters are in +confidence between Mr. Trelawny and myself; I am pledged to absolute +secrecy." + +He paused, and an embarrassed look crept over his face. Suddenly he +said: + +"You are sure, Miss Trelawny, your Father is not well enough to see me +today?" + +A look of wonderment was on her face in turn. But it cleared at once;-- +she stood up, saying in a tone in which dignity and graciousness were +blended: + +"Come and see for yourself!" She moved toward her father's room; he +followed, and I brought up the rear. + +Mr. Corbeck entered the sick-room as though he knew it. There is an +unconscious attitude or bearing to persons in new surroundings which +there is no mistaking. Even in his anxiety to see his powerful friend, +he glanced for a moment round the room, as at a familiar place. Then +all his attention became fixed on the bed. I watched him narrowly, for +somehow I felt that on this man depended much of our enlightenment +regarding the strange matter in which we were involved. + +It was not that I doubted him. The man was of transparent honesty; it +was this very quality which we had to dread. He was of that courageous, +fixed trueness to his undertaking, that if he should deem it his duty to +guard a secret he would do it to the last. The case before us was, at +least, an unusual one; and it would, consequently, require more liberal +recognition of bounds of the duty of secrecy than would hold under +ordinary conditions. To us, ignorance was helplessness. If we could +learn anything of the past we might at least form some idea of the +conditions antecedent to the attack; and might, so, achieve some means +of helping the patient to recovery. There were curios which might be +removed. . . . My thoughts were beginning to whirl once again; I pulled +myself up sharply and watched. There was a look of infinite pity on the +sun-stained, rugged face as he gazed at his friend, lying so helpless. +The sternness of Mr. Trelawny's face had not relaxed in sleep; but +somehow it made the helplessness more marked. It would not have +troubled one to see a weak or an ordinary face under such conditions; +but this purposeful, masterful man, lying before us wrapped in +impenetrable sleep, had all the pathos of a great ruin. The sight was +not a new one to us; but I could see that Miss Trelawny, like myself, +was moved afresh by it in the presence of the stranger. Mr. Corbeck's +face grew stern. All the pity died away; and in its stead came a grim, +hard look which boded ill for whoever had been the cause of this mighty +downfall. This look in turn gave place to one of decision; the volcanic +energy of the man was working to some definite purpose. He glanced +around at us; and as his eyes lighted on Nurse Kennedy his eyebrows went +up a trifle. She noted the look, and glanced interrogatively at Miss +Trelawny, who flashed back a reply with a glance. She went quietly from +the room, closing the door behind her. Mr. Corbeck looked first at me, +with a strong man's natural impulse to learn from a man rather than a +woman; then at Miss Trelawny, with a remembrance of the duty of +courtesy, and said: + +"Tell me all about it. How it began and when!" Miss Trelawny looked at +me appeallingly; and forthwith I told him all that I knew. He seemed to +make no motion during the whole time; but insensibly the bronze face +became steel. When, at the end, I told him of Mr. Marvin's visit and of +the Power of Attorney, his look began to brighten. And when, seeing his +interest in the matter, I went more into detail as to its terms, he +spoke: + +"Good! Now I know where my duty lies!" + +With a sinking heart I heard him. Such a phrase, coming at such a time, +seemed to close the door to my hopes of enlightenment. + +"What do you mean?" I asked, feeling that my question was a feeble one. + +His answer emphasized my fears: + +"Trelawny knows what he is doing. He had some definite purpose in all +that he did; and we must not thwart him. He evidently expected +something to happen, and guarded himself at all points." + +"Not at all points!" I said impulsively. "There must have been a weak +spot somewhere, or he wouldn't be lying here like that!" Somehow his +impassiveness surprised me. I had expected that he would find a valid +argument in my phrase; but it did not move him, at least not in the way +I thought. Something like a smile flickered over his swarthy face as he +answered me: + +"This is not the end! Trelawny did not guard himself to no purpose. +Doubtless, he expected this too; or at any rate the possibility of it." + +"Do you know what he expected, or from what source?" The questioner was +Miss Trelawny. + +The answer came at once: "No! I know nothing of either. I can +guess . . ." He stopped suddenly. + +"Guess what?" The suppressed excitement in the girl's voice was akin to +anguish. The steely look came over the swarthy face again; but there was +tenderness and courtesy in both voice and manner as he replied: + +"Believe me, I would do anything I honestly could to relieve you +anxiety. But in this I have a higher duty." + +"What duty?" + +"Silence!" As he spoke the word, the strong mouth closed like a steel +trap. + +We all remained silent for a few minutes. In the intensity of our +thinking, the silence became a positive thing; the small sounds of life +within and without the house seemed intrusive. The first to break it +was Miss Trelawny. I had seen an idea--a hope--flash in her eyes; but +she steadied herself before speaking: + +"What was the urgent subject on which you wanted to see me, knowing that +my Father was--not available?" The pause showed her mastery of her +thoughts. + +The instantaneous change in Mr. Corbeck was almost ludicrous. His start +of surprise, coming close upon his iron-clad impassiveness, was like a +pantomimic change. But all idea of comedy was swept away by the tragic +earnestness with which he remembered his original purpose. + +"My God!" he said, as he raised his hand from the chair back on which it +rested, and beat it down with a violence which would in itself have +arrested attention. His brows corrugated as he went on: "I quite +forgot! What a loss! Now of all times! Just at the moment of success! +He lying there helpless, and my tongue tied! Not able to raise hand or +foot in my ignorance of his wishes!" + +"What is it? Oh, do tell us! I am so anxious about my dear Father! Is +it any new trouble? I hope not! oh, I hope not! I have had such +anxiety and trouble already! It alarms me afresh to hear you speak so! +Won't you tell me something to allay this terrible anxiety and +uncertainty?" + +He drew his sturdy form up to his full height as he said: + +"Alas! I cannot, may not, tell you anything. It is his secret." He +pointed to the bed. "And yet--and yet I came here for his advice, his +counsel, his assistance. And he lies there helpless. . . . And time +is flying by us! It may soon be too late!" + +"What is it? what is it?" broke in Miss Trelawny in a sort of passion of +anxiety, her face drawn with pain. "Oh, speak! Say something! This +anxiety, and horror, and mystery are killing me!" Mr. Corbeck calmed +himself by a great effort. + +"I may not tell you details; but I have had a great loss. My mission, +in which I have spent three years, was successful. I discovered all +that I sought--and more; and brought them home with me safely. +Treasures, priceless in themselves, but doubly precious to him by whose +wishes and instructions I sought them. I arrived in London only last +night, and when I woke this morning my precious charge was stolen. +Stolen in some mysterious way. Not a soul in London knew that I was +arriving. No one but myself knew what was in the shabby portmanteau +that I carried. My room had but one door, and that I locked and bolted. +The room was high in the house, five stories up, so that no entrance +could have been obtained by the window. Indeed, I had closed the window +myself and shut the hasp, for I wished to be secure in every way. This +morning the hasp was untouched. . . . And yet my portmanteau was empty. +The lamps were gone! . . . There! it is out. I went to Egypt to search +for a set of antique lamps which Mr. Trelawny wished to trace. With +incredible labour, and through many dangers, I followed them. I brought +them safe home. . . . And now!" He turned away much moved. Even his +iron nature was breaking down under the sense of loss. + +Miss Trelawny stepped over and laid her hand on his arm. I looked at +her in amazement. All the passion and pain which had so moved her +seemed to have taken the form of resolution. Her form was erect, her +eyes blazed; energy was manifest in every nerve and fibre of her being. +Even her voice was full of nervous power as she spoke. It was apparent +that she was a marvellously strong woman, and that her strength could +answer when called upon. + +"We must act at once! My Father's wishes must be carried out if it is +possible to us. Mr. Ross, you are a lawyer. We have actually in the +house a man whom you consider one of the best detectives in London. +Surely we can do something. We can begin at once!" Mr. Corbeck took +new life from her enthusiasm. + +"Good! You are your Father's daughter!" was all he said. But his +admiration for her energy was manifested by the impulsive way in which +he took her hand. I moved over to the door. I was going to bring +Sergeant Daw; and from her look of approval, I knew that Margaret--Miss +Trelawny--understood. I was at the door when Mr. Corbeck called me back. + +"One moment," he said, "before we bring a stranger on the scene. It +must be borne in mind that he is not to know what you know now, that the +lamps were the objects of a prolonged and difficult and dangerous +search. All I can tell him, all that he must know from any source, is +that some of my property has been stolen. I must describe some of the +lamps, especially one, for it is of gold; and my fear is lest the thief, +ignorant of its historic worth, may, in order to cover up his crime, +have it melted. I would willingly pay ten, twenty, a hundred, a +thousand times its intrinsic value rather than have it destroyed. I +shall tell him only what is necessary. So, please, let me answer any +questions he may ask; unless, of course, I ask you or refer to either of +you for the answer." We both nodded acquiescence. Then a thought +struck me and I said: + +"By the way, if it be necessary to keep this matter quiet it will be +better to have it if possible a private job for the Detective. If once +a thing gets to Scotland Yard it is out of our power to keep it quiet, +and further secrecy may be impossible. I shall sound Sergeant Daw +before he comes up. If I say nothing, it will mean that he accepts the +task and will deal with it privately." Mr. Corbeck answered at once: + +"Secrecy is everything. The one thing I dread is that the lamps, or +some of them, may be destroyed at once." To my intense astonishment +Miss Trelawny spoke out at once, but quietly, in a decided voice: + +"They will not be destroyed; nor any of them!" Mr. Corbeck actually +smiled in amazement. + +"How on earth do you know?" he asked. Her answer was still more +incomprehensible: + +"I don't know how I know it; but know it I do. I feel it all through +me; as though it were a conviction which has been with me all my life!" + + + + + +Chapter VIII +The Finding of the Lamps + + + + +Sergeant Daw at first made some demur; but finally agreed to advise +privately on a matter which might be suggested to him. He added that I +was to remember that he only undertook to advise; for if action were +required he might have to refer the matter to headquarters. With this +understanding I left him in the study, and brought Miss Trelawny and Mr. +Corbeck to him. Nurse Kennedy resumed her place at the bedside before +we left the room. + +I could not but admire the cautious, cool-headed precision with which +the traveller stated his case. He did not seem to conceal anything, and +yet he gave the least possible description of the objects missing. He +did not enlarge on the mystery of the case; he seemed to look on it as +an ordinary hotel theft. Knowing, as I did, that his one object was to +recover the articles before their identity could be obliterated, I could +see the rare intellectual skill with which he gave the necessary matter +and held back all else, though without seeming to do so. "Truly," +thought I, "this man has learned the lesson of the Eastern bazaars; and +with Western intellect has improved upon his masters!" He quite +conveyed his idea to the Detective, who, after thinking the matter over +for a few moments, said: + +"Pot or scale? that is the question." + +"What does that mean?" asked the other, keenly alert. + +"An old thieves phrase from Birmingham. I thought that in these days of +slang everyone knew that. In old times at Brum, which had a lot of +small metal industries, the gold- and silver-smiths used to buy metal +from almost anyone who came along. And as metal in small quantities +could generally be had cheap when they didn't ask where it came from, it +got to be a custom to ask only one thing--whether the customer wanted the +goods melted, in which case the buyer made the price, and the melting- +pot was always on the fire. If it was to be preserved in its present +state at the buyer's option, it went into the scale and fetched standard +price for old metal. + +"There is a good deal of such work done still, and in other places than +Brum. When we're looking for stolen watches we often come across the +works, and it's not possible to identify wheels and springs out of a +heap; but it's not often that we come across cases that are wanted. +Now, in the present instance much will depend on whether the thief is a +good man--that's what they call a man who knows his work. A first-class +crook will know whether a thing is of more value than merely the metal +in it; and in such case he would put it with someone who could place it +later on--in America or France, perhaps. By the way, do you think anyone +but yourself could identify your lamps?" + +"No one but myself!" + +"Are there others like them?" + +"Not that I know of," answered Mr. Corbeck; "though there may be others +that resemble them in many particulars." The Detective paused before +asking again: "Would any other skilled person--at the British Museum, for +instance, or a dealer, or a collector like Mr. Trelawny, know the value-- +the artistic value--of the lamps?" + +"Certainly! Anyone with a head on his shoulders would see at a glance +that the things were valuable." + +The Detective's face brightened. "Then there is a chance. If your door +was locked and the window shut, the goods were not stolen by the chance +of a chambermaid or a boots coming along. Whoever did the job went +after it special; and he ain't going to part with his swag without his +price. This must be a case of notice to the pawnbrokers. There's one +good thing about it, anyhow, that the hue and cry needn't be given. We +needn't tell Scotland Yard unless you like; we can work the thing +privately. If you wish to keep the thing dark, as you told me at the +first, that is our chance." Mr. Corbeck, after a pause, said quietly: + +"I suppose you couldn't hazard a suggestion as to how the robbery was +effected?" The Policeman smiled the smile of knowledge and experience. + +"In a very simple way, I have no doubt, sir. That is how all these +mysterious crimes turn out in the long-run. The criminal knows his work +and all the tricks of it; and he is always on the watch for chances. +Moreover, he knows by experience what these chances are likely to be, +and how they usually come. The other person is only careful; he doesn't +know all the tricks and pits that may be made for him, and by some +little oversight or other he falls into the trap. When we know all +about this case, you will wonder that you did not see the method of it +all along!" This seemed to annoy Mr. Corbeck a little; there was +decided heat in his manner as he answered: + +"Look here, my good friend, there is not anything simple about this +case--except that the things were taken. The window was closed; the +fireplace was bricked up. There is only one door to the room, and that +I locked and bolted. There is no transom; I have heard all about hotel +robberies through the transom. I never left my room in the night. I +looked at the things before going to bed; and I went to look at them +again when I woke up. If you can rig up any kind of simple robbery out +of these facts you are a clever man. That's all I say; clever enough to +go right away and get my things back." Miss Trelawny laid her hand upon +his arm in a soothing way, and said quietly: + +"Do not distress yourself unnecessarily. I am sure they will turn up." +Sergeant Daw turned to her so quickly that I could not help remembering +vividly his suspicions of her, already formed, as he said: + +"May I ask, miss, on what you base that opinion?" + +I dreaded to hear her answer, given to ears already awake to suspicion; +but it came to me as a new pain or shock all the same: + +"I cannot tell you how I know. But I am sure of it!" The Detective +looked at her for some seconds in silence, and then threw a quick glance +at me. + +Presently he had a little more conversation with Mr. Corbeck as to his +own movements, the details of the hotel and the room, and the means of +identifying the goods. Then he went away to commence his inquiries, Mr. +Corbeck impressing on him the necessity for secrecy lest the thief +should get wind of his danger and destroy the lamps. Mr. Corbeck +promised, when going away to attend to various matters of his own +business, to return early in the evening, and to stay in the house. + +All that day Miss Trelawny was in better spirits and looked in better +strength than she had yet been, despite the new shock and annoyance of +the theft which must ultimately bring so much disappointment to her +father. + +We spent most of the day looking over the curio treasures of Mr. +Trelawny. From what I had heard from Mr. Corbeck I began to have some +idea of the vastness of his enterprise in the world of Egyptian +research; and with this light everything around me began to have a new +interest. As I went on, the interest grew; any lingering doubts which I +might have had changed to wonder and admiration. The house seemed to be +a veritable storehouse of marvels of antique art. In addition to the +curios, big and little, in Mr. Trelawny's own room--from the great +sarcophagi down to the scarabs of all kinds in the cabinets--the great +hall, the staircase landings, the study, and even the boudoir were full +of antique pieces which would have made a collector's mouth water. + +Miss Trelawny from the first came with me, and looked with growing +interest at everything. After having examined some cabinets of +exquisite amulets she said to me in quite a naive way: + +"You will hardly believe that I have of late seldom even looked at any +of these things. It is only since Father has been ill that I seem to +have even any curiosity about them. But now, they grow and grow on me to +quite an absorbing degree. I wonder if it is that the collector's blood +which I have in my veins is beginning to manifest itself. If so, the +strange thing is that I have not felt the call of it before. Of course +I know most of the big things, and have examined them more or less; but +really, in a sort of way I have always taken them for granted, as though +they had always been there. I have noticed the same thing now and again +with family pictures, and the way they are taken for granted by the +family. If you will let me examine them with you it will be +delightful!" + +It was a joy to me to hear her talk in such a way; and her last +suggestion quite thrilled me. Together we went round the various rooms +and passages, examining and admiring the magnificent curios. There was +such a bewildering amount and variety of objects that we could only +glance at most of them; but as we went along we arranged that we should +take them seriatim, day by day, and examine them more closely. In the +hall was a sort of big frame of floriated steel work which Margaret said +her father used for lifting the heavy stone lids of the sarcophagi. It +was not heavy and could be moved about easily enough. By aid of this we +raised the covers in turn and looked at the endless series of +hieroglyphic pictures cut in most of them. In spite of her profession +of ignorance Margaret knew a good deal about them; her year of life with +her father had had unconsciously its daily and hourly lesson. She was a +remarkably clever and acute-minded girl, and with a prodigious memory; +so that her store of knowledge, gathered unthinkingly bit by bit, had +grown to proportions that many a scholar might have envied. + +And yet it was all so naive and unconscious; so girlish and simple. She +was so fresh in her views and ideas, and had so little thought of self, +that in her companionship I forgot for the time all the troubles and +mysteries which enmeshed the house; and I felt like a boy again. . . . + +The most interesting of the sarcophagi were undoubtedly the three in Mr. +Trelawny's room. Of these, two were of dark stone, one of porphyry and +the other of a sort of ironstone. These were wrought with some +hieroglyphs. But the third was strikingly different. It was of some +yellow-brown substance of the dominating colour effect of Mexican onyx, +which it resembled in many ways, excepting that the natural pattern of +its convolutions was less marked. Here and there were patches almost +transparent--certainly translucent. The whole chest, cover and all, was +wrought with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of minute hieroglyphics, +seemingly in an endless series. Back, front, sides, edges, bottom, all +had their quota of the dainty pictures, the deep blue of their colouring +showing up fresh and sharply edge in the yellow stone. It was very +long, nearly nine feet; and perhaps a yard wide. The sides undulated, +so that there was no hard line. Even the corners took such excellent +curves that they pleased the eye. "Truly," I said, "this must have been +made for a giant!" + +"Or for a giantess!" said Margaret. + +This sarcophagus stood near to one of the windows. It was in one +respect different from all the other sarcophagi in the place. All the +others in the house, of whatever material--granite, porphyry, ironstone, +basalt, slate, or wood--were quite simple in form within. Some of them +were plain of interior surface; others were engraved, in whole or part, +with hieroglyphics. But each and all of them had no protuberances or +uneven surface anywhere. They might have been used for baths; indeed, +they resembled in many ways Roman baths of stone or marble which I had +seen. Inside this, however, was a raised space, outlined like a human +figure. I asked Margaret if she could explain it in any way. For +answer she said: + +"Father never wished to speak about this. It attracted my attention +from the first; but when I asked him about it he said: 'I shall tell +you all about it some day, little girl--if I live! But not yet! The +story is not yet told, as I hope to tell it to you! Some day, perhaps +soon, I shall know all; and then we shall go over it together. And a +mighty interesting story you will find it--from first to last!' Once +afterward I said, rather lightly I am afraid: 'Is that story of the +sarcophagus told yet, Father?' He shook his head, and looked at me +gravely as he said: 'Not yet, little girl; but it will be--if I live-- +if I live!' His repeating that phrase about his living rather +frightened me; I never ventured to ask him again." + +Somehow this thrilled me. I could not exactly say how or why; but it +seemed like a gleam of light at last. There are, I think, moments when +the mind accepts something as true; though it can account for neither +the course of the thought, nor, if there be more than one thought, the +connection between them. Hitherto we had been in such outer darkness +regarding Mr. Trelawny, and the strange visitation which had fallen on +him, that anything which afforded a clue, even of the faintest and most +shadowy kind, had at the outset the enlightening satisfaction of a +certainty. Here were two lights of our puzzle. The first that Mr. +Trelawny associated with this particular curio a doubt of his own +living. The second that he had some purpose or expectation with regard +to it, which he would not disclose, even to his daughter, till complete. +Again it was to be borne in mind that this sarcophagus differed +internally from all the others. What meant that odd raised place? I +said nothing to Miss Trelawny, for I feared lest I should either +frighten her or buoy her up with future hopes; but I made up my mind +that I would take an early opportunity for further investigation. + +Close beside the sarcophagus was a low table of green stone with red +veins in it, like bloodstone. The feet were fashioned like the paws of +a jackal, and round each leg was twined a full-throated snake wrought +exquisitely in pure gold. On it rested a strange and very beautiful +coffer or casket of stone of a peculiar shape. It was something like a +small coffin, except that the longer sides, instead of being cut off +square like the upper or level part were continued to a point. Thus it +was an irregular septahedron, there being two planes on each of the two +sides, one end and a top and bottom. The stone, of one piece of which +it was wrought, was such as I had never seen before. At the base it was +of a full green, the colour of emerald without, of course, its gleam. +It was not by any means dull, however, either in colour or substance, +and was of infinite hardness and fineness of texture. The surface was +almost that of a jewel. The colour grew lighter as it rose, with +gradation so fine as to be imperceptible, changing to a fine yellow +almost of the colour of "mandarin" china. It was quite unlike anything +I had ever seen, and did not resemble any stone or gem that I knew. I +took it to be some unique mother-stone, or matrix of some gem. It was +wrought all over, except in a few spots, with fine hieroglyphics, +exquisitely done and coloured with the same blue-green cement or pigment +that appeared on the sarcophagus. In length it was about two feet and a +half; in breadth about half this, and was nearly a foot high. The +vacant spaces were irregularly distributed about the top running to the +pointed end. These places seemed less opaque than the rest of the +stone. I tried to lift up the lid so that I might see if they were +translucent; but it was securely fixed. It fitted so exactly that the +whole coffer seemed like a single piece of stone mysteriously hollowed +from within. On the sides and edges were some odd-looking protuberances +wrought just as finely as any other portion of the coffer which had been +sculptured by manifest design in the cutting of the stone. They had +queer-shaped holes or hollows, different in each; and, like the rest, +were covered with the hieroglyphic figures, cut finely and filled in +with the same blue-green cement. + +On the other side of the great sarcophagus stood another small table of +alabaster, exquisitely chased with symbolic figures of gods and the +signs of the zodiac. On this table stood a case of about a foot square +composed of slabs of rock crystal set in a skeleton of bands of red +gold, beautifully engraved with hieroglyphics, and coloured with a blue +green, very much the tint of the figures on the sarcophagus and the +coffer. The whole work was quite modern. + +But if the case was modern what it held was not. Within, on a cushion +of cloth of gold as fine as silk, and with the peculiar softness of old +gold, rested a mummy hand, so perfect that it startled one to see it. A +woman's hand, fine and long, with slim tapering fingers and nearly as +perfect as when it was given to the embalmer thousands of years before. +In the embalming it had lost nothing of its beautiful shape; even the +wrist seemed to maintain its pliability as the gentle curve lay on the +cushion. The skin was of a rich creamy or old ivory colour; a dusky +fair skin which suggested heat, but heat in shadow. The great +peculiarity of it, as a hand, was that it had in all seven fingers, +there being two middle and two index fingers. The upper end of the +wrist was jagged, as though it had been broken off, and was stained with +a red-brown stain. On the cushion near the hand was a small scarab, +exquisitely wrought of emerald. + +"That is another of Father's mysteries. When I asked him about it he +said that it was perhaps the most valuable thing he had, except one. +When I asked him what that one was, he refused to tell me, and forbade +me to ask him anything concerning it. 'I will tell you,' he said, 'all +about it, too, in good time--if I live!'" + +"If I live!" the phrase again. These three things grouped together, the +Sarcophagus, the Coffer, and the Hand, seemed to make a trilogy of +mystery indeed! + +At this time Miss Trelawny was sent for on some domestic matter. I +looked at the other curios in the room; but they did not seem to have +anything like the same charm for me, now that she was away. Later on in +the day I was sent for to the boudoir where she was consulting with Mrs. +Grant as to the lodgment of Mr. Corbeck. They were in doubt as to +whether he should have a room close to Mr. Trelawny's or quite away from +it, and had thought it well to ask my advice on the subject. I came to +the conclusion that he had better not be too near; for the first at all +events, he could easily be moved closer if necessary. When Mrs. Grant +had gone, I asked Miss Trelawny how it came that the furniture of this +room, the boudoir in which we were, was so different from the other +rooms of the house. + +"Father's forethought!" she answered. "When I first came, he thought, +and rightly enough, that I might get frightened with so many records of +death and the tomb everywhere. So he had this room and the little suite +off it--that door opens into the sitting-room--where I slept last night, +furnished with pretty things. You see, they are all beautiful. That +cabinet belonged to the great Napoleon." + +"There is nothing Egyptian in these rooms at all then?" I asked, rather +to show interest in what she had said than anything else, for the +furnishing of the room was apparent. "What a lovely cabinet! May I +look at it?" + +"Of course! with the greatest pleasure!" she answered, with a smile. +"Its finishing, within and without, Father says, is absolutely +complete." I stepped over and looked at it closely. It was made of +tulip wood, inlaid in patterns; and was mounted in ormolu. I pulled +open one of the drawers, a deep one where I could see the work to great +advantage. As I pulled it, something rattled inside as though rolling; +there was a tinkle as of metal on metal. + +"Hullo!" I said. "There is something in here. Perhaps I had better not +open it." + +"There is nothing that I know of," she answered. "Some of the +housemaids may have used it to put something by for the time and +forgotten it. Open it by all means!" + +I pulled open the drawer; as I did so, both Miss Trelawny and I started +back in amazement. + +There before our eyes lay a number of ancient Egyptian lamps, of various +sizes and of strangely varied shapes. + +We leaned over them and looked closely. My own heart was beating like a +trip-hammer; and I could see by the heaving of Margaret's bosom that +she was strangely excited. + +Whilst we looked, afraid to touch and almost afraid to think, there was +a ring at the front door; immediately afterwards Mr. Corbeck, followed +by Sergeant Daw, came into the hall. The door of the boudoir was open, +and when they saw us Mr. Corbeck came running in, followed more slowly +by the Detective. There was a sort of chastened joy in his face and +manner as he said impulsively: + +"Rejoice with me, my dear Miss Trelawny, my luggage has come and all my +things are intact!" Then his face fell as he added, "Except the lamps. +The lamps that were worth all the rest a thousand times. . . ." He +stopped, struck by the strange pallor of her face. Then his eyes, +following her look and mine, lit on the cluster of lamps in the drawer. +He gave a sort of cry of surprise and joy as he bent over and touched +them: + +"My lamps! My lamps! Then they are safe--safe--safe! . . . But how, +in the name of God--of all the Gods--did they come here?" + +We all stood silent. The Detective made a deep sound of in-taking +breath. I looked at him, and as he caught my glance he turned his eyes +on Miss Trelawny whose back was toward him. + +There was in them the same look of suspicion which had been there when +he had spoken to me of her being the first to find her father on the +occasions of the attacks. + + + + + +Chapter IX +The Need of Knowledge + + + + +Mr. Corbeck seemed to go almost off his head at the recovery of the +lamps. He took them up one by one and looked them all over tenderly, as +though they were things that he loved. In his delight and excitement he +breathed so hard that it seemed almost like a cat purring. Sergeant Daw +said quietly, his voice breaking the silence like a discord in a melody: + +"Are you quite sure those lamps are the ones you had, and that were +stolen?" + +His answer was in an indignant tone: "Sure! Of course I'm sure. There +isn't another set of lamps like these in the world!" + +"So far as you know!" The Detective's words were smooth enough, but his +manner was so exasperating that I was sure he had some motive in it; so +I waited in silence. He went on: + +"Of course there may be some in the British Museum; or Mr. Trelawny may +have had these already. There's nothing new under the sun, you know, +Mr. Corbeck; not even in Egypt. These may be the originals, and yours +may have been the copies. Are there any points by which you can +identify these as yours?" + +Mr. Corbeck was really angry by this time. He forgot his reserve; and +in his indignation poured forth a torrent of almost incoherent, but +enlightening, broken sentences: + +"Identify! Copies of them! British Museum! Rot! Perhaps they keep a +set in Scotland Yard for teaching idiot policemen Egyptology! Do I know +them? When I have carried them about my body, in the desert, for three +months; and lay awake night after night to watch them! When I have +looked them over with a magnifying-glass, hour after hour, till my eyes +ached; till every tiny blotch, and chip, and dinge became as familiar to +me as his chart to a captain; as familiar as they doubtless have been +all the time to every thick-headed area-prowler within the bounds of +mortality. See here, young man, look at these!" He ranged the lamps in +a row on the top of the cabinet. "Did you ever see a set of lamps of +these shapes--of any one of these shapes? Look at these dominant figures +on them! Did you ever see so complete a set--even in Scotland Yard; even +in Bow Street? Look! one on each, the seven forms of Hathor. Look at +that figure of the Ka of a Princess of the Two Egypts, standing between +Ra and Osiris in the Boat of the Dead, with the Eye of Sleep, supported +on legs, bending before her; and Harmochis rising in the north. Will +you find that in the British Museum--or Bow Street? Or perhaps your +studies in the Gizeh Museum, or the Fitzwilliam, or Paris, or Leyden, or +Berlin, have shown you that the episode is common in hieroglyphics; and +that this is only a copy. Perhaps you can tell me what that figure of +Ptah-Seker-Ausar holding the Tet wrapped in the Sceptre of Papyrus +means? Did you ever see it before; even in the British Museum, or +Gizeh, or Scotland Yard?" + +He broke off suddenly; and then went on in quite a different way: + +"Look here! it seems to me that the thick-headed idiot is myself! I beg +your pardon, old fellow, for my rudeness. I quite lost my temper at the +suggestion that I do not know these lamps. You don't mind, do you?" +The Detective answered heartily: + +"Lord, sir, not I. I like to see folks angry when I am dealing with +them, whether they are on my side or the other. It is when people are +angry that you learn the truth from them. I keep cool; that is my +trade! Do you know, you have told me more about those lamps in the past +two minutes than when you filled me up with details of how to identify +them." + +Mr. Corbeck grunted; he was not pleased at having given himself away. +All at once he turned to me and said in his natural way: + +"Now tell me how you got them back?" I was so surprised that I said +without thinking: + +"We didn't get them back!" The traveller laughed openly. + +"What on earth do you mean?" he asked. "You didn't get them back! Why, +there they are before your eyes! We found you looking at them when we +came in." By this time I had recovered my surprise and had my wits +about me. + +"Why, that's just it," I said. "We had only come across them, by +accident, that very moment!" + +Mr. Corbeck drew back and looked hard at Miss Trelawny and myself; +turning his eyes from one to the other as he asked: + +"Do you mean to tell me that no one brought them here; that you found +them in that drawer? That, so to speak, no one at all brought them +back?" + +"I suppose someone must have brought them here; they couldn't have come +of their own accord. But who it was, or when, or how, neither of us +knows. We shall have to make inquiry, and see if any of the servants +know anything of it." + +We all stood silent for several seconds. It seemed a long time. The +first to speak was the Detective, who said in an unconscious way: + +"Well, I'm damned! I beg your pardon, miss!" Then his mouth shut like +a steel trap. + +We called up the servants, one by one, and asked them if they knew +anything of some articles placed in a drawer in the boudoir; but none of +them could throw any light on the circumstance. We did not tell them +what the articles were; or let them see them. + +Mr. Corbeck packed the lamps in cotton wool, and placed them in a tin +box. This, I may mention incidentally, was then brought up to the +detectives' room, where one of the men stood guard over them with a +revolver the whole night. Next day we got a small safe into the house, +and placed them in it. There were two different keys. One of them I +kept myself; the other I placed in my drawer in the Safe Deposit vault. +We were all determined that the lamps should not be lost again. + +About an hour after we had found the lamps, Doctor Winchester arrived. +He had a large parcel with him, which, when unwrapped, proved to be the +mummy of a cat. With Miss Trelawny's permission he placed this in the +boudoir; and Silvio was brought close to it. To the surprise of us all, +however, except perhaps Doctor Winchester, he did not manifest the least +annoyance; he took no notice of it whatever. He stood on the table +close beside it, purring loudly. Then, following out his plan, the +Doctor brought him into Mr. Trelawny's room, we all following. Doctor +Winchester was excited; Miss Trelawny anxious. I was more than +interested myself, for I began to have a glimmering of the Doctor's +idea. The Detective was calmly and coldly superior; but Mr. Corbeck, +who was an enthusiast, was full of eager curiosity. + +The moment Doctor Winchester got into the room, Silvio began to mew and +wriggle; and jumping out of his arms, ran over to the cat mummy and +began to scratch angrily at it. Miss Trelawny had some difficulty in +taking him away; but so soon as he was out of the room he became quiet. +When she came back there was a clamour of comments: + +"I thought so!" from the Doctor. + +"What can it mean?" from Miss Trelawny. + +"That's a very strange thing!" from Mr. Corbeck. + +"Odd! but it doesn't prove anything!" from the Detective. + +"I suspend my judgment!" from myself, thinking it advisable to say +something. + +Then by common consent we dropped the theme--for the present. + +In my room that evening I was making some notes of what had happened, +when there came a low tap on the door. In obedience to my summons +Sergeant Daw came in, carefully closing the door behind him. + +"Well, Sergeant," said I, "sit down. What is it?" + +"I wanted to speak to you, sir, about those lamps." I nodded and +waited: he went on: "You know that that room where they were found +opens directly into the room where Miss Trelawny slept last night?" + +"Yes." + +"During the night a window somewhere in that part of the house was +opened, and shut again. I heard it, and took a look round; but I could +see no sign of anything." + +"Yes, I know that!" I said; "I heard a window moved myself." + +"Does nothing strike you as strange about it, sir?" + +"Strange!" I said; "Strange! why it's all the most bewildering, +maddening thing I have ever encountered. It is all so strange that one +seems to wonder, and simply waits for what will happen next. But what +do you mean by strange?" + +The Detective paused, as if choosing his words to begin; and then said +deliberately: + +"You see, I am not one who believes in magic and such things. I am for +facts all the time; and I always find in the long-run that there is a +reason and a cause for everything. This new gentleman says these things +were stolen out of his room in the hotel. The lamps, I take it from +some things he has said, really belong to Mr. Trelawny. His daughter, +the lady of the house, having left the room she usually occupies, sleeps +that night on the ground floor. A window is heard to open and shut +during the night. When we, who have been during the day trying to find +a clue to the robbery, come to the house, we find the stolen goods in a +room close to where she slept, and opening out of it!" + +He stopped. I felt that same sense of pain and apprehension, which I +had experienced when he had spoken to me before, creeping, or rather +rushing, over me again. I had to face the matter out, however. My +relations with her, and the feeling toward her which I now knew full +well meant a very deep love and devotion, demanded so much. I said as +calmly as I could, for I knew the keen eyes of the skilful investigator +were on me: + +"And the inference?" + +He answered with the cool audacity of conviction: + +"The inference to me is that there was no robbery at all. The goods +were taken by someone to this house, where they were received through a +window on the ground floor. They were placed in the cabinet, ready to +be discovered when the proper time should come!" + +Somehow I felt relieved; the assumption was too monstrous. I did not +want, however, my relief to be apparent, so I answered as gravely as I +could: + +"And who do you suppose brought them to the house?" + +"I keep my mind open as to that. Possibly Mr. Corbeck himself; the +matter might be too risky to trust to a third party." + +"Then the natural extension of your inference is that Mr. Corbeck is a +liar and a fraud; and that he is in conspiracy with Miss Trelawny to +deceive someone or other about those lamps." + +"Those are harsh words, Mr. Ross. They're so plain-spoken that they +bring a man up standing, and make new doubts for him. But I have to go +where my reason points. It may be that there is another party than Miss +Trelawny in it. Indeed, if it hadn't been for the other matter that set +me thinking and bred doubts of its own about her, I wouldn't dream of +mixing her up in this. But I'm safe on Corbeck. Whoever else is in it, +he is! The things couldn't have been taken without his connivance--if +what he says is true. If it isn't--well! he is a liar anyhow. I would +think it a bad job to have him stay in the house with so many valuables, +only that it will give me and my mate a chance of watching him. we'll +keep a pretty good look-out, too, I tell you. He's up in my room now, +guarding those lamps; but Johnny Wright is there too. I go on before he +comes off; so there won't be much chance of another house-breaking. Of +course, Mr. Ross, all this, too, is between you and me." + +"Quite so! You may depend on my silence!" I said; and he went away to +keep a close eye on the Egyptologist. + +It seemed as though all my painful experiences were to go in pairs, and +that the sequence of the previous day was to be repeated; for before +long I had another private visit from Doctor Winchester who had now paid +his nightly visit to his patient and was on his way home. He took the +seat which I proffered and began at once: + +"This is a strange affair altogether. Miss Trelawny has just been +telling me about the stolen lamps, and of the finding of them in the +Napoleon cabinet. It would seem to be another complication of the +mystery; and yet, do you know, it is a relief to me. I have exhausted +all human and natural possibilities of the case, and am beginning to +fall back on superhuman and supernatural possibilities. Here are such +strange things that, if I am not going mad, I think we must have a +solution before long. I wonder if I might ask some questions and some +help from Mr. Corbeck, without making further complications and +embarrassing us. He seems to know an amazing amount regarding Egypt and +all relating to it. Perhaps he wouldn't mind translating a little bit +of hieroglyphic. It is child's play to him. What do you think?" + +When I had thought the matter over a few seconds I spoke. We wanted all +the help we could get. For myself, I had perfect confidence in both +men; and any comparing notes, or mutual assistance, might bring good +results. Such could hardly bring evil. + +"By all means I should ask him. He seems an extraordinarily learned man +in Egyptology; and he seems to me a good fellow as well as an +enthusiast. By the way, it will be necessary to be a little guarded as +to whom you speak regarding any information which he may give you." + +"Of course!" he answered. "Indeed I should not dream of saying anything +to anybody, excepting yourself. We have to remember that when Mr. +Trelawny recovers he may not like to think that we have been chattering +unduly over his affairs." + +"Look here!" I said, "why not stay for a while: and I shall ask him to +come and have a pipe with us. We can then talk over things." + +He acquiesced: so I went to the room where Mr. Corbeck was, and brought +him back with me. I thought the detectives were pleased at his going. +On the way to my room he said: + +"I don't half like leaving those things there, with only those men to +guard them. They're a deal sight too precious to be left to the police!" + +From which it would appear that suspicion was not confined to Sergeant +Daw. + +Mr. Corbeck and Doctor Winchester, after a quick glance at each other, +became at once on most friendly terms. The traveller professed his +willingness to be of any assistance which he could, provided, he added, +that it was anything about which he was free to speak. This was not +very promising; but Doctor Winchester began at once: + +"I want you, if you will, to translate some hieroglyphic for me." + +"Certainly, with the greatest pleasure, so far as I can. For I may tell +you that hieroglyphic writing is not quite mastered yet; though we are +getting at it! We are getting at it! What is the inscription?" + +"There are two," he answered. "One of them I shall bring here." + +He went out, and returned in a minute with the mummy cat which he had +that evening introduced to Silvio. The scholar took it; and, after a +short examination, said: + +"There is nothing especial in this. It is an appeal to Bast, the Lady +of Bubastis, to give her good bread and milk in the Elysian Fields. +There may be more inside; and if you will care to unroll it, I will do +my best. I do not think, however, that there is anything special. From +the method of wrapping I should say it is from the Delta; and of a late +period, when such mummy work was common and cheap. What is the other +inscription you wish me to see?" + +"The inscription on the mummy cat in Mr. Trelawny's room." + +Mr. Corbeck's face fell. "No!" he said, "I cannot do that! I am, for +the present at all events, practically bound to secrecy regarding any of +the things in Mr. Trelawny's room." + +Doctor Winchester's comment and my own were made at the same moment. I +said only the one word "Checkmate!" from which I think he may have +gathered that I guessed more of his idea and purpose than perhaps I had +intentionally conveyed to him. He murmured: + +"Practically bound to secrecy?" + +Mr. Corbeck at once took up the challenge conveyed: + +"Do not misunderstand me! I am not bound by any definite pledge of +secrecy; but I am bound in honour to respect Mr. Trelawny's confidence, +given to me, I may tell you, in a very large measure. Regarding many of +the objects in his room he has a definite purpose in view; and it would +not be either right or becoming for me, his trusted friend and +confidant, to forestall that purpose. Mr. Trelawny, you may know--or +rather you do not know or you would not have so construed my remark--is +a scholar, a very great scholar. He has worked for years toward a +certain end. For this he has spared no labour, no expense, no personal +danger or self-denial. He is on the line of a result which will place +him amongst the foremost discoverers or investigators of his age. And +now, just at the time when any hour might bring him success, he is +stricken down!" + +He stopped, seemingly overcome with emotion. After a time he recovered +himself and went on: + +"Again, do not misunderstand me as to another point. I have said that +Mr. Trelawny has made much confidence with me; but I do not mean to lead +you to believe that I know all his plans, or his aims or objects. I +know the period which he has been studying; and the definite historical +individual whose life he has been investigating, and whose records he +has been following up one by one with infinite patience. But beyond +this I know nothing. That he has some aim or object in the completion +of this knowledge I am convinced. What it is I may guess; but I must +say nothing. Please to remember, gentlemen, that I have voluntarily +accepted the position of recipient of a partial confidence. I have +respected that; and I must ask any of my friends to do the same." + +He spoke with great dignity; and he grew, moment by moment, in the +respect and esteem of both Doctor Winchester and myself. We understood +that he had not done speaking; so we waited in silence till he +continued: + +"I have spoken this much, although I know well that even such a hint as +either of you might gather from my words might jeopardise the success of +his work. But I am convinced that you both wish to help him--and his +daughter," he said this looking me fairly between the eyes, "to the best +of your power, honestly and unselfishly. He is so stricken down, and +the manner of it is so mysterious that I cannot but think that it is in +some way a result of his own work. That he calculated on some set-back +is manifest to us all. God knows! I am willing to do what I can, and to +use any knowledge I have in his behalf. I arrived in England full of +exultation at the thought that I had fulfilled the mission with which he +had trusted me. I had got what he said were the last objects of his +search; and I felt assured that he would now be able to begin the +experiment of which he had often hinted to me. It is too dreadful that +at just such a time such a calamity should have fallen on him. Doctor +Winchester, you are a physician; and, if your face does not belie you, +you are a clever and a bold one. Is there no way which you can devise +to wake this man from his unnatural stupor?" + +There was a pause; then the answer came slowly and deliberately: + +"There is no ordinary remedy that I know of. There might possibly be +some extraordinary one. But there would be no use in trying to find it, +except on one condition." + +"And that?" + +"Knowledge! I am completely ignorant of Egyptian matters, language, +writing, history, secrets, medicines, poisons, occult powers--all that go +to make up the mystery of that mysterious land. This disease, or +condition, or whatever it may be called, from which Mr. Trelawny is +suffering, is in some way connected with Egypt. I have had a suspicion +of this from the first; and later it grew into a certainty, though +without proof. What you have said tonight confirms my conjecture, and +makes me believe that a proof is to be had. I do not think that you +quite know all that has gone on in this house since the night of the +attack--of the finding of Mr. Trelawny's body. Now I propose that we +confide in you. If Mr. Ross agrees, I shall ask him to tell you. He is +more skilled than I am in putting facts before other people. He can +speak by his brief; and in this case he has the best of all briefs, the +experience of his own eyes and ears, and the evidence that he has +himself taken on the spot from participators in, or spectators of, what +has happened. When you know all, you will, I hope, be in a position to +judge as to whether you can best help Mr. Trelawny, and further his +secret wishes, by your silence or your speech." + +I nodded approval. Mr. Corbeck jumped up, and in his impulsive way held +out a hand to each. + +"Done!" he said. "I acknowledge the honour of your confidence; and on +my part I pledge myself that if I find my duty to Mr. Trelawny's wishes +will, in his own interest, allow my lips to open on his affairs, I shall +speak so freely as I may." + +Accordingly I began, and told him, as exactly as I could, everything +that had happened from the moment of my waking at the knocking on the +door in Jermyn Street. The only reservations I made were as to my own +feeling toward Miss Trelawny and the matters of small import to the main +subject which followed it; and my conversations with Sergeant Daw, which +were in themselves private, and which would have demanded discretionary +silence in any case. As I spoke, Mr. Corbeck followed with breathless +interest. Sometimes he would stand up and pace about the room in +uncontrollable excitement; and then recover himself suddenly, and sit +down again. Sometimes he would be about to speak, but would, with an +effort, restrain himself. I think the narration helped me to make up my +own mind; for even as I talked, things seemed to appear in a clearer +light. Things big and little, in relation of their importance to the +case, fell into proper perspective. The story up to date became +coherent, except as to its cause, which seemed a greater mystery than +ever. This is the merit of entire, or collected, narrative. Isolated +facts, doubts, suspicions, conjectures, give way to a homogeneity which +is convincing. + +That Mr. Corbeck was convinced was evident. He did not go through any +process of explanation or limitation, but spoke right out at once to the +point, and fearlessly like a man: + +"That settles me! There is in activity some Force that needs special +care. If we all go on working in the dark we shall get in one another's +way, and by hampering each other, undo the good that any or each of us, +working in different directions, might do. It seems to me that the +first thing we have to accomplish is to get Mr. Trelawny waked out of +that unnatural sleep. That he can be waked is apparent from the way the +Nurse has recovered; though what additional harm may have been done to +him in the time he has been lying in that room I suppose no one can +tell. We must chance that, however. He has lain there, and whatever +the effect might be, it is there now; and we have, and shall have, to +deal with it as a fact. A day more or less won't hurt in the long-run. +It is late now; and we shall probably have tomorrow a task before us +that will require our energies afresh. You, Doctor, will want to get to +your sleep; for I suppose you have other work as well as this to do +tomorrow. As for you, Mr. Ross, I understand that you are to have a +spell of watching in the sick-room tonight. I shall get you a book +which will help to pass the time for you. I shall go and look for it in +the library. I know where it was when I was here last; and I don't +suppose Mr. Trelawny has used it since. He knew long ago all that was +in it which was or might be of interest to him. But it will be +necessary, or at least helpful, to understand other things which I shall +tell you later. You will be able to tell Doctor Winchester all that +would aid him. For I take it that our work will branch out pretty soon. +We shall each have our own end to hold up; and it will take each of us +all our time and understanding to get through his own tasks. It will +not be necessary for you to read the whole book. All that will interest +you--with regard to our matter I mean of course, for the whole book is +interesting as a record of travel in a country then quite unknown--is the +preface, and two or three chapters which I shall mark for you." + +He shook hands warmly with Doctor Winchester who had stood up to go. + +Whilst he was away I sat lonely, thinking. As I thought, the world +around me seemed to be illimitably great. The only little spot in which +I was interested seemed like a tiny speck in the midst of a wilderness. +Without and around it were darkness and unknown danger, pressing in from +every side. And the central figure in our little oasis was one of +sweetness and beauty. A figure one could love; could work for; could +die for . . . ! + +Mr. Corbeck came back in a very short time with the book; he had found +it at once in the spot where he had seen it three years before. Having +placed in it several slips of paper, marking the places where I was to +read, he put it into my hands, saying: + +"That is what started Mr. Trelawny; what started me when I read it; and +which will, I have no doubt, be to you an interesting beginning to a +special study--whatever the end may be. If, indeed, any of us here may +ever see the end." + +At the door he paused and said: + +"I want to take back one thing. That Detective is a good fellow. What +you have told me of him puts him in a new light. The best proof of it +is that I can go quietly to sleep tonight, and leave the lamps in his +care!" + +When he had gone I took the book with me, put on my respirator, and went +to my spell of duty in the sick-room! + + + + + +Chapter X +The Valley of the Sorcerer + + + + +I placed the book on the little table on which the shaded lamp rested +and moved the screen to one side. Thus I could have the light on my +book; and by looking up, see the bed, and the Nurse, and the door. I +cannot say that the conditions were enjoyable, or calculated to allow of +that absorption in the subject which is advisable for effective study. +However, I composed myself to the work as well as I could. The book was +one which, on the very face of it, required special attention. It was a +folio in Dutch, printed in Amsterdam in 1650. Some one had made a +literal translation, writing generally the English word under the Dutch, +so that the grammatical differences between the two tongues made even +the reading of the translation a difficult matter. One had to dodge +backward and forward among the words. This was in addition to the +difficulty of deciphering a strange handwriting of two hundred years +ago. I found, however, that after a short time I got into the habit of +following in conventional English the Dutch construction; and, as I +became more familiar with the writing, my task became easier. + +At first the circumstances of the room, and the fear lest Miss Trelawny +should return unexpectedly and find me reading the book, disturbed me +somewhat. For we had arranged amongst us, before Doctor Winchester had +gone home, that she was not to be brought into the range of the coming +investigation. We considered that there might be some shock to a +woman's mind in matters of apparent mystery; and further, that she, +being Mr. Trelawny's daughter, might be placed in a difficult position +with him afterward if she took part in, or even had a personal knowledge +of, the disregarding of his expressed wishes. But when I remembered +that she did not come on nursing duty till two o'clock, the fear of +interruption passed away. I had still nearly three house before me. +Nurse Kennedy sat in her chair by the bedside, patient and alert. A +clock ticked on the landing; other clocks in the house ticked; the life +of the city without manifested itself in the distant hum, now and again +swelling into a roar as a breeze floating westward took the concourse of +sounds with it. But still the dominant idea was of silence. The light +on my book, and the soothing fringe of green silk round the shade +intensified, whenever I looked up, the gloom of the sick-room. With +every line I read, this seemed to grow deeper and deeper; so that when +my eyes came back to the page the light seemed to dazzle me. I stuck to +my work, however, and presently began to get sufficiently into the +subject to become interested in it. + +The book was by one Nicholas van Huyn of Hoorn. In the preface he told +how, attracted by the work of John Greaves of Merton College, +Pyramidographia, he himself visited Egypt, where he became so interested +in its wonders that he devoted some years of his life to visiting +strange places, and exploring the ruins of many temples and tombs. He +had come across many variants of the story of the building of the +Pyramids as told by the Arabian historian, Ibn Abd Alhokin, some of +which he set down. These I did not stop to read, but went on to the +marked pages. + +As soon as I began to read these, however, there grew on me some sense +of a disturbing influence. Once or twice I looked to see if the Nurse +had moved, for there was a feeling as though some one were near me. +Nurse Kennedy sat in her place, as steady and alert as ever; and I came +back to my book again. + +The narrative went on to tell how, after passing for several days +through the mountains to the east of Aswan, the explorer came to a +certain place. Here I give his own words, simply putting the +translation into modern English: + +"Toward evening we came to the entrance of a narrow, deep valley, +running east and west. I wished to proceed through this; for the sun, +now nearly down on the horizon, showed a wide opening beyond the +narrowing of the cliffs. But the fellaheen absolutely refused to enter +the valley at such a time, alleging that they might be caught by the +night before they could emerge from the other end. At first they would +give no reason for their fear. They had hitherto gone anywhere I +wished, and at any time, without demur. On being pressed, however, they +said that the place was the Valley of the Sorcerer, where none might +come in the night. On being asked to tell of the Sorcerer, they +refused, saying that there was no name, and that they knew nothing. On +the next morning, however, when the sun was up and shining down the +valley, their fears had somewhat passed away. Then they told me that a +great Sorcerer in ancient days--'millions of millions of years' was the +term they used--a King or a Queen, they could not say which, was buried +there. They could not give the name, persisting to the last that there +was no name; and that anyone who should name it would waste away in life +so that at death nothing of him would remain to be raised again in the +Other World. In passing through the valley they kept together in a +cluster, hurrying on in front of me. None dared to remain behind. They +gave, as their reason for so proceeding, that the arms of the Sorcerer +were long, and that it was dangerous to be the last. The which was of +little comfort to me who of this necessity took that honourable post. +In the narrowest part of the valley, on the south side, was a great +cliff of rock, rising sheer, of smooth and even surface. Hereon were +graven certain cabalistic signs, and many figures of men and animals, +fishes, reptiles and birds; suns and stars; and many quaint symbols. +Some of these latter were disjointed limbs and features, such as arms +and legs, fingers, eyes, noses, ears, and lips. Mysterious symbols +which will puzzle the Recording Angel to interpret at the Judgment Day. +The cliff faced exactly north. There was something about it so strange, +and so different from the other carved rocks which I had visited, that I +called a halt and spent the day in examining the rock front as well as I +could with my telescope. The Egyptians of my company were terribly +afraid, and used every kind of persuasion to induce me to pass on. I +stayed till late in the afternoon, by which time I had failed to make +out aright the entry of any tomb, for I suspected that such was the +purpose of the sculpture of the rock. By this time the men were +rebellious; and I had to leave the valley if I did not wish my whole +retinue to desert. But I secretly made up my mind to discover the tomb, +and explore it. To this end I went further into the mountains, where I +met with an Arab Sheik who was willing to take service with me. The +Arabs were not bound by the same superstitious fears as the Egyptians; +Sheik Abu Some and his following were willing to take a part in the +explorations. + +"When I returned to the valley with these Bedouins, I made effort to +climb the face of the rock, but failed, it being of one impenetrable +smoothness. The stone, generally flat and smooth by nature, had been +chiselled to completeness. That there had been projecting steps was +manifest, for there remained, untouched by the wondrous climate of that +strange land, the marks of saw and chisel and mallet where the steps had +been cut or broken away. + +"Being thus baffled of winning the tomb from below, and being unprovided +with ladders to scale, I found a way by much circuitous journeying to +the top of the cliff. Thence I caused myself to be lowered by ropes, +till I had investigated that portion of the rock face wherein I expected +to find the opening. I found that there was an entrance, closed however +by a great stone slab. This was cut in the rock more than a hundred +feet up, being two-thirds the height of the cliff. The hieroglyphic and +cabalistic symbols cut in the rock were so managed as to disguise it. +The cutting was deep, and was continued through the rock and the portals +of the doorway, and through the great slab which formed the door itself. +This was fixed in place with such incredible exactness that no stone +chisel or cutting implement which I had with me could find a lodgment in +the interstices. I used much force, however; and by many heavy strokes +won a way into the tomb, for such I found it to be. The stone door +having fallen into the entrance I passed over it into the tomb, noting +as I went a long iron chain which hung coiled on a bracket close to the +doorway. + +"The tomb I found to be complete, after the manner of the finest +Egyptian tombs, with chamber and shaft leading down to the corridor, +ending in the Mummy Pit. It had the table of pictures, which seems some +kind of record--whose meaning is now for ever lost--graven in a wondrous +colour on a wondrous stone. + +"All the walls of the chamber and the passage were carved with strange +writings in the uncanny form mentioned. The huge stone coffin or +sarcophagus in the deep pit was marvellously graven throughout with +signs. The Arab chief and two others who ventured into the tomb with +me, and who were evidently used to such grim explorations, managed to +take the cover from the sarcophagus without breaking it. At which they +wondered; for such good fortune, they said, did not usually attend such +efforts. Indeed they seemed not over careful; and did handle the +various furniture of the tomb with such little concern that, only for +its great strength and thickness, even the coffin itself might have been +injured. Which gave me much concern, for it was very beautifully +wrought of rare stone, such as I had no knowledge of. Much I grieved +that it were not possible to carry it away. But time and desert +journeyings forbade such; I could only take with me such small matters +as could be carried on the person. + +"Within the sarcophagus was a body, manifestly of a woman, swathed with +many wrappings of linen, as is usual with all mummies. From certain +embroiderings thereon, I gathered that she was of high rank. Across the +breast was one hand, unwrapped. In the mummies which I had seen, the +arms and hands are within the wrappings, and certain adornments of wood, +shaped and painted to resemble arms and hands, lie outside the enwrapped +body. + +"But this hand was strange to see, for it was the real hand of her who +lay enwrapped there; the arm projecting from the cerements being of +flesh, seemingly made as like marble in the process of embalming. Arm +and hand were of dusky white, being of the hue of ivory that hath lain +long in air. The skin and the nails were complete and whole, as though +the body had been placed for burial over night. I touched the hand and +moved it, the arm being something flexible as a live arm; though stiff +with long disuse, as are the arms of those faqueers which I have seen in +the Indees. There was, too, an added wonder that on this ancient hand +were no less than seven fingers, the same all being fine and long, and +of great beauty. Sooth to say, it made me shudder and my flesh creep to +touch that hand that had lain there undisturbed for so many thousands of +years, and yet was like unto living flesh. Underneath the hand, as +though guarded by it, lay a huge jewel of ruby; a great stone of +wondrous bigness, for the ruby is in the main a small jewel. This one +was of wondrous colour, being as of fine blood whereon the light +shineth. But its wonder lay not in its size or colour, though these +were, as I have said, of priceless rarity; but in that the light of it +shone from seven stars, each of seven points, as clearly as though the +stars were in reality there imprisoned. When that the hand was lifted, +the sight of that wondrous stone lying there struck me with a shock +almost to momentary paralysis. I stood gazing on it, as did those with +me, as though it were that faded head of the Gorgon Medusa with the +snakes in her hair, whose sight struck into stone those who beheld. So +strong was the feeling that I wanted to hurry away from the place. So, +too, those with me; therefore, taking this rare jewel, together with +certain amulets of strangeness and richness being wrought of +jewel-stones, I made haste to depart. I would have remained longer, and +made further research in the wrappings of the mummy, but that I feared +so to do. For it came to me all at once that I was in a desert place, +with strange men who were with me because they were not over-scrupulous. +That we were in a lone cavern of the dead, an hundred feet above the +ground, where none could find me were ill done to me, nor would any ever +seek. But in secret I determined that I would come again, though with +more secure following. Moreover, was I tempted to seek further, as in +examining the wrappings I saw many things of strange import in that +wondrous tomb; including a casket of eccentric shape made of some +strange stone, which methought might have contained other jewels, +inasmuch as it had secure lodgment in the great sarcophagus itself. +There was in the tomb also another coffer which, though of rare +proportion and adornment, was more simply shaped. It was of ironstone +of great thickness; but the cover was lightly cemented down with what +seemed gum and Paris plaster, as though to insure that no air could +penetrate. The Arabs with me so insisted in its opening, thinking that +from its thickness much treasure was stored therein, that I consented +thereto. But their hope was a false one, as it proved. Within, closely +packed, stood four jars finely wrought and carved with various +adornments. Of these one was the head of a man, another of a dog, +another of a jackal, and another of a hawk. I had before known that +such burial urns as these were used to contain the entrails and other +organs of the mummied dead; but on opening these, for the fastening of +wax, though complete, was thin, and yielded easily, we found that they +held but oil. The Bedouins, spilling most of the oil in the process, +groped with their hands in the jars lest treasure should have been there +concealed. But their searching was of no avail; no treasure was there. +I was warned of my danger by seeing in the eyes of the Arabs certain +covetous glances. Whereon, in order to hasten their departure, I +wrought upon those fears of superstition which even in these callous men +were apparent. The chief of the Bedouins ascended from the Pit to give +the signal to those above to raise us; and I, not caring to remain with +the men whom I mistrusted, followed him immediately. The others did not +come at once; from which I feared that they were rifling the tomb afresh +on their own account. I refrained to speak of it, however, lest worse +should befall. At last they came. One of them, who ascended first, in +landing at the top of the cliff lost his foothold and fell below. He +was instantly killed. The other followed, but in safety. The chief came +next, and I came last. Before coming away I pulled into its place +again, as well as I could, the slab of stone that covered the entrance +to the tomb. I wished, if possible, to preserve it for my own +examination should I come again. + +"When we all stood on the hill above the cliff, the burning sun that was +bright and full of glory was good to see after the darkness and strange +mystery of the tomb. Even was I glad that the poor Arab who fell down +the cliff and lay dead below, lay in the sunlight and not in that gloomy +cavern. I would fain have gone with my companions to seek him and give +him sepulture of some kind; but the Sheik made light of it, and sent two +of his men to see to it whilst we went on our way. + +"That night as we camped, one of the men only returned, saying that a +lion of the desert had killed his companion after that they had buried +the dead man in a deep sand without the valley, and had covered the spot +where he lay with many great rocks, so that jackals or other preying +beasts might not dig him up again as is their wont. + +"Later, in the light of the fire round which the men sat or lay, I saw +him exhibit to his fellows something white which they seemed to regard +with special awe and reverence. So I drew near silently, and saw that +it was none other than the white hand of the mummy which had lain +protecting the Jewel in the great sarcophagus. I heard the Bedouin tell +how he had found it on the body of him who had fallen from the cliff. +There was no mistaking it, for there were the seven fingers which I had +noted before. This man must have wrenched it off the dead body whilst +his chief and I were otherwise engaged; and from the awe of the others I +doubted not that he had hoped to use it as an Amulet, or charm. Whereas +if powers it had, they were not for him who had taken it from the dead; +since his death followed hard upon his theft. Already his Amulet had +had an awesome baptism; for the wrist of the dead hand was stained with +red as though it had been dipped in recent blood. + +"That night I was in certain fear lest there should be some violence +done to me; for if the poor dead hand was so valued as a charm, what +must be the worth in such wise of the rare Jewel which it had guarded. +Though only the chief knew of it, my doubt was perhaps even greater; for +he could so order matters as to have me at his mercy when he would. I +guarded myself, therefore, with wakefulness so well as I could, +determined that at my earliest opportunity I should leave this party, +and complete my journeying home, first to the Nile bank, and then down +its course to Alexandria; with other guides who knew not what strange +matters I had with me. + +"At last there came over me a disposition of sleep, so potent that I +felt it would be resistless. Fearing attack, or that being searched in +my sleep the Bedouin might find the Star Jewel which he had seen me +place with others in my dress, I took it out unobserved and held it in +my hand. It seemed to give back the light of the flickering fire and +the light of the stars--for there was no moon--with equal fidelity; and I +could note that on its reverse it was graven deeply with certain signs +such as I had seen in the tomb. As I sank into the unconsciousness of +sleep, the graven Star Jewel was hidden in the hollow of my clenched +hand. + +"I waked out of sleep with the light of the morning sun on my face. I +sat up and looked around me. The fire was out, and the camp was +desolate; save for one figure which lay prone close to me. It was that +of the Arab chief, who lay on his back, dead. His face was almost +black; and his eyes were open, and staring horribly up at the sky, as +though he saw there some dreadful vision. He had evidently been +strangled; for on looking, I found on his throat the red marks where +fingers had pressed. There seemed so many of these marks that I counted +them. There were seven; and all parallel, except the thumb mark, as +though made with one hand. This thrilled me as I thought of the mummy +hand with the seven fingers. + +"Even there, in the open desert, it seemed as if there could be +enchantments! + +"In my surprise, as I bent over him, I opened my right hand, which up to +now I had held shut with the feeling, instinctive even in sleep, of +keeping safe that which it held. As I did so, the Star Jewel held there +fell out and struck the dead man on the mouth. Mirabile dictu there +came forth at once from the dead mouth a great gush of blood, in which +the red jewel was for the moment lost. I turned the dead man over to +look for it, and found that he lay with his right hand bent under him as +though he had fallen on it; and in it he held a great knife, keen of +point and edge, such as Arabs carry at the belt. It may have been that +he was about to murder me when vengeance came on him, whether from man +or God, or the Gods of Old, I know not. Suffice it, that when I found +my Ruby Jewel, which shone up as a living star from the mess of blood +wherein it lay, I paused not, but fled from the place. I journeyed on +alone through the hot desert, till, by God's grace, I came upon an Arab +tribe camping by a well, who gave me salt. With them I rested till they +had set me on my way. + +"I know not what became of the mummy hand, or of those who had it. What +strife, or suspicion, or disaster, or greed went with it I know not; but +some such cause there must have been, since those who had it fled with +it. It doubtless is used as a charm of potence by some desert tribe. + +"At the earliest opportunity I made examination of the Star Ruby, as I +wished to try to understand what was graven on it. The symbols--whose +meaning, however, I could not understand--were as follows . . ." + +Twice, whilst I had been reading this engrossing narrative, I had +thought that I had seen across the page streaks of shade, which the +weirdness of the subject had made to seem like the shadow of a hand. On +the first of these occasions I found that the illusion came from the +fringe of green silk around the lamp; but on the second I had looked up, +and my eyes had lit on the mummy hand across the room on which the +starlight was falling under the edge of the blind. It was of little +wonder that I had connected it with such a narrative; for if my eyes +told me truly, here, in this room with me, was the very hand of which +the traveller Van Huyn had written. I looked over at the bed; and it +comforted me to think that the Nurse still sat there, calm and wakeful. +At such a time, with such surrounds, during such a narrative, it was +well to have assurance of the presence of some living person. + +I sat looking at the book on the table before me; and so many strange +thoughts crowded on me that my mind began to whirl. It was almost as if +the light on the white fingers in front of me was beginning to have some +hypnotic effect. All at once, all thoughts seemed to stop; and for an +instant the world and time stood still. + + There lay a real hand across the book! What was there to so overcome +me, as was the case? I knew the hand that I saw on the book--and loved +it. Margaret Trelawny's hand was a joy to me to see--to touch; and yet +at that moment, coming after other marvellous things, it had a strangely +moving effect on me. It was but momentary, however, and had passed even +before her voice had reached me. + +"What disturbs you? What are you staring at the book for? I thought +for an instant that you must have been overcome again!" I jumped up. + +"I was reading," I said, "an old book from the library." As I spoke I +closed it and put it under my arm. "I shall now put it back, as I +understand that your Father wishes all things, especially books, kept in +their proper places." My words were intentionally misleading; for I did +not wish her to know what I was reading, and thought it best not to wake +her curiosity by leaving the book about. I went away, but not to the +library; I left the book in my room where I could get it when I had had +my sleep in the day. When I returned Nurse Kennedy was ready to go to +bed; so Miss Trelawny watched with me in the room. I did not want any +book whilst she was present. We sat close together and talked in a +whisper whilst the moments flew by. It was with surprise that I noted +the edge of the curtains changing from grey to yellow light. What we +talked of had nothing to do with the sick man, except in so far that all +which concerned his daughter must ultimately concern him. But it had +nothing to say to Egypt, or mummies, or the dead, or caves, or Bedouin +chiefs. I could well take note in the growing light that Margaret's +hand had not seven fingers, but five; for it lay in mine. + +When Doctor Winchester arrived in the morning and had made his visit to +his patient, he came to see me as I sat in the dining-room having a +little meal--breakfast or supper, I hardly knew which it was--before I +went to lie down. Mr. Corbeck came in at the same time; and we resumed +out conversation where we had left it the night before. I told Mr. +Corbeck that I had read the chapter about the finding of the tomb, and +that I thought Doctor Winchester should read it, too. The latter said +that, if he might, he would take it with him; he had that morning to +make a railway journey to Ipswich, and would read it on the train. He +said he would bring it back with him when he came again in the evening. +I went up to my room to bring it down; but I could not find it anywhere. +I had a distinct recollection of having left it on the little table +beside my bed, when I had come up after Miss Trelawny's going on duty +into the sick-room. It was very strange; for the book was not of a kind +that any of the servants would be likely to take. I had to come back +and explain to the others that I could not find it. + +When Doctor Winchester had gone, Mr. Corbeck, who seemed to know the +Dutchman's work by heart, talked the whole matter over with me. I told +him that I was interrupted by a change of nurses, just as I had come to +the description of the ring. He smiled as he said: + +"So far as that is concerned, you need not be disappointed. Not in Van +Huyn's time, nor for nearly two centuries later, could the meaning of +that engraving have been understood. It was only when the work was +taken up and followed by Young and Champollion, by Birch and Lepsius and +Rosellini and Salvolini, by Mariette Bey and by Wallis Budge and +Flinders Petrie and the other scholars of their times that great results +ensued, and that the true meaning of hieroglyphic was known. + +"Later, I shall explain to you, if Mr. Trelawny does not explain it +himself, or if he does not forbid me to, what it means in that +particular place. I think it will be better for you to know what +followed Van Huyn's narrative; for with the description of the stone, +and the account of his bringing it to Holland at the termination of his +travels, the episode ends. Ends so far as his book is concerned. The +chief thing about the book is that it sets others thinking--and acting. +Amongst them were Mr. Trelawny and myself. Mr. Trelawny is a good +linguist of the Orient, but he does not know Northern tongues. As for +me I have a faculty for learning languages; and when I was pursuing my +studies in Leyden I learned Dutch so that I might more easily make +references in the library there. Thus it was, that at the very time +when Mr. Trelawny, who, in making his great collection of works on +Egypt, had, through a booksellers' catalogue, acquired this volume with +the manuscript translation, was studying it, I was reading another copy, +in original Dutch, in Leyden. We were both struck by the description of +the lonely tomb in the rock; cut so high up as to be inaccessible to +ordinary seekers: with all means of reaching it carefully obliterated; +and yet with such an elaborate ornamentation of the smoothed surface of +the cliff as Van Huyn has described. It also struck us both as an odd +thing--for in the years between Van Huyn's time and our own the general +knowledge of Egyptian curios and records has increased marvellously--that +in the case of such a tomb, made in such a place, and which must have +cost an immense sum of money, there was no seeming record or effigy to +point out who lay within. Moreover, the very name of the place, 'the +Valley of the Sorcerer', had, in a prosaic age, attractions of its own. +When we met, which we did through his seeking the assistance of other +Egyptologists in his work, we talked over this as we did over many other +things; and we determined to make search for the mysterious valley. +Whilst we were waiting to start on the travel, for many things were +required which Mr. Trelawny undertook to see to himself, I went to +Holland to try if I could by any traces verify Van Huyn's narrative. I +went straight to Hoorn, and set patiently to work to find the house of +the traveller and his descendants, if any. I need not trouble you with +details of my seeking--and finding. Hoorn is a place that has not changed +much since Van Huyn's time, except that it has lost the place which it +held amongst commercial cities. Its externals are such as they had been +then; in such a sleepy old place a century or two does not count for +much. I found the house, and discovered that none of the descendants +were alive. I searched records; but only to one end--death and +extinction. Then I set me to work to find what had become of his +treasures; for that such a traveller must have had great treasures was +apparent. I traced a good many to museums in Leyden, Utrecht, and +Amsterdam; and some few to the private houses of rich collectors. At +last, in the shop of an old watchmaker and jeweller at Hoorn, I found +what he considered his chiefest treasure; a great ruby, carven like a +scarab, with seven stars, and engraven with hieroglyphics. The old man +did not know hieroglyphic character, and in his old-world, sleepy life, +the philological discoveries of recent years had not reached him. He +did not know anything of Van Huyn, except that such a person had been, +and that his name was, during two centuries, venerated in the town as a +great traveller. He valued the jewel as only a rare stone, spoiled in +part by the cutting; and though he was at first loth to part with such +an unique gem, he became amenable ultimately to commercial reason. I +had a full purse, since I bought for Mr. Trelawny, who is, as I suppose +you know, immensely wealthy. I was shortly on my way back to London, +with the Star Ruby safe in my pocket-book; and in my heart a joy and +exultation which knew no bounds. + +"For here we were with proof of Van Huyn's wonderful story. The jewel +was put in security in Mr. Trelawny's great safe; and we started out on +our journey of exploration in full hope. + +"Mr. Trelawny was, at the last, loth to leave his young wife whom he +dearly loved; but she, who loved him equally, knew his longing to +prosecute the search. So keeping to herself, as all good women do, all +her anxieties--which in her case were special--she bade him follow out +his bent." + + + + + +Chapter XI +A Queen's Tomb + + + + +"Mr. Trelawny's hope was at least as great as my own. He is not so +volatile a man as I am, prone to ups and downs of hope and despair; but +he has a fixed purpose which crystallises hope into belief. At times I +had feared that there might have been two such stones, or that the +adventures of Van Huyn were traveller's fictions, based on some ordinary +acquisition of the curio in Alexandria or Cairo, or London or Amsterdam. +But Mr. Trelawny never faltered in his belief. We had many things to +distract our minds from belief or disbelief. This was soon after Arabi +Pasha, and Egypt was so safe place for travellers, especially if they +were English. But Mr. Trelawny is a fearless man; and I almost come to +think at times that I am not a coward myself. We got together a band of +Arabs whom one or other of us had known in former trips to the desert, +and whom we could trust; that is, we did not distrust them as much as +others. We were numerous enough to protect ourselves from chance +marauding bands, and we took with us large impedimenta. We had secured +the consent and passive co-operation of the officials still friendly to +Britain; in the acquiring of which consent I need hardly say that Mr. +Trelawny's riches were of chief importance. We found our way in +dhahabiyehs to Aswan; whence, having got some Arabs from the Sheik and +having given our usual backsheesh, we set out on our journey through the +desert. + +"Well, after much wandering and trying every winding in the interminable +jumble of hills, we came at last at nightfall on just such a valley as +Van Huyn had described. A valley with high, steep cliffs; narrowing in +the centre, and widening out to the eastern and western ends. At +daylight we were opposite the cliff and could easily note the opening +high up in the rock, and the hieroglyphic figures which were evidently +intended originally to conceal it. + +"But the signs which had baffled Van Huyn and those of his time--and +later, were no secrets to us. The host of scholars who have given their +brains and their lives to this work, had wrested open the mysterious +prison-house of Egyptian language. On the hewn face of the rocky cliff +we, who had learned the secrets, could read what the Theban priesthood +had had there inscribed nearly fifty centuries before. + +"For that the external inscription was the work of the priesthood--and a +hostile priesthood at that--there could be no living doubt. The +inscription on the rock, written in hieroglyphic, ran thus: + +"'Hither the Gods come not at any summons. The "Nameless One" has +insulted them and is for ever alone. Go not nigh, lest their vengeance +wither you away!' + +"The warning must have been a terribly potent one at the time it was +written and for thousands of years afterwards; even when the language in +which it was given had become a dead mystery to the people of the land. +The tradition of such a terror lasts longer than its cause. Even in the +symbols used there was an added significance of alliteration. 'For +ever' is given in the hieroglyphics as 'millions of years'. This symbol +was repeated nine times, in three groups of three; and after each group +a symbol of the Upper World, the Under World, and the Sky. So that for +this Lonely One there could be, through the vengeance of all the Gods, +resurrection in neither the World of Sunlight, in the World of the Dead, +or for the soul in the region of the Gods. + +"Neither Mr. Trelawny nor I dared to tell any of our people what the +writing meant. For though they did not believe in the religion whence +the curse came, or in the Gods whose vengeance was threatened, yet they +were so superstitious that they would probably, had they known of it, +have thrown up the whole task and run away. + +"Their ignorance, however, and our discretion preserved us. We made an +encampment close at hand, but behind a jutting rock a little further +along the valley, so that they might not have the inscription always +before them. For even that traditional name of the place: 'The Valley +of the Sorcerer', had a fear for them; and for us through them. With +the timber which we had brought, we made a ladder up the face of the +rock. We hung a pulley on a beam fixed to project from the top of the +cliff. We found the great slab of rock, which formed the door, placed +clumsily in its place and secured by a few stones. Its own weight kept +it in safe position. In order to enter, we had to push it in; and we +passed over it. We found the great coil of chain which Van Huyn had +described fastened into the rock. There were, however, abundant +evidences amid the wreckage of the great stone door, which had revolved +on iron hinges at top and bottom, that ample provision had been +originally made for closing and fastening it from within. + +"Mr. Trelawny and I went alone into the tomb. We had brought plenty of +lights with us; and we fixed them as we went along. We wished to get a +complete survey at first, and then make examination of all in detail. +As we went on, we were filled with ever-increasing wonder and delight. +The tomb was one of the most magnificent and beautiful which either of +us had ever seen. From the elaborate nature of the sculpture and +painting, and the perfection of the workmanship, it was evident that the +tomb was prepared during the lifetime of her for whose resting-place it +was intended. The drawing of the hieroglyphic pictures was fine, and +the colouring superb; and in that high cavern, far away from even the +damp of the Nile-flood, all was as fresh as when the artists had laid +down their palettes. There was one thing which we could not avoid +seeing. That although the cutting on the outside rock was the work of +the priesthood, the smoothing of the cliff face was probably a part of +the tomb-builder's original design. The symbolism of the painting and +cutting within all gave the same idea. The outer cavern, partly natural +and partly hewn, was regarded architecturally as only an ante-chamber. +At the end of it, so that it would face the east, was a pillared +portico, hewn out of the solid rock. The pillars were massive and were +seven-sided, a thing which we had not come across in any other tomb. +Sculptured on the architrave was the Boat of the Moon, containing +Hathor, cow-headed and bearing the disk and plumes, and the dog-headed +Hapi, the God of the North. It was steered by Harpocrates towards the +north, represented by the Pole Star surrounded by Draco and Ursa Major. +In the latter the stars that form what we call the 'Plough' were cut +larger than any of the other stars; and were filled with gold so that, +in the light of torches, they seemed to flame with a special +significance. Passing within the portico, we found two of the +architectural features of a rock tomb, the Chamber, or Chapel, and the +Pit, all complete as Van Huyn had noticed, though in his day the names +given to these parts by the Egyptians of old were unknown. + +"The Stele, or record, which had its place low down on the western wall, +was so remarkable that we examined it minutely, even before going on our +way to find the mummy which was the object of our search. This Stele +was a great slab of lapis lazuli, cut all over with hieroglyphic figures +of small size and of much beauty. The cutting was filled in with some +cement of exceeding fineness, and of the colour of pure vermilion. The +inscription began: + +"'Tera, Queen of the Egypts, daughter of Antef, Monarch of the North and +the South.' 'Daughter of the Sun,' 'Queen of the Diadems'. + +"It then set out, in full record, the history of her life and reign. + +"The signs of sovereignty were given with a truly feminine profusion of +adornment. The united Crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt were, in especial, +cut with exquisite precision. It was new to us both to find the Hejet +and the Desher--the White and the Red crowns of Upper and Lower +Egypt--on the Stele of a queen; for it was a rule, without exception in +the records, that in ancient Egypt either crown was worn only by a king; +though they are to be found on goddesses. Later on we found an +explanation, of which I shall say more presently. + +"Such an inscription was in itself a matter so startling as to arrest +attention from anyone anywhere at any time; but you can have no +conception of the effect which it had upon us. Though our eyes were not +the first which had seen it, they were the first which could see it with +understanding since first the slab of rock was fixed in the cliff +opening nearly five thousand years before. To us was given to read this +message from the dead. This message of one who had warred against the +Gods of Old, and claimed to have controlled them at a time when the +hierarchy professed to be the only means of exciting their fears or +gaining their good will. + +"The walls of the upper chamber of the Pit and the sarcophagus Chamber +were profusely inscribed; all the inscriptions, except that on the +Stele, being coloured with bluish-green pigment. The effect when seen +sideways as the eye caught the green facets, was that of an old, +discoloured Indian turquoise. + +"We descended the Pit by the aid of the tackle we had brought with us. +Trelawny went first. It was a deep pit, more than seventy feet; but it +had never been filled up. The passage at the bottom sloped up to the +sarcophagus Chamber, and was longer than is usually found. It had not +been walled up. + +"Within, we found a great sarcophagus of yellow stone. But that I need +not describe; you have seen it in Mr. Trelawny's chamber. The cover of +it lay on the ground; it had not been cemented, and was just as Van Huyn +had described it. Needless to say, we were excited as we looked within. +There must, however, be one sense of disappointment. I could not help +feeling how different must have been the sight which met the Dutch +traveller's eyes when he looked within and found that white hand lying +lifelike above the shrouding mummy cloths. It is true that a part of +the arm was there, white and ivory like. + +"But there was a thrill to us which came not to Van Huyn! + +"The end of the wrist was covered with dried blood! It was as though +the body had bled after death! The jagged ends of the broken wrist were +rough with the clotted blood; through this the white bone, sticking out, +looked like the matrix of opal. The blood had streamed down and stained +the brown wrappings as with rust. Here, then, was full confirmation of +the narrative. With such evidence of the narrator's truth before us, we +could not doubt the other matters which he had told, such as the blood +on the mummy hand, or marks of the seven fingers on the throat of the +strangled Sheik. + +"I shall not trouble you with details of all we saw, or how we learned +all we knew. Part of it was from knowledge common to scholars; part we +read on the Stele in the tomb, and in the sculptures and hieroglyphic +paintings on the walls. + +"Queen Tera was of the Eleventh, or Theban Dynasty of Egyptian Kings +which held sway between the twenty-ninth and twenty-fifth centuries +before Christ. She succeeded as the only child of her father, Antef. +She must have been a girl of extraordinary character as well as ability, +for she was but a young girl when her father died. Her youth and sex +encouraged the ambitious priesthood, which had then achieved immense +power. By their wealth and numbers and learning they dominated all +Egypt, more especially the Upper portion. They were then secretly ready +to make an effort for the achievement of their bold and long-considered +design, that of transferring the governing power from a Kingship to a +Hierarchy. But King Antef had suspected some such movement, and had +taken the precaution of securing to his daughter the allegiance of the +army. He had also had her taught statecraft, and had even made her +learned in the lore of the very priests themselves. He had used those of +one cult against the other; each being hopeful of some present gain on +its own part by the influence of the King, or of some ultimate gain from +its own influence over his daughter. Thus, the Princess had been +brought up amongst scribes, and was herself no mean artist. Many of +these things were told on the walls in pictures or in hieroglyphic +writing of great beauty; and we came to the conclusion that not a few of +them had been done by the Princess herself. It was not without cause +that she was inscribed on the Stele as 'Protector of the Arts'. + +"But the King had gone to further lengths, and had had his daughter +taught magic, by which she had power over Sleep and Will. This was real +magic--"black" magic; not the magic of the temples, which, I may explain, +was of the harmless or "white" order, and was intended to impress rather +than to effect. She had been an apt pupil; and had gone further than +her teachers. Her power and her resources had given her great +opportunities, of which she had availed herself to the full. She had +won secrets from nature in strange ways; and had even gone to the length +of going down into the tomb herself, having been swathed and coffined +and left as dead for a whole month. The priests had tried to make out +that the real Princess Tera had died in the experiment, and that another +girl had been substituted; but she had conclusively proved their error. +All this was told in pictures of great merit. It was probably in her +time that the impulse was given in the restoring the artistic greatness +of the Fourth Dynasty which had found its perfection in the days of +Chufu. + +"In the Chamber of the sarcophagus were pictures and writings to show +that she had achieved victory over Sleep. Indeed, there was everywhere +a symbolism, wonderful even in a land and an age of symbolism. +Prominence was given to the fact that she, though a Queen, claimed all +the privileges of kingship and masculinity. In one place she was +pictured in man's dress, and wearing the White and Red Crowns. In the +following picture she was in female dress, but still wearing the Crowns +of Upper and Lower Egypt, while the discarded male raiment lay at her +feet. In every picture where hope, or aim, of resurrection was +expressed there was the added symbol of the North; and in many places-- +always in representations of important events, past, present, or +future--was a grouping of the stars of the Plough. She evidently +regarded this constellation as in some way peculiarly associated with +herself. + +"Perhaps the most remarkable statement in the records, both on the Stele +and in the mural writings, was that Queen Tera had power to compel the +Gods. This, by the way, was not an isolated belief in Egyptian history; +but was different in its cause. She had engraved on a ruby, carved like +a scarab, and having seven stars of seven points, Master Words to compel +all the Gods, both of the Upper and the Under Worlds. + +"In the statement it was plainly set forth that the hatred of the +priests was, she knew, stored up for her, and that they would after her +death try to suppress her name. This was a terrible revenge, I may tell +you, in Egyptian mythology; for without a name no one can after death be +introduced to the Gods, or have prayers said for him. Therefore, she had +intended her resurrection to be after a long time and in a more northern +land, under the constellation whose seven stars had ruled her birth. To +this end, her hand was to be in the air--'unwrapped'--and in it the Jewel +of Seven Stars, so that wherever there was air she might move even as +her Ka could move! This, after thinking it over, Mr. Trelawny and I +agreed meant that her body could become astral at command, and so move, +particle by particle, and become whole again when and where required. +Then there was a piece of writing in which allusion was made to a chest +or casket in which were contained all the Gods, and Will, and Sleep, the +two latter being personified by symbols. The box was mentioned as with +seven sides. It was not much of a surprise to us when, underneath the +feet of the mummy, we found the seven-sided casket, which you have also +seen in Mr. Trelawny's room. On the underneath part of the wrapping-- +linen of the left foot was painted, in the same vermilion colour as that +used in the Stele, the hieroglyphic symbol for much water, and +underneath the right foot the symbol of the earth. We made out the +symbolism to be that her body, immortal and transferable at will, ruled +both the land and water, air and fire--the latter being exemplified by +the light of the Jewel Stone, and further by the flint and iron which +lay outside the mummy wrappings. + +"As we lifted the casket from the sarcophagus, we noticed on its sides +the strange protuberances which you have already seen; but we were +unable at the time to account for them. There were a few amulets in the +sarcophagus, but none of any special worth or significance. We took it +that if there were such, they were within the wrappings; or more +probably in the strange casket underneath the mummy's feet. This, +however, we could not open. There were signs of there being a cover; +certainly the upper portion and the lower were each in one piece. The +fine line, a little way from the top, appeared to be where the cover was +fixed; but it was made with such exquisite fineness and finish that the +joining could hardly be seen. Certainly the top could not be moved. We +took it, that it was in some way fastened from within. I tell you all +this in order that you may understand things with which you may be in +contact later. You must suspend your judgment entirely. Such strange +things have happened regarding this mummy and all around it, that there +is a necessity for new belief somewhere. It is absolutely impossible to +reconcile certain things which have happened with the ordinary currents +of life or knowledge. + +"We stayed around the Valley of the Sorcerer, till we had copied roughly +all the drawings and writings on the walls, ceiling and floor. We took +with us the Stele of lapis lazuli, whose graven record was coloured with +vermilion pigment. We took the sarcophagus and the mummy; the stone +chest with the alabaster jars; the tables of bloodstone and alabaster +and onyx and carnelian; and the ivory pillow whose arch rested on +'buckles', round each of which was twisted an uraeus wrought in gold. +We took all the articles which lay in the Chapel, and the Mummy Pit; the +wooden boats with crews and the ushaptiu figures, and the symbolic +amulets. + +"When coming away we took down the ladders, and at a distance buried +them in the sand under a cliff, which we noted so that if necessary we +might find them again. Then with our heavy baggage, we set out on our +laborious journey back to the Nile. It was no easy task, I tell you, to +bring the case with that great sarcophagus over the desert. We had a +rough cart and sufficient men to draw it; but the progress seemed +terribly slow, for we were anxious to get our treasures into a place of +safety. The night was an anxious time with us, for we feared attack +from some marauding band. But more still we feared some of those with +us. They were, after all, but predatory, unscrupulous men; and we had +with us a considerable bulk of precious things. They, or at least the +dangerous ones amongst them, did not know why it was so precious; they +took it for granted that it was material treasure of some kind that we +carried. We had taken the mummy from the sarcophagus, and packed it for +safety of travel in a separate case. During the first night two +attempts were made to steal things from the cart; and two men were found +dead in the morning. + +"On the second night there came on a violent storm, one of those +terrible simooms of the desert which makes one feel his helplessness. +We were overwhelmed with drifting sand. Some of our Bedouins had fled +before the storm, hoping to find shelter; the rest of us, wrapped in our +bournous, endured with what patience we could. In the morning, when the +storm had passed, we recovered from under the piles of sand what we +could of our impedimenta. We found the case in which the mummy had been +packed all broken, but the mummy itself could nowhere be found. We +searched everywhere around, and dug up the sand which had piled around +us; but in vain. We did not know what to do, for Trelawny had his heart +set on taking home that mummy. We waited a whole day in hopes that the +Bedouins, who had fled, would return; we had a blind hope that they +might have in some way removed the mummy from the cart, and would +restore it. That night, just before dawn, Mr. Trelawny woke me up and +whispered in my ear: + +"'We must go back to the tomb in the Valley of the Sorcerer. Show no +hesitation in the morning when I give the orders! If you ask any +questions as to where we are going it will create suspicion, and will +defeat our purpose." + +"'All right!" I answered. "But why shall we go there?' His answer +seemed to thrill through me as though it had struck some chord ready +tuned within: + +"'We shall find the mummy there! I am sure of it!' Then anticipating +doubt or argument he added: + +"'Wait, and you shall see!' and he sank back into his blanket again. + +"The Arabs were surprised when we retraced our steps; and some of them +were not satisfied. There was a good deal of friction, and there were +several desertions; so that it was with a diminished following that we +took our way eastward again. At first the Sheik did not manifest any +curiosity as to our definite destination; but when it became apparent +that we were again making for the Valley of the Sorcerer, he too showed +concern. This grew as we drew near; till finally at the entrance of the +valley he halted and refused to go further. He said he would await our +return if we chose to go on alone. That he would wait three days; but +if by that time we had not returned he would leave. No offer of money +would tempt him to depart from this resolution. The only concession he +would make was that he would find the ladders and bring them near the +cliff. This he did; and then, with the rest of the troop, he went back +to wait at the entrance of the valley. + +"Mr. Trelawny and I took ropes and torches, and again ascended to the +tomb. It was evident that someone had been there in our absence, for +the stone slab which protected the entrance to the tomb was lying flat +inside, and a rope was dangling from the cliff summit. Within, there +was another rope hanging into the shaft of the Mummy Pit. We looked at +each other; but neither said a word. We fixed our own rope, and as +arranged Trelawny descended first, I following at once. It was not till +we stood together at the foot of the shaft that the thought flashed +across me that we might be in some sort of a trap; that someone might +descend the rope from the cliff, and by cutting the rope by which we had +lowered ourselves into the Pit, bury us there alive. The thought was +horrifying; but it was too late to do anything. I remained silent. We +both had torches, so that there was ample light as we passed through the +passage and entered the Chamber where the sarcophagus had stood. The +first thing noticeable was the emptiness of the place. Despite all its +magnificent adornment, the tomb was made a desolation by the absence of +the great sarcophagus, to hold which it was hewn in the rock; of the +chest with the alabaster jars; of the tables which had held the +implements and food for the use of the dead, and the ushaptiu figures. + +"It was made more infinitely desolate still by the shrouded figure of +the mummy of Queen Tera which lay on the floor where the great +sarcophagus had stood! Beside it lay, in the strange contorted +attitudes of violent death, three of the Arabs who had deserted from our +party. Their faces were black, and their hands and necks were smeared +with blood which had burst from mouth and nose and eyes. + +"On the throat of each were the marks, now blackening, of a hand of +seven fingers. + +"Trelawny and I drew close, and clutched each other in awe and fear as +we looked. + +"For, most wonderful of all, across the breast of the mummied Queen lay +a hand of seven fingers, ivory white, the wrist only showing a scar like +a jagged red line, from which seemed to depend drops of blood." + + + + + +Chapter XII +The Magic Coffer + + + + +"When we recovered our amazement, which seemed to last unduly long, we +did not lose any time carrying the mummy through the passage, and +hoisting it up the Pit shaft. I went first, to receive it at the top. +As I looked down, I saw Mr. Trelawny lift the severed hand and put it in +his breast, manifestly to save it from being injured or lost. We left +the dead Arabs where they lay. With our ropes we lowered our precious +burden to the ground; and then took it to the entrance of the valley +where our escort was to wait. To our astonishment we found them on the +move. When we remonstrated with the Sheik, he answered that he had +fulfilled his contract to the letter; he had waited the three days as +arranged. I thought that he was lying to cover up his base intention of +deserting us; and I found when we compared notes that Trelawny had the +same suspicion. It was not till we arrived at Cairo that we found he +was correct. It was the 3rd of November 1884 when we entered the Mummy +Pit for the second time; we had reason to remember the date. + +"We had lost three whole days of our reckoning--out of our lives--whilst +we had stood wondering in that chamber of the dead. Was it strange, +then, that we had a superstitious feeling with regard to the dead Queen +Tera and all belonging to her? Is it any wonder that it rests with us +now, with a bewildering sense of some power outside ourselves or our +comprehension? Will it be any wonder if it go down to the grave with us +at the appointed time? If, indeed, there be any graves for us who have +robbed the dead!" He was silent for quite a minute before he went on: + +"We got to Cairo all right, and from there to Alexandria, where we were +to take ship by the Messagerie service to Marseilles, and go thence by +express to London. But + + 'The best-laid schemes o' mice and men Gang aft agley.' + +At Alexandria, Trelawny found waiting a cable stating that Mrs. Trelawny +had died in giving birth to a daughter. + +"Her stricken husband hurried off at once by the Orient Express; and I +had to bring the treasure alone to the desolate house. I got to London +all safe; there seemed to be some special good fortune to our journey. +When I got to this house, the funeral had long been over. The child had +been put out to nurse, and Mr. Trelawny had so far recovered from the +shock of his loss that he had set himself to take up again the broken +threads of his life and his work. That he had had a shock, and a bad +one, was apparent. The sudden grey in his black hair was proof enough +in itself; but in addition, the strong cast of his features had become +set and stern. Since he received that cable in the shipping office at +Alexandria I have never seen a happy smile on his face. + +"Work is the best thing in such a case; and to his work he devoted +himself heart and soul. The strange tragedy of his loss and gain--for +the child was born after the mother's death--took place during the time +that we stood in that trance in the Mummy Pit of Queen Tera. It seemed +to have become in some way associated with his Egyptian studies, and +more especially with the mysteries connected with the Queen. He told me +very little about his daughter; but that two forces struggled in his +mind regarding her was apparent. I could see that he loved, almost +idolised her. Yet he could never forget that her birth had cost her +mother's life. Also, there was something whose existence seemed to +wring his father's heart, though he would never tell me what it was. +Again, he once said in a moment of relaxation of his purpose of silence: + +"'She is unlike her mother; but in both feature and colour she has a +marvellous resemblance to the pictures of Queen Tera.' + +"He said that he had sent her away to people who would care for her as +he could not; and that till she became a woman she should have all the +simple pleasures that a young girl might have, and that were best for +her. I would often have talked with him about her; but he would never +say much. Once he said to me: 'There are reasons why I should not +speak more than is necessary. Some day you will know--and understand!' +I respected his reticence; and beyond asking after her on my return +after a journey, I have never spoken of her again. I had never seen her +till I did so in your presence. + +"Well, when the treasures which we had--ah!--taken from the tomb had +been brought here, Mr. Trelawny arranged their disposition himself. The +mummy, all except the severed hand, he placed in the great ironstone +sarcophagus in the hall. This was wrought for the Theban High Priest +Uni, and is, as you may have remarked, all inscribed with wonderful +invocations to the old Gods of Egypt. The rest of the things from the +tomb he disposed about his own room, as you have seen. Amongst them he +placed, for special reasons of his own, the mummy hand. I think he +regards this as the most sacred of his possessions, with perhaps one +exception. That is the carven ruby which he calls the 'Jewel of Seven +Stars', which he keeps in that great safe which is locked and guarded by +various devices, as you know. + +"I dare say you find this tedious; but I have had to explain it, so that +you should understand all up to the present. It was a long time after +my return with the mummy of Queen Tera when Mr. Trelawny re-opened the +subject with me. He had been several times to Egypt, sometimes with me +and sometimes alone; and I had been several trips, on my own account or +for him. But in all that time, nearly sixteen years, he never mentioned +the subject, unless when some pressing occasion suggested, if it did not +necessitate, a reference. + +"One morning early he sent for me in a hurry; I was then studying in the +British Museum, and had rooms in Hart Street. When I came, he was all +on fire with excitement. I had not seen him in such a glow since before +the news of his wife's death. He took me at once into his room. The +window blinds were down and the shutters closed; not a ray of daylight +came in. The ordinary lights in the room were not lit, but there were a +lot of powerful electric lamps, fifty candle-power at least, arranged on +one side of the room. The little bloodstone table on which the +heptagonal coffer stands was drawn to the centre of the room. The +coffer looked exquisite in the glare of light which shone on it. It +actually seemed to glow as if lit in some way from within. + +"'What do you think of it?' he asked. + +"'It is like a jewel,' I answered. 'You may well call it the +'sorcerer's Magic Coffer', if it often looks like that. It almost seems +to be alive.' + +"'Do you know why it seems so?' + +"'From the glare of the light, I suppose?' + +"'Light of course,' he answered, 'but it is rather the disposition of +light.' As he spoke he turned up the ordinary lights of the room and +switched off the special ones. The effect on the stone box was +surprising; in a second it lost all its glowing effect. It was still a +very beautiful stone, as always; but it was stone and no more. + +"'Do you notice anything about the arrangement of the lamps?' he asked. + +"'No!' + +"'They were in the shape of the stars in the Plough, as the stars are in +the ruby!' The statement came to me with a certain sense of conviction. +I do not know why, except that there had been so many mysterious +associations with the mummy and all belonging to it that any new one +seemed enlightening. I listened as Trelawny went on to explain: + +"'For sixteen years I have never ceased to think of that adventure, or +to try to find a clue to the mysteries which came before us; but never +until last night did I seem to find a solution. I think I must have +dreamed of it, for I woke all on fire about it. I jumped out of bed +with a determination of doing something, before I quite knew what it was +that I wished to do. Then, all at once, the purpose was clear before +me. There were allusions in the writing on the walls of the tomb to the +seven stars of the Great Bear that go to make up the Plough; and the +North was again and again emphasized. The same symbols were repeated +with regard to the "Magic Box", as we called it. We had already noticed +those peculiar translucent spaces in the stone of the box. You remember +the hieroglyphic writing had told that the jewel came from the heart of +an aerolite, and that the coffer was cut from it also. It might be, I +thought, that the light of the seven stars, shining in the right +direction, might have some effect on the box, or something within it. I +raised the blind and looked out. The Plough was high in the heavens, and +both its stars and the Pole Star were straight opposite the window. I +pulled the table with the coffer out into the light, and shifted it +until the translucent patches were in the direction of the stars. +Instantly the box began to glow, as you saw it under the lamps, though +but slightly. I waited and waited; but the sky clouded over, and the +light died away. So I got wires and lamps--you know how often I use them +in experiments--and tried the effect of electric light. It took me some +time to get the lamps properly placed, so that they would correspond to +the parts of the stone, but the moment I got them right the whole thing +began to glow as you have seen it. + +"'I could get no further, however. There was evidently something +wanting. All at once it came to me that if light could have some effect +there should be in the tomb some means of producing light, for there +could not be starlight in the Mummy Pit in the cavern. Then the whole +thing seemed to become clear. On the bloodstone table, which has a +hollow carved in its top, into which the bottom of the coffer fits, I +laid the Magic Coffer; and I at once saw that the odd protuberances so +carefully wrought in the substance of the stone corresponded in a way to +the stars in the constellation. These, then, were to hold lights. + +"'Eureka!' I cried. 'All we want now is the lamps.'" I tried placing +the electric lights on, or close to, the protuberances. But the glow +never came to the stone. So the conviction grew on me that there were +special lamps made for the purpose. If we could find them, a step on the +road to solving the mystery should be gained. + +"'But what about the lamps?' I asked. 'Where are they? When are we to +discover them? How are we to know them if we do find them? What--" + +"He stopped me at once: + +"'One thing at a time!' he said quietly. 'Your first question contains +all the rest. Where are these lamps? I shall tell you: In the tomb!' + +"'In the tomb!' I repeated in surprise. 'Why you and I searched the +place ourselves from end to end; and there was not a sign of a lamp. +Not a sign of anything remaining when we came away the first time; or on +the second, except the bodies of the Arabs.' + +"Whilst I was speaking, he had uncoiled some large sheets of paper which +he had brought in his hand from his own room. These he spread out on +the great table, keeping their edges down with books and weights. I +knew them at a glance; they were the careful copies which he had made of +our first transcripts from the writing in the tomb. When he had all +ready, he turned to me and said slowly: + +"'Do you remember wondering, when we examined the tomb, at the lack of +one thing which is usually found in such a tomb?' + +"'Yes! There was no serdab.' + +"The serdab, I may perhaps explain," said Mr. Corbeck to me, "is a sort +of niche built or hewn in the wall of a tomb. Those which have as yet +been examined bear no inscriptions, and contain only effigies of the +dead for whom the tomb was made." Then he went on with his narrative: + +"Trelawny, when he saw that I had caught his meaning, went on speaking +with something of his old enthusiasm: + +"'I have come to the conclusion that there must be a serdab--a secret +one. We were dull not to have thought of it before. We might have +known that the maker of such a tomb--a woman, who had shown in other ways +such a sense of beauty and completeness, and who had finished every +detail with a feminine richness of elaboration--would not have neglected +such an architectural feature. Even if it had not its own special +significance in ritual, she would have had it as an adornment. Others +had had it, and she liked her own work to be complete. Depend upon it, +there was--there is--a serdab; and that in it, when it is discovered, we +shall find the lamps. Of course, had we known then what we now know or +at all events surmise, that there were lamps, we might have suspected +some hidden spot, some cachet. I am going to ask you to go out to Egypt +again; to seek the tomb; to find the serdab; and to bring back the +lamps!'" + +"'And if I find there is no serdab; or if discovering it I find no lamps +in it, what then?' He smiled grimly with that saturnine smile of his, so +rarely seen for years past, as he spoke slowly: + +"'Then you will have to hustle till you find them!' + +"'Good!' I said. He pointed to one of the sheets. + +"'Here are the transcripts from the Chapel at the south and the east. I +have been looking over the writings again; and I find that in seven +places round this corner are the symbols of the constellation which we +call the Plough, which Queen Tera held to rule her birth and her +destiny. I have examined them carefully, and I notice that they are all +representations of the grouping of the stars, as the constellation +appears in different parts of the heavens. They are all astronomically +correct; and as in the real sky the Pointers indicate the Pole Star, so +these all point to one spot in the wall where usually the serdab is to +be found!' + +"'Bravo!' I shouted, for such a piece of reasoning demanded applause. +He seemed pleased as he went on: + +"'When you are in the tomb, examine this spot. There is probably some +spring or mechanical contrivance for opening the receptacle. What it +may be, there is no use guessing. You will know what best to do, when +you are on the spot.' + +"I started the next week for Egypt; and never rested till I stood again +in the tomb. I had found some of our old following; and was fairly well +provided with help. The country was now in a condition very different +to that in which it had been sixteen years before; there was no need for +troops or armed men. + +"I climbed the rock face alone. There was no difficulty, for in that +fine climate the woodwork of the ladder was still dependable. It was +easy to see that in the years that had elapsed there had been other +visitors to the tomb; and my heart sank within me when I thought that +some of them might by chance have come across the secret place. It +would be a bitter discovery indeed to find that they had forestalled me; +and that my journey had been in vain. + +"The bitterness was realised when I lit my torches, and passed between +the seven-sided columns to the Chapel of the tomb. + +"There, in the very spot where I had expected to find it, was the +opening of a serdab. And the serdab was empty. + +"But the Chapel was not empty; for the dried-up body of a man in Arab +dress lay close under the opening, as though he had been stricken down. +I examined all round the walls to see if Trelawny's surmise was correct; +and I found that in all the positions of the stars as given, the +Pointers of the Plough indicated a spot to the left hand, or south side, +of the opening of the serdab, where was a single star in gold. + +"I pressed this, and it gave way. The stone which had marked the front +of the serdab, and which lay back against the wall within, moved +slightly. On further examining the other side of the opening, I found a +similar spot, indicated by other representations of the constellation; +but this was itself a figure of the seven stars, and each was wrought in +burnished gold. I pressed each star in turn; but without result. Then +it struck me that if the opening spring was on the left, this on the +right might have been intended for the simultaneous pressure of all the +stars by one hand of seven fingers. By using both my hands, I managed +to effect this. + +"With a loud click, a metal figure seemed to dart from close to the +opening of the serdab; the stone slowly swung back to its place, and +shut with a click. The glimpse which I had of the descending figure +appalled me for the moment. It was like that grim guardian which, +according to the Arabian historian Ibn Abd Alhokin, the builder of the +Pyramids, King Saurid Ibn Salhouk placed in the Western Pyramid to +defend its treasure: 'A marble figure, upright, with lance in hand; +with on his head a serpent wreathed. When any approached, the serpent +would bite him on one side, and twining about his throat and killing +him, would return again to his place.' + +"I knew well that such a figure was not wrought to pleasantry; and that +to brave it was no child's play. The dead Arab at my feet was proof of +what could be done! So I examined again along the wall; and found here +and there chippings as if someone had been tapping with a heavy hammer. +This then had been what happened: The grave-robber, more expert at his +work than we had been, and suspecting the presence of a hidden serdab, +had made essay to find it. He had struck the spring by chance; had +released the avenging 'Treasurer', as the Arabian writer designated him. +The issue spoke for itself. I got a piece of wood, and, standing at a +safe distance, pressed with the end of it upon the star. + +"Instantly the stone flew back. The hidden figure within darted forward +and thrust out its lance. Then it rose up and disappeared. I thought I +might now safely press on the seven stars; and did so. Again the stone +rolled back; and the 'Treasurer' flashed by to his hidden lair. + +"I repeated both experiments several times; with always the same result. +I should have liked to examine the mechanism of that figure of such +malignant mobility; but it was not possible without such tools as could +not easily be had. It might be necessary to cut into a whole section of +the rock. Some day I hope to go back, properly equipped, and attempt +it. + +"Perhaps you do not know that the entrance to a serdab is almost always +very narrow; sometimes a hand can hardly be inserted. Two things I +learned from this serdab. The first was that the lamps, if lamps at all +there had been, could not have been of large size; and secondly, that +they would be in some way associated with Hathor, whose symbol, the hawk +in a square with the right top corner forming a smaller square, was cut +in relief on the wall within, and coloured the bright vermilion which we +had found on the Stele. Hathor is the goddess who in Egyptian mythology +answers to Venus of the Greeks, in as far as she is the presiding deity +of beauty and pleasure. In the Egyptian mythology, however, each God +has many forms; and in some aspects Hathor has to do with the idea of +resurrection. There are seven forms or variants of the Goddess; why +should not these correspond in some way to the seven lamps! That there +had been such lamps, I was convinced. The first grave-robber had met +his death; the second had found the contents of the serdab. The first +attempt had been made years since; the state of the body proved this. I +had no clue to the second attempt. It might have been long ago; or it +might have been recently. If, however, others had been to the tomb, it +was probable that the lamps had been taken long ago. Well! all the more +difficult would be my search; for undertaken it must be! + +"That was nearly three years ago; and for all that time I have been like +the man in the Arabian Nights, seeking old lamps, not for new, but for +cash. I dared not say what I was looking for, or attempt to give any +description; for such would have defeated my purpose. But I had in my +own mind at the start a vague idea of what I must find. In process of +time this grew more and more clear; till at last I almost overshot my +mark by searching for something which might have been wrong. + +"The disappointments I suffered, and the wild-goose chases I made, would +fill a volume; but I persevered. At last, not two months ago, I was +shown by an old dealer in Mossul one lamp such as I had looked for. I +had been tracing it for nearly a year, always suffering disappointment, +but always buoyed up to further endeavour by a growing hope that I was +on the track. + +"I do not know how I restrained myself when I realised that, at last, I +was at least close to success. I was skilled, however, in the finesse +of Eastern trade; and the Jew-Arab-Portugee trader met his match. I +wanted to see all his stock before buying; and one by one he produced, +amongst masses of rubbish, seven different lamps. Each of them had a +distinguishing mark; and each and all was some form of the symbol of +Hathor. I think I shook the imperturbability of my swarthy friend by +the magnitude of my purchases; for in order to prevent him guessing what +form of goods I sought, I nearly cleared out his shop. At the end he +nearly wept, and said I had ruined him; for now he had nothing to sell. +He would have torn his hair had he known what price I should ultimately +have given for some of his stock, that perhaps he valued least. + +"I parted with most of my merchandise at normal price as I hurried home. +I did not dare to give it away, or even lose it, lest I should incur +suspicion. My burden was far too precious to be risked by any +foolishness now. I got on as fast as it is possible to travel in such +countries; and arrived in London with only the lamps and certain +portable curios and papyri which I had picked up on my travels. + +"Now, Mr. Ross, you know all I know; and I leave it to your discretion +how much, if any of it, you will tell Miss Trelawny." + +As he finished a clear young voice said behind us: + +"What about Miss Trelawny? She is here!" + +We turned, startled; and looked at each other inquiringly. Miss +Trelawny stood in the doorway. We did not know how long she had been +present, or how much she had heard. + + + + + +Chapter XIII +Awaking From the Trance + + + + +The first unexpected words may always startle a hearer; but when the +shock is over, the listener's reason has asserted itself, and he can +judge of the manner, as well as of the matter, of speech. Thus it was +on this occasion. With intelligence now alert, I could not doubt of the +simple sincerity of Margaret's next question. + +"What have you two men been talking about all this time, Mr. Ross? I +suppose, Mr. Corbeck has been telling you all his adventures in finding +the lamps. I hope you will tell me too, some day, Mr. Corbeck; but that +must not be till my poor Father is better. He would like, I am sure, to +tell me all about these things himself; or to be present when I heard +them." She glanced sharply from one to the other. "Oh, that was what +you were saying as I came in? All right! I shall wait; but I hope it +won't be long. The continuance of Father's condition is, I feel, +breaking me down. A little while ago I felt that my nerves were giving +out; so I determined to go out for a walk in the Park. I am sure it +will do me good. I want you, if you will, Mr. Ross, to be with Father +whilst I am away. I shall feel secure then." + +I rose with alacrity, rejoicing that the poor girl was going out, even +for half an hour. She was looking terribly wearied and haggard; and the +sight of her pale cheeks made my heart ache. I went to the sick-room; +and sat down in my usual place. Mrs. Grant was then on duty; we had not +found it necessary to have more than one person in the room during the +day. When I came in, she took occasion to go about some household duty. +The blinds were up, but the north aspect of the room softened the hot +glare of the sunlight without. + +I sat for a long time thinking over all that Mr. Corbeck had told me; +and weaving its wonders into the tissue of strange things which had come +to pass since I had entered the house. At times I was inclined to +doubt; to doubt everything and every one; to doubt even the evidences of +my own five senses. The warnings of the skilled detective kept coming +back to my mind. He had put down Mr. Corbeck as a clever liar, and a +confederate of Miss Trelawny. Of Margaret! That settled it! Face to +face with such a proposition as that, doubt vanished. Each time when +her image, her name, the merest thought of her, came before my mind, +each event stood out stark as a living fact. My life upon her faith! + +I was recalled from my reverie, which was fast becoming a dream of love, +in a startling manner. A voice came from the bed; a deep, strong, +masterful voice. The first note of it called up like a clarion my eyes +and my ears. The sick man was awake and speaking! + +"Who are you? What are you doing here?" + +Whatever ideas any of us had ever formed of his waking, I am quite sure +that none of us expected to see him start up all awake and full master +of himself. I was so surprised that I answered almost mechanically: + +"Ross is my name. I have been watching by you!" He looked surprised +for an instant, and then I could see that his habit of judging for +himself came into play. + +"Watching by me! How do you mean? Why watching by me?" His eye had +now lit on his heavily bandaged wrist. He went on in a different tone; +less aggressive, more genial, as of one accepting facts: + +"Are you a doctor?" I felt myself almost smiling as I answered; the +relief from the long pressure of anxiety regarding his life was +beginning to tell: + +"No, sir!" + +"Then why are you here? If you are not a doctor, what are you?" His +tone was again more dictatorial. Thought is quick; the whole train of +reasoning on which my answer must be based flooded through my brain +before the words could leave my lips. Margaret! I must think of +Margaret! This was her father, who as yet knew nothing of me; even of +my very existence. He would be naturally curious, if not anxious, to +know why I amongst men had been chosen as his daughter's friend on the +occasion of his illness. Fathers are naturally a little jealous in such +matters as a daughter's choice, and in the undeclared state of my love +for Margaret I must do nothing which could ultimately embarrass her. + +"I am a Barrister. It is not, however, in that capacity I am here; but +simply as a friend of your daughter. It was probably her knowledge of +my being a lawyer which first determined her to ask me to come when she +thought you had been murdered. Afterwards she was good enough to +consider me to be a friend, and to allow me to remain in accordance with +your expressed wish that someone should remain to watch." + +Mr. Trelawny was manifestly a man of quick thought, and of few words. +He gazed at me keenly as I spoke, and his piercing eyes seemed to read +my thought. To my relief he said no more on the subject just then, +seeming to accept my words in simple faith. There was evidently in his +own mind some cause for the acceptance deeper than my own knowledge. +His eyes flashed, and there was an unconscious movement of the mouth--it +could hardly be called a twitch--which betokened satisfaction. He was +following out some train of reasoning in his own mind. Suddenly he +said: + +"She thought I had been murdered! Was that last night?" + +"No! four days ago." He seemed surprised. Whilst he had been speaking +the first time he had sat up in bed; now he made a movement as though he +would jump out. With an effort, however, he restrained himself; leaning +back on his pillows he said quietly: + +"Tell me all about it! All you know! Every detail! Omit nothing! But +stay; first lock the door! I want to know, before I see anyone, exactly +how things stand." + +Somehow his last words made my heart leap. "Anyone!" He evidently +accepted me, then, as an exception. In my present state of feeling for +his daughter, this was a comforting thought. I felt exultant as I went +over to the door and softly turned the key. When I came back I found +him sitting up again. He said: + +"Go on!" + +Accordingly, I told him every detail, even of the slightest which I +could remember, of what had happened from the moment of my arrival at +the house. Of course I said nothing of my feeling towards Margaret, and +spoke only concerning those things already within his own knowledge. +With regard to Corbeck, I simply said that he had brought back some +lamps of which he had been in quest. Then I proceeded to tell him fully +of their loss, and of their re-discovery in the house. + +He listened with a self-control which, under the circumstances, was to +me little less than marvellous. It was impassiveness, for at times his +eyes would flash or blaze, and the strong fingers of his uninjured hand +would grip the sheet, pulling it into far-extending wrinkles. This was +most noticeable when I told him of the return of Corbeck, and the +finding of the lamps in the boudoir. At times he spoke, but only a few +words, and as if unconsciously in emotional comment. The mysterious +parts, those which had most puzzled us, seemed to have no special +interest for him; he seemed to know them already. The utmost concern he +showed was when I told him of Daw's shooting. His muttered comment: +'stupid ass!" together with a quick glance across the room at the +injured cabinet, marked the measure of his disgust. As I told him of +his daughter's harrowing anxiety for him, of her unending care and +devotion, of the tender love which she had shown, he seemed much moved. +There was a sort of veiled surprise in his unconscious whisper: + +"Margaret! Margaret!" + +When I had finished my narration, bringing matters up to the moment when +Miss Trelawny had gone out for her walk--I thought of her as "Miss +Trelawny', not as 'Margaret' now, in the presence of her father--he +remained silent for quite a long time. It was probably two or three +minutes; but it seemed interminable. All at once he turned and said to +me briskly: + +"Now tell me all about yourself!" This was something of a floorer; I +felt myself grow red-hot. Mr. Trelawny's eyes were upon me; they were +now calm and inquiring, but never ceasing in their soul-searching +scrutiny. There was just a suspicion of a smile on the mouth which, +though it added to my embarrassment, gave me a certain measure of +relief. I was, however, face to face with difficulty; and the habit of +my life stood me in good stead. I looked him straight in the eyes as I +spoke: + +"My name, as I told you, is Ross, Malcolm Ross. I am by profession a +Barrister. I was made a Q. C. in the last year of the Queen's reign. I +have been fairly successful in my work." To my relief he said: + +"Yes, I know. I have always heard well of you! Where and when did you +meet Margaret?" + +"First at the Hay's in Belgrave Square, ten days ago. Then at a picnic +up the river with Lady Strathconnell. We went from Windsor to Cookham. +Mar--Miss Trelawny was in my boat. I scull a little, and I had my own +boat at Windsor. We had a good deal of conversation--naturally." + +"Naturally!" there was just a suspicion of something sardonic in the +tone of acquiescence; but there was no other intimation of his feeling. +I began to think that as I was in the presence of a strong man, I should +show something of my own strength. My friends, and sometimes my +opponents, say that I am a strong man. In my present circumstances, not +to be absolutely truthful would be to be weak. So I stood up to the +difficulty before me; always bearing in mind, however, that my words +might affect Margaret's happiness through her love for her father. I +went on: + +"In conversation at a place and time and amid surroundings so pleasing, +and in a solitude inviting to confidence, I got a glimpse of her inner +life. Such a glimpse as a man of my years and experience may get from a +young girl!" The father's face grew graver as I went on; but he said +nothing. I was committed now to a definite line of speech, and went on +with such mastery of my mind as I could exercise. The occasion might be +fraught with serious consequences to me too. + +"I could not but see that there was over her spirit a sense of +loneliness which was habitual to her. I thought I understood it; I am +myself an only child. I ventured to encourage her to speak to me +freely; and was happy enough to succeed. A sort of confidence became +established between us." There was something in the father's face which +made me add hurriedly: + +"Nothing was said by her, sir, as you can well imagine, which was not +right and proper. She only told me in the impulsive way of one longing +to give voice to thoughts long carefully concealed, of her yearning to +be closer to the father whom she loved; more en rapport with him; more +in his confidence; closer within the circle of his sympathies. Oh, +believe me, sir, that it was all good! All that a father's heart could +hope or wish for! It was all loyal! That she spoke it to me was +perhaps because I was almost a stranger with whom there was no previous +barrier to confidence." + +Here I paused. It was hard to go on; and I feared lest I might, in my +zeal, do Margaret a disservice. The relief of the strain came from her +father. + +"And you?" + +"Sir, Miss Trelawny is very sweet and beautiful! She is young; and her +mind is like crystal! Her sympathy is a joy! I am not an old man, and +my affections were not engaged. They never had been till then. I hope +I may say as much, even to a father!" My eyes involuntarily dropped. +When I raised them again Mr. Trelawny was still gazing at me keenly. +All the kindliness of his nature seemed to wreath itself in a smile as +he held out his hand and said: + +"Malcolm Ross, I have always heard of you as a fearless and honourable +gentleman. I am glad my girl has such a friend! Go on!" + +My heart leaped. The first step to the winning of Margaret's father was +gained. I dare say I was somewhat more effusive in my words and my +manner as I went on. I certainly felt that way. + +"One thing we gain as we grow older: to use our age judiciously! I +have had much experience. I have fought for it and worked for it all my +life; and I felt that I was justified in using it. I ventured to ask +Miss Trelawny to count on me as a friend; to let me serve her should +occasion arise. She promised me that she would. I had little idea that +my chance of serving her should come so soon or in such a way; but that +very night you were stricken down. In her desolation and anxiety she +sent for me!" I paused. He continued to look at me as I went on: + +"When your letter of instructions was found, I offered my services. +They were accepted, as you know." + +"And these days, how did they pass for you?" The question startled me. +There was in it something of Margaret's own voice and manner; something +so greatly resembling her lighter moments that it brought out all the +masculinity in me. I felt more sure of my ground now as I said: + +"These days, sir, despite all their harrowing anxiety, despite all the +pain they held for the girl whom I grew to love more and more with each +passing hour, have been the happiest of my life!" He kept silence for a +long time; so long that, as I waited for him to speak, with my heart +beating, I began to wonder if my frankness had been too effusive. At +last he said: + +"I suppose it is hard to say so much vicariously. Her poor mother +should have heard you; it would have made her heart glad!" Then a +shadow swept across his face; and he went on more hurriedly. + +"But are you quite sure of all this?" + +"I know my own heart, sir; or, at least, I think I do!" + +"No! no!" he answered, "I don't mean you. That is all right! But you +spoke of my girl's affection for me . . . and yet . . . ! And yet she +has been living here, in my house, a whole year. . . Still, she spoke +to you of her loneliness--her desolation. I never--it grieves me to say +it, but it is true--I never saw sign of such affection towards myself in +all the year! . . ." His voice trembled away into sad, reminiscent +introspection. + +"Then, sir," I said, "I have been privileged to see more in a few days +than you in her whole lifetime!" My words seemed to call him up from +himself; and I thought that it was with pleasure as well as surprise +that he said: + +"I had no idea of it. I thought that she was indifferent to me. That +what seemed like the neglect of her youth was revenging itself on me. +That she was cold of heart. . . . It is a joy unspeakable to me that her +mother's daughter loves me too!" Unconsciously he sank back upon his +pillow, lost in memories of the past. + +How he must have loved her mother! It was the love of her mother's +child, rather than the love of his own daughter, that appealed to him. +My heart went out to him in a great wave of sympathy and kindliness. I +began to understand. To understand the passion of these two great, +silent, reserved natures, that successfully concealed the burning hunger +for the other's love! It did not surprise me when presently he murmured +to himself: + +"Margaret, my child! Tender, and thoughtful, and strong, and true, and +brave! Like her dear mother! like her dear mother!" + +And then to the very depths of my heart I rejoiced that I had spoken so +frankly. + +Presently Mr. Trelawny said: + +"Four days! The sixteenth! Then this is the twentieth of July?" I +nodded affirmation; he went on: + +"So I have been lying in a trance for four days. It is not the first +time. I was in a trance once under strange conditions for three days; +and never even suspected it till I was told of the lapse of time. I +shall tell you all about it some day, if you care to hear." + +That made me thrill with pleasure. That he, Margaret's father, would so +take me into his confidence made it possible. . . . The business-like, +every-day alertness of his voice as he spoke next quite recalled me: + +"I had better get up now. When Margaret comes in, tell her yourself +that I am all right. It will avoid any shock! And will you tell +Corbeck that I would like to see him as soon as I can. I want to see +those lamps, and hear all about them!" + +His attitude towards me filled me with delight. There was a possible +father-in-law aspect that would have raised me from a death-bed. I was +hurrying away to carry out his wishes; when, however, my hand was on the +key of the door, his voice recalled me: + +"Mr. Ross!" + +I did not like to hear him say "Mr." After he knew of my friendship +with his daughter he had called me Malcolm Ross; and this obvious return +to formality not only pained, but filled me with apprehension. It must +be something about Margaret. I thought of her as "Margaret" and not as +"Miss Trelawny", now that there was danger of losing her. I know now +what I felt then: that I was determined to fight for her rather than +lose her. I came back, unconsciously holding myself erect. Mr. +Trelawny, the keen observer of men, seemed to read my thought; his face, +which was set in a new anxiety, relaxed as he said: + +"Sit down a minute; it is better that we speak now than later. We are +both men, and men of the world. All this about my daughter is very new +to me, and very sudden; and I want to know exactly how and where I +stand. Mind, I am making no objection; but as a father I have duties +which are grave, and may prove to be painful. I--I"--he seemed slightly +at a loss how to begin, and this gave me hope--"I suppose I am to take +it, from what you have said to me of your feelings towards my girl, that +it is in your mind to be a suitor for her hand, later on?" I answered +at once: + +"Absolutely! Firm and fixed; it was my intention the evening after I +had been with her on the river, to seek you, of course after a proper +and respectful interval, and to ask you if I might approach her on the +subject. Events forced me into closer relationship more quickly than I +had to hope would be possible; but that first purpose has remained fresh +in my heart, and has grown in intensity, and multiplied itself with +every hour which has passed since then." His face seemed to soften as +he looked at me; the memory of his own youth was coming back to him +instinctively. After a pause he said: + +"I suppose I may take it, too, Malcolm Ross"--the return to the +familiarity of address swept through me with a glorious thrill--"that as +yet you have not made any protestation to my daughter?" + +"Not in words, sir." The arriere pensee of my phrase struck me, not by +its own humour, but through the grave, kindly smile on the father's +face. There was a pleasant sarcasm in his comment: + +"Not in words! That is dangerous! She might have doubted words, or +even disbelieved them." + +I felt myself blushing to the roots of my hair as I went on: + +"The duty of delicacy in her defenceless position; my respect for her +father--I did not know you then, sir, as yourself, but only as her +father--restrained me. But even had not these barriers existed, I should +not have dared in the presence of such grief and anxiety to have +declared myself. Mr. Trelawny, I assure you on my word of honour that +your daughter and I are as yet, on her part, but friends and nothing +more!" Once again he held out his hands, and we clasped each other +warmly. Then he said heartily: + +"I am satisfied, Malcolm Ross. Of course, I take it that until I have +seen her and have given you permission, you will not make any +declaration to my daughter--in words," he added, with an indulgent smile. +But his face became stern again as he went on: + +"Time presses; and I have to think of some matters so urgent and so +strange that I dare not lose an hour. Otherwise I should not have been +prepared to enter, at so short a notice and to so new a friend, on the +subject of my daughter's settlement in life, and of her future +happiness." There was a dignity and a certain proudness in his manner +which impressed me much. + +"I shall respect your wishes, sir!" I said as I went back and opened the +door. I heard him lock it behind me. + +When I told Mr. Corbeck that Mr. Trelawny had quite recovered, he began +to dance about like a wild man. But he suddenly stopped, and asked me +to be careful not to draw any inferences, at all events at first, when +in the future speaking of the finding of the lamps, or of the first +visits to the tomb. This was in case Mr. Trelawny should speak to me on +the subject; "as, of course, he will," he added, with a sidelong look at +me which meant knowledge of the affairs of my heart. I agreed to this, +feeling that it was quite right. I did not quite understand why; but I +knew that Mr. Trelawny was a peculiar man. In no case could one make a +mistake by being reticent. Reticence is a quality which a strong man +always respects. + +The manner in which the others of the house took the news of the +recovery varied much. Mrs. Grant wept with emotion; then she hurried +off to see if she could do anything personally, and to set the house in +order for "Master", as she always called him. The Nurse's face fell: +she was deprived of an interesting case. But the disappointment was +only momentary; and she rejoiced that the trouble was over. She was +ready to come to the patient the moment she should be wanted; but in the +meantime she occupied herself in packing her portmanteau. + +I took Sergeant Daw into the study, so that we should be alone when I +told him the news. It surprised even his iron self-control when I told +him the method of the waking. I was myself surprised in turn by his +first words: + +"And how did he explain the first attack? He was unconscious when the +second was made." + +Up to that moment the nature of the attack, which was the cause of my +coming to the house, had never even crossed my mind, except when I had +simply narrated the various occurrences in sequence to Mr. Trelawny. +The Detective did not seem to think much of my answer: + +"Do you know, it never occurred to me to ask him!" The professional +instinct was strong in the man, and seemed to supersede everything else. + +"That is why so few cases are ever followed out," he said, "unless our +people are in them. Your amateur detective neer hunts down to the +death. As for ordinary people, the moment things begin to mend, and the +strain of suspense is off them, they drop the matter in hand. It is +like sea-sickness," he added philosophically after a pause; "the moment +you touch the shore you never give it a thought, but run off to the +buffet to feed! Well, Mr. Ross, I'm glad the case is over; for over it +is, so far as I am concerned. I suppose that Mr. Trelawny knows his own +business; and that now he is well again, he will take it up himself. +Perhaps, however, he will not do anything. As he seemed to expect +something to happen, but did not ask for protection from the police in +any way, I take it that he don't want them to interfere with an eye to +punishment. We'll be told officially, I suppose, that it was an +accident, or sleep-walking, or something of the kind, to satisfy the +conscience of our Record Department; and that will be the end. As for +me, I tell you frankly, sir, that it will be the saving of me. I verily +believe I was beginning to get dotty over it all. There were too many +mysteries, that aren't in my line, for me to be really satisfied as to +either facts or the causes of them. Now I'll be able to wash my hands +of it, and get back to clean, wholesome, criminal work. Of course, sir, +I'll be glad to know if you ever do light on a cause of any kind. And +I'll be grateful if you can ever tell me how the man was dragged out of +bed when the cat bit him, and who used the knife the second time. For +master Silvio could never have done it by himself. But there! I keep +thinking of it still. I must look out and keep a check on myself, or I +shall think of it when I have to keep my mind on other things!" + +When Margaret returned from her walk, I met her in the hall. She was +still pale and sad; somehow, I had expected to see her radiant after her +walk. The moment she saw me her eyes brightened, and she looked at me +keenly. + +"You have some good news for me?" she said. "Is Father better?" + +"He is! Why did you think so?" + +"I saw it in your face. I must go to him at once." She was hurrying +away when I stopped her. + +"He said he would send for you the moment he was dressed." + +"He said he would send for me!" she repeated in amazement. "Then he is +awake again, and conscious? I had no idea he was so well as that! O +Malcolm!" + +She sat down on the nearest chair and began to cry. I felt overcome +myself. The sight of her joy and emotion, the mention of my own name in +such a way and at such a time, the rush of glorious possibilities all +coming together, quite unmanned me. She saw my emotion, and seemed to +understand. She put out her hand. I held it hard, and kissed it. Such +moments as these, the opportunities of lovers, are gifts of the gods! Up +to this instant, though I knew I loved her, and though I believed she +returned my affection, I had had only hope. Now, however, the +self-surrender manifest in her willingness to let me squeeze her hand, +the ardour of her pressure in return, and the glorious flush of love in +her beautiful, deep, dark eyes as she lifted them to mine, were all the +eloquences which the most impatient or exacting lover could expect or +demand. + +No word was spoken; none was needed. Even had I not been pledged to +verbal silence, words would have been poor and dull to express what we +felt. Hand in hand, like two little children, we went up the staircase +and waited on the landing, till the summons from Mr. Trelawny should +come. + +I whispered in her ear--it was nicer than speaking aloud and at a greater +distance--how her father had awakened, and what he had said; and all +that had passed between us, except when she herself had been the subject +of conversation. + +Presently a bell rang from the room. Margaret slipped from me, and +looked back with warning finger on lip. She went over to her father's +door and knocked softly. + +"Come in!" said the strong voice. + +"It is I, Father!" The voice was tremulous with love and hope. + +There was a quick step inside the room; the door was hurriedly thrown +open, and in an instant Margaret, who had sprung forward, was clasped in +her father's arms. There was little speech; only a few broken phrases. + +"Father! Dear, dear Father!" + +"My child! Margaret! My dear, dear child!" + +"O Father, Father! At last! At last!" + +Here the father and daughter went into the room together, and the door +closed. + + + + + +Chapter XIV +The Birth-Mark + + + + +During my waiting for the summons to Mr. Trelawny's room, which I knew +would come, the time was long and lonely. After the first few moments +of emotional happiness at Margaret's joy, I somehow felt apart and +alone; and for a little time the selfishness of a lover possessed me. +But it was not for long. Margaret's happiness was all to me; and in the +conscious sense of it I lost my baser self. Margaret's last words as +the door closed on them gave the key to the whole situation, as it had +been and as it was. These two proud, strong people, though father and +daughter, had only come to know each other when the girl was grown up. +Margaret's nature was of that kind which matures early. + +The pride and strength of each, and the reticence which was their +corollary, made a barrier at the beginning. Each had respected the +other's reticence too much thereafter; and the misunderstanding grew to +habit. And so these two loving hearts, each of which yearned for +sympathy from the other, were kept apart. But now all was well, and in +my heart of hearts I rejoiced that at last Margaret was happy. Whilst I +was still musing on the subject, and dreaming dreams of a personal +nature, the door was opened, and Mr. Trelawny beckoned to me. + +"Come in, Mr. Ross!" he said cordially, but with a certain formality +which I dreaded. I entered the room, and he closed the door again. He +held out his hand, and I put mine in it. He did not let it go, but +still held it as he drew me over toward his daughter. Margaret looked +from me to him, and back again; and her eyes fell. When I was close to +her, Mr. Trelawny let go my hand, and, looking his daughter straight in +the face, said: + +"If things are as I fancy, we shall not have any secrets between us. +Malcolm Ross knows so much of my affairs already, that I take it he must +either let matters stop where they are and go away in silence, or else +he must know more. Margaret! are you willing to let Mr. Ross see your +wrist?" + +She threw one swift look of appeal in his eyes; but even as she did so +she seemed to make up her mind. Without a word she raised her right +hand, so that the bracelet of spreading wings which covered the wrist +fell back, leaving the flesh bare. Then an icy chill shot through me. + +On her wrist was a thin red jagged line, from which seemed to hang red +stains like drops of blood! + +She stood there, a veritable figure of patient pride. + +Oh! but she looked proud! Through all her sweetness, all her dignity, +all her high-souled negation of self which I had known, and which never +seemed more marked than now--through all the fire that seemed to shine +from the dark depths of her eyes into my very soul, pride shone +conspicuously. The pride that has faith; the pride that is born of +conscious purity; the pride of a veritable queen of Old Time, when to be +royal was to be the first and greatest and bravest in all high things. +As we stood thus for some seconds, the deep, grave voice of her father +seemed to sound a challenge in my ears: + +"What do you say now?" + +My answer was not in words. I caught Margaret's right hand in mine as +it fell, and, holding it tight, whilst with the other I pushed back the +golden cincture, stooped and kissed the wrist. As I looked up at her, +but never letting go her hand, there was a look of joy on her face such +as I dream of when I think of heaven. Then I faced her father. + +"You have my answer, sir!" His strong face looked gravely sweet. He +only said one word as he laid his hand on our clasped ones, whilst he +bent over and kissed his daughter: + +"Good!" + +We were interrupted by a knock at the door. In answer to an impatient +"Come in!" from Mr. Trelawny, Mr. Corbeck entered. When he saw us +grouped he would have drawn back; but in an instant Mr. Trelawny had +sprung forth and dragged him forward. As he shook him by both hands, he +seemed a transformed man. All the enthusiasm of his youth, of which Mr. +Corbeck had told us, seemed to have come back to him in an instant. + +"So you have got the lamps!" he almost shouted. "My reasoning was right +after all. Come to the library, where we will be alone, and tell me all +about it! And while he does it, Ross," said he, turning to me, "do you, +like a good fellow, get the key from the safe deposit, so that I may +have a look at the lamps!" + +Then the three of them, the daughter lovingly holding her father's arm, +went into the library, whilst I hurried off to Chancery Lane. + +When I returned with the key, I found them still engaged in the +narrative; but Doctor Winchester, who had arrived soon after I left, was +with them. Mr. Trelawny, on hearing from Margaret of his great +attention and kindness, and how he had, under much pressure to the +contrary, steadfastly obeyed his written wishes, had asked him to remain +and listen. "It will interest you, perhaps," he said, "to learn the end +of the story!" + +We all had an early dinner together. We sat after it a good while, and +then Mr. Trelawny said: + +"Now, I think we had all better separate and go quietly to bed early. +We may have much to talk about tomorrow; and tonight I want to think." + +Doctor Winchester went away, taking, with a courteous forethought, Mr. +Corbeck with him, and leaving me behind. When the others had gone Mr. +Trelawny said: + +"I think it will be well if you, too, will go home for tonight. I want +to be quite alone with my daughter; there are many things I wish to +speak of to her, and to her alone. Perhaps, even tomorrow, I will be +able to tell you also of them; but in the meantime there will be less +distraction to us both if we are alone in the house." I quite +understood and sympathised with his feelings; but the experiences of the +last few days were strong on me, and with some hesitation I said: + +"But may it not be dangerous? If you knew as we do--" To my surprise +Margaret interrupted me: + +"There will be no danger, Malcolm. I shall be with Father!" As she +spoke she clung to him in a protective way. I said no more, but stood +up to go at once. Mr. Trelawny said heartily: + +"Come as early as you please, Ross. Come to breakfast. After it, you +and I will want to have a word together." He went out of the room +quietly, leaving us together. I clasped and kissed Margaret's hands, +which she held out to me, and then drew her close to me, and our lips +met for the first time. + +I did not sleep much that night. Happiness on the one side of my bed +and Anxiety on the other kept sleep away. But if I had anxious care, I +had also happiness which had not equal in my life--or ever can have. The +night went by so quickly that the dawn seemed to rush on me, not +stealing as is its wont. + +Before nine o'clock I was at Kensington. All anxiety seemed to float +away like a cloud as I met Margaret, and saw that already the pallor of +her face had given to the rich bloom which I knew. She told me that her +father had slept well, and that he would be with us soon. + +"I do believe," she whispered, "that my dear and thoughtful Father has +kept back on purpose, so that I might meet you first, and alone!" + +After breakfast Mr. Trelawny took us into the study, saying as he passed +in: + +"I have asked Margaret to come too." When we were seated, he said +gravely: + +"I told you last night that we might have something to say to each +other. I dare say that you may have thought that it was about Margaret +and yourself. Isn't that so?" + +"I thought so." + +"Well, my boy, that is all right. Margaret and I have been talking, and +I know her wishes." He held out his hand. When I wrung it, and had +kissed Margaret, who drew her chair close to mine, so that we could hold +hands as we listened, he went on, but with a certain hesitation--it could +hardly be called nervousness--which was new to me. + +"You know a good deal of my hunt after this mummy and her belongings; +and I dare say you have guessed a good deal of my theories. But these +at any rate I shall explain later, concisely and categorically, if it be +necessary. What I want to consult you about now is this: Margaret and +I disagree on one point. I am about to make an experiment; the +experiment which is to crown all that I have devoted twenty years of +research, and danger, and labour to prepare for. Through it we may +learn things that have been hidden from the eyes and the knowledge of +men for centuries; for scores of centuries. I do not want my daughter +to be present; for I cannot blind myself to the fact that there may be +danger in it--great danger, and of an unknown kind. I have, however, +already faced very great dangers, and of an unknown kind; and so has +that brave scholar who has helped me in the work. As to myself, I am +willing to run any risk. For science, and history, and philosophy may +benefit; and we may turn one old page of a wisdom unknown in this +prosaic age. But for my daughter to run such a risk I am loth. Her +young bright life is too precious to throw lightly away; now especially +when she is on the very threshold of new happiness. I do not wish to +see her life given, as her dear mother's was--" + +He broke down for a moment, and covered his eyes with his hands. In an +instant Margaret was beside him, clasping him close, and kissing him, +and comforting him with loving words. Then, standing erect, with one +hand on his head, she said: + +"Father! mother did not bid you stay beside her, even when you wanted to +go on that journey of unknown danger to Egypt; though that country was +then upset from end to end with war and the dangers that follow war. +You have told me how she left you free to go as you wished; though that +she thought of danger for you and and feared it for you, is proved by +this!" She held up her wrist with the scar that seemed to run blood. +"Now, mother's daughter does as mother would have done herself!" Then +she turned to me: + +"Malcolm, you know I love you! But love is trust; and you must trust me +in danger as well as in joy. You and I must stand beside Father in this +unknown peril. Together we shall come through it; or together we shall +fail; together we shall die. That is my wish; my first wish to my +husband that is to be! Do you not think that, as a daughter, I am +right? Tell my Father what you think!" + +She looked like a Queen stooping to plead. My love for her grew and +grew. I stood up beside her; and took her hand and said: + +"Mr. Trelawny! in this Margaret and I are one!" + +He took both our hands and held them hard. Presently he said with deep +emotion: + +"It is as her mother would have done!" + +Mr. Corbeck and Doctor Winchester came exactly at the time appointed, +and joined us in the library. Despite my great happiness I felt our +meeting to be a very solemn function. For I could never forget the +strange things that had been; and the idea of the strange things which +might be, was with me like a cloud, pressing down on us all. From the +gravity of my companions I gathered that each of them also was ruled by +some such dominating thought. + +Instinctively we gathered our chairs into a circle round Mr. Trelawny, +who had taken the great armchair near the window. Margaret sat by him +on his right, and I was next to her. Mr. Corbeck was on his left, with +Doctor Winchester on the other side. After a few seconds of silence Mr. +Trelawny said to Mr. Corbeck: + +"You have told Doctor Winchester all up to the present, as we arranged?" + +"Yes," he answered; so Mr. Trelawny said: + +"And I have told Margaret, so we all know!" Then, turning to the +Doctor, he asked: + +"And am I to take it that you, knowing all as we know it who have +followed the matter for years, wish to share in the experiment which we +hope to make?" His answer was direct and uncompromising: + +"Certainly! Why, when this matter was fresh to me, I offered to go on +with it to the end. Now that it is of such strange interest, I would +not miss it for anything which you could name. Be quite easy in your +mind, Mr. Trelawny. I am a scientist and an investigator of phenomena. +I have no one belonging to me or dependent on me. I am quite alone, and +free to do what I like with my own--including my life!" Mr. Trelawny +bowed gravely, and turning to Mr. Corbeck said: + +"I have known your ideas for many years past, old friend; so I need ask +you nothing. As to Margaret and Malcolm Ross, they have already told me +their wishes in no uncertain way." He paused a few seconds, as though +to put his thoughts or his words in order; then he began to explain his +views and intentions. He spoke very carefully, seeming always to bear +in mind that some of us who listened were ignorant of the very root and +nature of some things touched upon, and explaining them to us as he went +on: + +"The experiment which is before us is to try whether or no there is any +force, any reality, in the old Magic. There could not possibly be more +favourable conditions for the test; and it is my own desire to do all +that is possible to make the original design effective. That there is +some such existing power I firmly believe. It might not be possible to +create, or arrange, or organise such a power in our own time; but I take +it that if in Old Time such a power existed, it may have some +exceptional survival. After all, the Bible is not a myth; and we read +there that the sun stood still at a man's command, and that an ass--not +a human one--spoke. And if the Witch at Endor could call up to Saul the +spirit of Samuel, why may not there have been others with equal powers; +and why may not one among them survive? Indeed, we are told in the Book +of Samuel that the Witch of Endor was only one of many, and her being +consulted by Saul was a matter of chance. He only sought one among the +many whom he had driven out of Israel; 'all those that had Familiar +Spirits, and the Wizards.' This Egyptian Queen, Tera, who reigned +nearly two thousand years before Saul, had a Familiar, and was a Wizard +too. See how the priests of her time, and those after it tried to wipe +out her name from the face of the earth, and put a curse over the very +door of her tomb so that none might ever discover the lost name. Ay, +and they succeeded so well that even Manetho, the historian of the +Egyptian Kings, writing in the tenth century before Christ, with all the +lore of the priesthood for forty centuries behind him, and with +possibility of access to every existing record, could not even find her +name. Did it strike any of you, in thinking of the late events, who or +what her Familiar was?" There was an interruption, for Doctor +Winchester struck one hand loudly on the other as he ejaculated: + +"The cat! The mummy cat! I knew it!" Mr. Trelawny smiled over at him. + +"You are right! There is every indication that the Familiar of the +Wizard Queen was that cat which was mummied when she was, and was not +only placed in her tomb, but was laid in the sarcophagus with her. That +was what bit into my wrist, what cut me with sharp claws." He paused. +Margaret's comment was a purely girlish one: + +"Then my poor Silvio is acquitted! I am glad!" Her father stroked her +hair and went on: + +"This woman seems to have had an extraordinary foresight. Foresight +far, far beyond her age and the philosophy of her time. She seems to +have seen through the weakness of her own religion, and even prepared +for emergence into a different world. All her aspirations were for the +North, the point of the compass whence blew the cool invigorating +breezes that make life a joy. From the first, her eyes seem to have +been attracted to the seven stars of the Plough from the fact, as +recorded in the hieroglyphics in her tomb, that at her birth a great +aerolite fell, from whose heart was finally extracted that Jewel of +Seven Stars which she regarded as the talisman of her life. It seems to +have so far ruled her destiny that all her thought and care circled +round it. The Magic Coffer, so wondrously wrought with seven sides, we +learn from the same source, came from the aerolite. Seven was to her a +magic number; and no wonder. With seven fingers on one hand, and seven +toes on one foot. With a talisman of a rare ruby with seven stars in +the same position as in that constellation which ruled her birth, each +star of the seven having seven points--in itself a geological wonder--it +would have been odd if she had not been attracted by it. Again, she was +born, we learn in the Stele of her tomb, in the seventh month of the +year--the month beginning with the Inundation of the Nile. Of which +month the presiding Goddess was Hathor, the Goddess of her own house, of +the Antefs of the Theban line--the Goddess who in various forms +symbolises beauty, and pleasure, and resurrection. Again, in this +seventh month--which, by later Egyptian astronomy began on October 28th, +and ran to the 27th of our November--on the seventh day the Pointer of +the Plough just rises above the horizon of the sky at Thebes. + +"In a marvellously strange way, therefore, are grouped into this woman's +life these various things. The number seven; the Pole Star, with the +constellation of seven stars; the God of the month, Hathor, who was her +own particular God, the God of her family, the Antefs of the Theban +Dynasty, whose Kings' symbol it was, and whose seven forms ruled love +and the delights of life and resurrection. If ever there was ground for +magic; for the power of symbolism carried into mystic use; for a belief +in finites spirits in an age which knew not the Living God, it is here. + +"Remember, too, that this woman was skilled in all the science of her +time. Her wise and cautious father took care of that, knowing that by +her own wisdom she must ultimately combat the intrigues of the +Hierarchy. Bear in mind that in old Egypt the science of Astronomy +began and was developed to an extraordinary height; and that Astrology +followed Astronomy in its progress. And it is possible that in the +later developments of science with regard to light rays, we may yet find +that Astrology is on a scientific basis. Our next wave of scientific +thought may deal with this. I shall have something special to call your +minds to on this point presently. Bear in mind also that the Egyptians +knew sciences, of which today, despite all our advantages, we are +profoundly ignorant. Acoustics, for instance, an exact science with the +builders of the temples of Karnak, of Luxor, of the Pyramids, is today +a mystery to Bell, and Kelvin, and Edison, and Marconi. Again, these +old miracle-workers probably understood some practical way of using +other forces, and amongst them the forces of light that at present we do +not dream of. But of this matter I shall speak later. That Magic +Coffer of Queen Tera is probably a magic box in more ways than one. It +may--possibly it does--contain forces that we wot not of. We cannot open +it; it must be closed from within. How then was it closed? It is a +coffer of solid stone, of amazing hardness, more like a jewel than an +ordinary marble, with a lid equally solid; and yet all is so finely +wrought that the finest tool made today cannot be inserted under the +flange. How was it wrought to such perfection? How was the stone so +chosen that those translucent patches match the relations of the seven +stars of the constellation? How is it, or from what cause, that when +the starlight shines on it, it glows from within--that when I fix the +lamps in similar form the glow grows greater still; and yet the box is +irresponsive to ordinary light however great? I tell you that that box +hides some great mystery of science. We shall find that the light will +open it in some way: either by striking on some substance, sensitive in +a peculiar way to its effect, or in releasing some greater power. I +only trust that in our ignorance we may not so bungle things as to do +harm to its mechanism; and so deprive the knowledge of our time of a +lesson handed down, as by a miracle, through nearly five thousand years. + +"In another way, too, there may be hidden in that box secrets which, for +good or ill, may enlighten the world. We know from their records, and +inferentially also, that the Egyptians studied the properties of herbs +and minerals for magic purposes--white magic as well as black. We know +that some of the wizards of old could induce from sleep dreams of any +given kind. That this purpose was mainly effected by hypnotism, which +was another art or science of Old Nile, I have little doubt. But still, +they must have had a mastery of drugs that is far beyond anything we +know. With our own pharmacopoeia we can, to a certain extent, induce +dreams. We may even differentiate between good and bad--dreams of +pleasure, or disturbing and harrowing dreams. But these old +practitioners seemed to have been able to command at will any form or +colour of dreaming; could work round any given subject or thought in +almost any was required. In that coffer, which you have seen, may rest +a very armoury of dreams. Indeed, some of the forces that lie within it +may have been already used in my household." Again there was an +interruption from Doctor Winchester. + +"But if in your case some of these imprisoned forces were used, what set +them free at the opportune time, or how? Besides, you and Mr. Corbeck +were once before put into a trance for three whole days, when you were +in the Queen's tomb for the second time. And then, as I gathered from +Mr. Corbeck's story, the coffer was not back in the tomb, though the +mummy was. Surely in both these cases there must have been some active +intelligence awake, and with some other power to wield." Mr. Trelawny's +answer was equally to the point: + +"There was some active intelligence awake. I am convinced of it. And +it wielded a power which it never lacks. I believe that on both those +occasions hypnotism was the power wielded." + +"And wherein is that power contained? What view do you hold on the +subject?" Doctor Winchester's voice vibrated with the intensity of his +excitement as he leaned forward, breathing hard, and with eyes staring. +Mr. Trelawny said solemnly: + +"In the mummy of the Queen Tera! I was coming to that presently. +Perhaps we had better wait till I clear the ground a little. What I +hold is, that the preparation of that box was made for a special +occasion; as indeed were all the preparations of the tomb and all +belonging to it. Queen Tera did not trouble herself to guard against +snakes and scorpions, in that rocky tomb cut in the sheer cliff face a +hundred feet above the level of the valley, and fifty down from the +summit. Her precautions were against the disturbances of human hands; +against the jealousy and hatred of the priests, who, had they known of +her real aims, would have tried to baffle them. From her point of view, +she made all ready for the time of resurrection, whenever that might be. +I gather from the symbolic pictures in the tomb that she so far differed +from the belief of her time that she looked for a resurrection in the +flesh. It was doubtless this that intensified the hatred of the +priesthood, and gave them an acceptable cause for obliterating the very +existence, present and future, of one who had outrage their theories and +blasphemed their gods. All that she might require, either in the +accomplishment of the resurrection or after it, were contained in that +almost hermetically sealed suite of chambers in the rock. In the great +sarcophagus, which as you know is of a size quite unusual even for +kings, was the mummy of her Familiar, the cat, which from its great size +I take to be a sort of tiger-cat. In the tomb, also in a strong +receptacle, were the canopic jars usually containing those internal +organs which are separately embalmed, but which in this case had no such +contents. So that, I take it, there was in her case a departure in +embalming; and that the organs were restored to the body, each in its +proper place--if, indeed, they had ever been removed. If this surmise be +true, we shall find that the brain of the Queen either was never +extracted in the usual way, or, if so taken out, that it was duly +replaced, instead of being enclosed within the mummy wrappings. +Finally, in the sarcophagus there was the Magic Coffer on which her feet +rested. Mark you also, the care taken in the preservance of her power +to control the elements. According to her belief, the open hand outside +the wrappings controlled the Air, and the strange Jewel Stone with the +shining stars controlled Fire. The symbolism inscribed on the soles of +her feet gave sway over Land and Water. About the Star Stone I shall +tell you later; but whilst we are speaking of the sarcophagus, mark how +she guarded her secret in case of grave-wrecking or intrusion. None +could open her Magic Coffer without the lamps, for we know now that +ordinary light will not be effective. The great lid of the sarcophagus +was not sealed down as usual, because she wished to control the air. But +she hid the lamps, which in structure belong to the Magic Coffer, in a +place where none could find them, except by following the secret +guidance which she had prepared for only the eyes of wisdom. And even +here she had guarded against chance discovery, by preparing a bolt of +death for the unwary discoverer. To do this she had applied the lesson +of the tradition of the avenging guard of the treasures of the pyramid, +built by her great predecessor of the Fourth Dynasty of the throne of +Egypt. + +"You have noted, I suppose, how there were, in the case of her tomb, +certain deviations from the usual rules. For instance, the shaft of the +Mummy Pit, which is usually filled up solid with stones and rubbish, was +left open. Why was this? I take it that she had made arrangements for +leaving the tomb when, after her resurrection, she should be a new +woman, with a different personality, and less inured to the hardships +that in her first existence she had suffered. So far as we can judge of +her intent, all things needful for her exit into the world had been +thought of, even to the iron chain, described by Van Huyn, close to the +door in the rock, by which she might be able to lower herself to the +ground. That she expected a long period to elapse was shown in the +choice of material. An ordinary rope would be rendered weaker or unsafe +in process of time, but she imagined, and rightly, that the iron would +endure. + +"What her intentions were when once she trod the open earth afresh we do +not know, and we never shall, unless her own dead lips can soften and +speak." + + + + + +Chapter XV +The Purpose of Queen Tera + + + + +"Now, as to the Star Jewel! This she manifestly regarded as the +greatest of her treasures. On it she had engraven words which none of +her time dared to speak. + +"In the old Egyptian belief it was held that there were words, which, if +used properly--for the method of speaking them was as important as the +words themselves--could command the Lords of the Upper and the Lower +Worlds. The 'hekau', or word of power, was all-important in certain +ritual. On the Jewel of Seven Stars, which, as you know, is carved into +the image of a scarab, are graven in hieroglyphic two such hekau, one +above, the other underneath. But you will understand better when you +see it! Wait here! Do not stir!" + +As he spoke, he rose and left the room. A great fear for him came over +me; but I was in some strange way relieved when I looked at Margaret. +Whenever there had been any possibility of danger to her father, she had +shown great fear for him; now she was calm and placid. I said nothing, +but waited. + +In two or three minutes, Mr. Trelawny returned. He held in his hand a +little golden box. This, as he resumed his seat, he placed before him +on the table. We all leaned forward as he opened it. + +On a lining of white satin lay a wondrous ruby of immense size, almost +as big as the top joint of Margaret's little finger. It was carven--it +could not possibly have been its natural shape, but jewels do not show +the working of the tool--into the shape of a scarab, with its wings +folded, and its legs and feelers pressed back to its sides. Shining +through its wondrous "pigeon's blood" colour were seven different stars, +each of seven points, in such position that they reproduced exactly the +figure of the Plough. There could be no possible mistake as to this in +the mind of anyone who had ever noted the constellation. On it were +some hieroglyphic figures, cut with the most exquisite precision, as I +could see when it came to my turn to use the magnifying-glass, which Mr. +Trelawny took from his pocket and handed to us. + +When we all had seen it fully, Mr. Trelawny turned it over so that it +rested on its back in a cavity made to hold it in the upper half of the +box. The reverse was no less wonderful than the upper, being carved to +resemble the under side of the beetle. It, too, had some hieroglyphic +figures cut on it. Mr. Trelawny resumed his lecture as we all sat with +our heads close to this wonderful jewel: + +"As you see, there are two words, one on the top, the other underneath. +The symbols on the top represent a single word, composed of one syllable +prolonged, with its determinatives. You know, all of you, I suppose, +that the Egyptian language was phonetic, and that the hieroglyphic +symbol represented the sound. The first symbol here, the hoe, means +'mer', and the two pointed ellipses the prolongation of the final r: +mer-r-r. The sitting figure with the hand to its face is what we call +the 'determinative' of 'thought'; and the roll of papyrus that of +'abstraction'. Thus we get the word 'mer', love, in its abstract, +general, and fullest sense. This is the hekau which can command the +Upper World." + +Margaret's face was a glory as she said in a deep, low, ringing tone: + +"Oh, but it is true. How the old wonder-workers guessed at almighty +Truth!" Then a hot blush swept her face, and her eyes fell. Her father +smiled at her lovingly as he resumed: + +"The symbolisation of the word on the reverse is simpler, though the +meaning is more abstruse. The first symbol means 'men', 'abiding', and +the second, 'ab', 'the heart'. So that we get 'abiding of heart', or in +our own language 'patience'. And this is the hekau to control the Lower +World!" + +He closed the box, and motioning us to remain as we were, he went back +to his room to replace the Jewel in the safe. When he had returned and +resumed his seat, he went on: + +"That Jewel, with its mystic words, and which Queen Tera held under her +hand in the sarcophagus, was to be an important factor--probably the most +important--in the working out of the act of her resurrection. From the +first I seemed by a sort of instinct to realise this. I kept the Jewel +within my great safe, whence none could extract it; not even Queen Tera +herself with her astral body." + +"Her 'astral body'? What is that, Father? What does that mean?" +There was a keenness in Margaret's voice as she asked the question which +surprised me a little; but Trelawny smiled a sort of indulgent parental +smile, which came through his grim solemnity like sunshine through a +rifted cloud, as he spoke: + +"The astral body, which is a part of Buddhist belief, long subsequent to +the time I speak of, and which is an accepted fact of modern mysticism, +had its rise in Ancient Egypt; at least, so far as we know. It is that +the gifted individual can at will, quick as thought itself, transfer his +body whithersoever he chooses, by the dissolution and reincarnation of +particles. In the ancient belief there were several parts of a human +being. You may as well know them; so that you will understand matters +relative to them or dependent on them as they occur. + +"First there is the 'Ka', or 'Double', which, as Doctor Budge explains, +may be defined as 'an abstract individuality of personality' which was +imbued with all the characteristic attributes of the individual it +represented, and possessed an absolutely independent existence. It was +free to move from place to place on earth at will; and it could enter +into heaven and hold converse with the gods. Then there was the 'Ba', +or 'soul', which dwelt in the 'Ka', and had the power of becoming +corporeal or incorporeal at will; 'it had both substance and form. . . . +It had power to leave the tomb. . . . It could revisit the body in the +tomb . . . and could reincarnate it and hold converse with it.' Again +there was the 'Khu', the 'spiritual intelligence', or spirit. It took +the form of 'a shining, luminous, intangible shape of the body.'. . . +Then, again, there was the 'Sekhem', or 'power' of a man, his strength +or vital force personified. These were the 'Khaibit', or 'shadow', the +'Ren', or 'name', the 'Khat', or 'physical body', and 'Ab', the 'heart', +in which life was seated, went to the full making up of a man. + +"Thus you will see, that if this division of functions, spiritual and +bodily, ethereal and corporeal, ideal and actual, be accepted as exact, +there are all the possibilities and capabilities of corporeal +transference, guided always by an unimprisonable will or intelligence." +As he paused I murmured the lines from Shelley's "Prometheus Unbound": + + "'The Magnus Zoroaster . . . Met his own image walking in the + garden.'" + +Mr. Trelawny was not displeased. "Quite so!" he said, in his quiet way. +"Shelley had a better conception of ancient beliefs than any of our +poets." With a voice changed again he resumed his lecture, for so it +was to some of us: + +"There is another belief of the ancient Egyptian which you must bear in +mind; that regarding the ushaptiu figures of Osiris, which were placed +with the dead to its work in the Under World. The enlargement of this +idea came to a belief that it was possible to transmit, by magical +formulae, the soul and qualities of any living creature to a figure made +in its image. This would give a terrible extension of power to one who +held the gift of magic. + +"It is from a union of these various beliefs, and their natural +corollaries, that I have come to the conclusion that Queen Tera expected +to be able to effect her own resurrection, when, and where, and how, she +would. That she may have held before her a definite time for making her +effort is not only possible but likely. I shall not stop now to explain +it, but shall enter upon the subject later on. With a soul with the +Gods, a spirit which could wander the earth at will, and a power of +corporeal transference, or an astral body, there need be no bounds or +limits to her ambition. The belief is forced upon us that for these +forty or fifty centuries she lay dormant in her tomb--waiting. Waiting +with that 'patience' which could rule the Gods of the Under World, for +that 'love' which could command those of the Upper World. What she may +have dreamt we know not; but her dream must have been broken when the +Dutch explorer entered her sculptured cavern, and his follower violated +the sacred privacy of her tomb by his rude outrage in the theft of her +hand. + +"That theft, with all that followed, proved to us one thing, however: +that each part of her body, though separated from the rest, can be a +central point or rallying place for the items or particles of her astral +body. That hand in my room could ensure her instantaneous presence in +the flesh, and its equally rapid dissolution. + +"Now comes the crown of my argument. The purpose of the attack on me +was to get the safe open, so that the sacred Jewel of Seven Stars could +be extracted. That immense door of the safe could not keep out her +astral body, which, or any part of it, could gather itself as well +within as without the safe. And I doubt not that in the darkness of the +night that mummied hand sought often the Talisman Jewel, and drew new +inspiration from its touch. But despite all its power, the astral body +could not remove the Jewel through the chinks of the safe. The Ruby is +not astral; and it could only be moved in the ordinary way by the +opening of the doors. To this end, the Queen used her astral body and +the fierce force of her Familiar, to bring to the keyhole of the safe +the master key which debarred her wish. For years I have suspected, +nay, have believed as much; and I, too, guarded myself against powers of +the Nether World. I, too, waited in patience till I should have +gathered together all the factors required for the opening of the Magic +Coffer and the resurrection of the mummied Queen!" He paused, and his +daughter's voice came out sweet and clear, and full of intense feeling: + +"Father, in the Egyptian belief, was the power of resurrection of a +mummied body a general one, or was it limited? That is: could it +achieve resurrection many times in the course of ages; or only once, and +that one final?" + +"There was but one resurrection," he answered. "There were some who +believed that this was to be a definite resurrection of the body into +the real world. But in the common belief, the Spirit found joy in the +Elysian Fields, where there was plenty of food and no fear of famine. +Where there was moisture and deep-rooted reeds, and all the joys that +are to be expected by the people of an arid land and burning clime." + +Then Margaret spoke with an earnestness which showed the conviction of +her inmost soul: + +"To me, then, it is given to understand what was the dream of this great +and far-thinking and high-souled lady of old; the dream that held her +soul in patient waiting for its realisation through the passing of all +those tens of centuries. The dream of a love that might be; a love that +she felt she might, even under new conditions, herself evoke. The love +that is the dream of every woman's life; of the Old and of the New; +Pagan or Christian; under whatever sun; in whatever rank or calling; +however may have been the joy or pain of her life in other ways. Oh! I +know it! I know it! I am a woman, and I know a woman's heart. What +were the lack of food or the plenitude of it; what were feast or famine +to this woman, born in a palace, with the shadow of the Crown of the Two +Egypts on her brows! What were reedy morasses or the tinkle of running +water to her whose barges could sweep the great Nile from the mountains +to the sea. What were petty joys and absence of petty fears to her, the +raising of whose hand could hurl armies, or draw to the water-stairs of +her palaces the commerce of the world! At whose word rose temples +filled with all the artistic beauty of the Times of Old which it was her +aim and pleasure to restore! Under whose guidance the solid rock yawned +into the sepulchre that she designed! + +"Surely, surely, such a one had nobler dreams! I can feel them in my +heart; I can see them with my sleeping eyes!" + +As she spoke she seemed to be inspired; and her eyes had a far-away look +as though they saw something beyond mortal sight. And then the deep +eyes filled up with unshed tears of great emotion. The very soul of the +woman seemed to speak in her voice; whilst we who listened sat +entranced. + +"I can see her in her loneliness and in the silence of her mighty pride, +dreaming her own dream of things far different from those around her. +Of some other land, far, far away under the canopy of the silent night, +lit by the cool, beautiful light of the stars. A land under that +Northern star, whence blew the sweet winds that cooled the feverish +desert air. A land of wholesome greenery, far, far away. Where were no +scheming and malignant priesthood; whose ideas were to lead to power +through gloomy temples and more gloomy caverns of the dead, through an +endless ritual of death! A land where love was not base, but a divine +possession of the soul! Where there might be some one kindred spirit +which could speak to hers through mortal lips like her own; whose being +could merge with hers in a sweet communion of soul to soul, even as +their breaths could mingle in the ambient air! I know the feeling, for +I have shared it myself. I may speak of it now, since the blessing has +come into my own life. I may speak of it since it enables me to +interpret the feelings, the very longing soul, of that sweet and lovely +Queen, so different from her surroundings, so high above her time! +Whose nature, put into a word, could control the forces of the Under +World; and the name of whose aspiration, though but graven on a star-lit +jewel, could command all the powers in the Pantheon of the High Gods. + +"And in the realisation of that dream she will surely be content to +rest!" + +We men sat silent, as the young girl gave her powerful interpretation of +the design or purpose of the woman of old. Her every word and tone +carried with it the conviction of her own belief. The loftiness of her +thoughts seemed to uplift us all as we listened. Her noble words, +flowing in musical cadence and vibrant with internal force, seemed to +issue from some great instrument of elemental power. Even her tone was +new to us all; so that we listened as to some new and strange being from +a new and strange world. Her father's face was full of delight. I knew +now its cause. I understood the happiness that had come into his life, +on his return to the world that he knew, from that prolonged sojourn in +the world of dreams. To find in his daughter, whose nature he had never +till now known, such a wealth of affection, such a splendour of +spiritual insight, such a scholarly imagination, such . . . The rest of +his feeling was of hope! + +The two other men were silent unconsciously. One man had had his +dreaming; for the other, his dreams were to come. + +For myself, I was like one in a trance. Who was this new, radiant being +who had won to existence out of the mist and darkness of our fears? +Love has divine possibilities for the lover's heart! The wings of the +soul may expand at any time from the shoulders of the loved one, who +then may sweep into angel form. I knew that in my Margaret's nature +were divine possibilities of many kinds. When under the shade of the +overhanging willow-tree on the river, I had gazed into the depths of her +beautiful eyes, I had thenceforth a strict belief in the manifold +beauties and excellences of her nature; but this soaring and +understanding spirit was, indeed, a revelation. My pride, like her +father's, was outside myself; my joy and rapture were complete and +supreme! + +When we had all got back to earth again in our various ways, Mr. +Trelawny, holding his daughter's hand in his, went on with his +discourse: + +"Now, as to the time at which Queen Tera intended her resurrection to +take place! We are in contact with some of the higher astronomical +calculations in connection with true orientation. As you know, the +stars shift their relative positions in the heavens; but though the real +distances traversed are beyond all ordinary comprehension, the effects +as we see them are small. Nevertheless, they are susceptible of +measurement, not by years, indeed, but by centuries. It was by this +means that Sir John Herschel arrived at the date of the building of the +Great Pyramid--a date fixed by the time necessary to change the star of +the true north from Draconis to the Pole Star, and since then verified +by later discoveries. From the above there can be no doubt whatever +that astronomy was an exact science with the Egyptians at least a +thousand years before the time of Queen Tera. Now, the stars that go to +make up a constellation change in process of time their relative +positions, and the Plough is a notable example. The changes in the +position of stars in even forty centuries is so small as to be hardly +noticeable by an eye not trained to minute observances, but they can be +measured and verified. Did you, or any of you, notice how exactly the +stars in the Ruby correspond to the position of the stars in the Plough; +or how the same holds with regard to the translucent places in the Magic +Coffer?" + +We all assented. He went on: + +"You are quite correct. They correspond exactly. And yet when Queen +Tera was laid in her tomb, neither the stars in the Jewel nor the +translucent places in the Coffer corresponded to the position of the +stars in the Constellation as they then were!" + +We looked at each other as he paused: a new light was breaking upon us. +With a ring of mastery in his voice he went on: + +"Do you not see the meaning of this? Does it not throw a light on the +intention of the Queen? She, who was guided by augury, and magic, and +superstition, naturally chose a time for her resurrection which seemed +to have been pointed out by the High Gods themselves, who had sent +their message on a thunderbolt from other worlds. When such a time was +fixed by supernal wisdom, would it not be the height of human wisdom to +avail itself of it? Thus it is"--here his voice deepened and trembled +with the intensity of his feeling--"that to us and our time is given the +opportunity of this wondrous peep into the old world, such as has been +the privilege of none other of our time; which may never be again. + +"From first to last the cryptic writing and symbolism of that wondrous +tomb of that wondrous woman is full of guiding light; and the key of the +many mysteries lies in that most wondrous Jewel which she held in her +dead hand over the dead heart, which she hoped and believed would beat +again in a newer and nobler world! + +"There are only loose ends now to consider. Margaret has given us the +true inwardness of the feeling of the other Queen!" He looked at her +fondly, and stroked her hand as he said it. "For my own part I +sincerely hope she is right; for in such case it will be a joy, I am +sure, to all of us to assist at such a realisation of hope. But we must +not go too fast, or believe too much in our present state of knowledge. +The voice that we hearken for comes out of times strangely other than +our own; when human life counted for little, and when the morality of +the time made little account of the removing of obstacles in the way to +achievement of desire. We must keep our eyes fixed on the scientific +side, and wait for the developments on the psychic side. + +"Now, as to this stone box, which we call the Magic Coffer. As I have +said, I am convinced that it opens only in obedience to some principle +of light, or the exercise of some of its forces at present unknown to +us. There is here much ground for conjecture and for experiment; for as +yet the scientists have not thoroughly differentiated the kinds, and +powers, and degrees of light. Without analysing various rays we may, I +think, take it for granted that there are different qualities and powers +of light; and this great field of scientific investigation is almost +virgin soil. We know as yet so little of natural forces, that +imagination need set no bounds to its flights in considering the +possibilities of the future. Within but a few years we have made such +discoveries as two centuries ago would have sent the discoverer's to the +flames. The liquefaction of oxygen; the existence of radium, of helium, +of polonium, of argon; the different powers of Roentgen and Cathode and +Bequerel rays. And as we may finally prove that there are different +kinds and qualities of light, so we may find that combustion may have its +own powers of differentiation; that there are qualities in some flames +non-existent in others. It may be that some of the essential conditions +of substance are continuous, even in the destruction of their bases. +Last night I was thinking of this, and reasoning that as there are +certain qualities in some oils which are not in others, so there may be +certain similar or corresponding qualities or powers in the combinations +of each. I suppose we have all noticed some time or other that the +light of colza oil is not quite the same as that of paraffin, or that +the flames of coal gas and whale oil are different. They find it so in +the light-houses! All at once it occurred to me that there might be some +special virtue in the oil which had been found in the jars when Queen +Tera's tomb was opened. These had not been used to preserve the +intestines as usual, so they must have been placed there for some other +purpose. I remembered that in Van Huyn's narrative he had commented on +the way the jars were sealed. This was lightly, though effectually; +they could be opened without force. The jars were themselves preserved +in a sarcophagus which, though of immense strength and hermetically +sealed, could be opened easily. Accordingly, I went at once to examine +the jars. A little--a very little of the oil still remained, but it had +grown thick in the two and a half centuries in which the jars had been +open. Still, it was not rancid; and on examining it I found it was +cedar oil, and that it still exhaled something of its original aroma. +This gave me the idea that it was to be used to fill the lamps. Whoever +had placed the oil in the jars, and the jars in the sarcophagus, knew +that there might be shrinkage in process of time, even in vases of +alabaster, and fully allowed for it; for each of the jars would have +filled the lamps half a dozen times. With part of the oil remaining I +made some experiments, therefore, which may give useful results. You +know, Doctor, that cedar oil, which was much used in the preparation and +ceremonials of the Egyptian dead, has a certain refractive power which +we do not find in other oils. For instance, we use it on the lenses of +our microscopes to give additional clearness of vision. Last night I +put some in one of the lamps, and placed it near a translucent part of +the Magic Coffer. The effect was very great; the glow of light within +was fuller and more intense than I could have imagined, where an +electric light similarly placed had little, if any, effect. I should +have tried others of the seven lamps, but that my supply of oil ran out. +This, however, is on the road to rectification. I have sent for more +cedar oil, and expect to have before long an ample supply. Whatever may +happen from other causes, our experiment shall not, at all events, fail +from this. We shall see! We shall see!" + +Doctor Winchester had evidently been following the logical process of +the other's mind, for his comment was: + +"I do hope that when the light is effective in opening the box, the +mechanism will not be impaired or destroyed." + +His doubt as to this gave anxious thought to some of us. + + + + + +Chapter XVI +The Cavern + + + + +In the evening Mr. Trelawny took again the whole party into the study. +When we were all attention he began to unfold his plans: + +"I have come to the conclusion that for the proper carrying out of what +we will call our Great Experiment we must have absolute and complete +isolation. Isolation not merely for a day or two, but for as long as we +may require. Here such a thing would be impossible; the needs and +habits of a great city with its ingrained possibilities of interruption, +would, or might, quite upset us. Telegrams, registered letters, or +express messengers would alone be sufficient; but the great army of +those who want to get something would make disaster certain. In +addition, the occurrences of the last week have drawn police attention +to this house. Even if special instructions to keep an eye on it have +not been issued from Scotland Yard or the District Station, you may be +sure that the individual policeman on his rounds will keep it well under +observation. Besides, the servants who have discharged themselves will +before long begin to talk. They must; for they have, for the sake of +their own characters, to give some reason for the termination of a +service which has I should say a position in the neighbourhood. The +servants of the neighbours will begin to talk, and, perhaps the +neighbours themselves. Then the active and intelligent Press will, with +its usual zeal for the enlightenment of the public and its eye to +increase of circulation, get hold of the matter. When the reporter is +after us we shall not have much chance of privacy. Even if we were to +bar ourselves in, we should not be free from interruption, possibly from +intrusion. Either would ruin our plans, and so we must take measures to +effect a retreat, carrying all our impedimenta with us. For this I am +prepared. For a long time past I have foreseen such a possibility, and +have made preparation for it. Of course, I had no foreknowledge of what +has happened; but I knew something would, or might, happen. For more +than two years past my house in Cornwall has been made ready to receive +all the curios which are preserved here. When Corbeck went off on his +search for the lamps I had the old house at Kyllion made ready; it is +fitted with electric light all over, and all the appliances for +manufacture of the light are complete. I had perhaps better tell you, +for none of you, not even Margaret, knows anything of it, that the house +is absolutely shut out from public access or even from view. It stands +on a little rocky promontory behind a steep hill, and except from the +sea cannot be seen. Of old it was fenced in by a high stone wall, for +the house which it succeeded was built by an ancestor of mine in the +days when a great house far away from a centre had to be prepared to +defend itself. Here, then, is a place so well adapted to our needs that +it might have been prepared on purpose. I shall explain it to you when +we are all there. This will not be long, for already our movement is in +train. I have sent word to Marvin to have all preparation for our +transport ready. He is to have a special train, which is to run at +night so as to avoid notice. Also a number of carts and stone-wagons, +with sufficient men and appliances to take all our packing-cases to +Paddington. We shall be away before the Argus-eyed Pressman is on the +watch. We shall today begin our packing up; and I dare say that by +tomorrow night we shall be ready. In the outhouses I have all the +packing-cases which were used for bringing the things from Egypt, and I +am satisfied that as they were sufficient for the journey across the +desert and down the Nile to Alexandria and thence on to London, they +will serve without fail between here and Kyllion. We four men, with +Margaret to hand us such things as we may require, will be able to get +the things packed safely; and the carrier's men will take them to the +trucks. + +"Today the servants go to Kyllion, and Mrs. Grant will make such +arrangements as may be required. She will take a stock of necessaries +with her, so that we will not attract local attention by our daily +needs; and will keep us supplied with perishable food from London. +Thanks to Margaret's wise and generous treatment of the servants who +decided to remain, we have got a staff on which we can depend. They +have been already cautioned to secrecy, so that we need not fear gossip +from within. Indeed, as the servants will be in London after their +preparations at Kyllion are complete, there will not be much subject for +gossip, in detail at any rate. + +"As, however, we should commence the immediate work of packing at once, +we will leave over the after proceedings till later when we have +leisure." + +Accordingly we set about our work. Under Mr. Trelawny's guidance, and +aided by the servants, we took from the outhouses great packing-cases. +Some of these were of enormous strength, fortified by many thicknesses +of wood, and by iron bands and rods with screw-ends and nuts. We placed +them throughout the house, each close to the object which it was to +contain. When this preliminary work had been effected, and there had +been placed in each room and in the hall great masses of new hay, +cotton-waste and paper, the servants were sent away. Then we set about +packing. + +No one, not accustomed to packing, could have the slightest idea of the +amount of the amount of work involved in such a task as that in which in +we were engaged. For my own part I had had a vague idea that there were +a large number of Egyptian objects in Mr. Trelawny's house; but until I +came to deal with them seriatim I had little idea of either their +importance, the size of some of them, or of their endless number. Far +into the night we worked. At times we used all the strength which we +could muster on a single object; again we worked separately, but always +under Mr. Trelawny's immediate direction. He himself, assisted by +Margaret, kept an exact tall of each piece. + +It was only when we sat down, utterly wearied, to a long-delayed supper +that we began to realised that a large part of the work was done. Only +a few of the packing-cases, however, were closed; for a vast amount of +work still remained. We had finished some of the cases, each of which +held only one of the great sarcophagi. The cases which held many objects +could not be closed till all had been differentiated and packed. + +I slept that night without movement or without dreams; and on our +comparing notes in the morning, I found that each of the others had had +the same experience. + +By dinner-time next evening the whole work was complete, and all was +ready for the carriers who were to come at midnight. A little before +the appointed time we heard the rumble of carts; then we were shortly +invaded by an army of workmen, who seemed by sheer force of numbers to +move without effort, in an endless procession, all our prepared +packages. A little over an hour sufficed them, and when the carts had +rumbled away, we all got ready to follow them to Paddington. Silvio was +of course to be taken as one of our party. + +Before leaving we went in a body over the house, which looked desolate +indeed. As the servants had all gone to Cornwall there had been no +attempt at tidying-up; every room and passage in which we had worked, +and all the stairways, were strewn with paper and waste, and marked with +dirty feet. + +The last thing which Mr. Trelawny did before coming away was to take +from the great safe the Ruby with the Seven Stars. As he put it safely +into his pocket-book, Margaret, who had all at once seemed to grow +deadly tired and stood beside her father pale and rigid, suddenly became +all aglow, as though the sight of the Jewel had inspired her. She +smiled at her father approvingly as she said: + +"You are right, Father. There will not be any more trouble tonight. +She will not wreck your arrangements for any cause. I would stake my +life upon it." + +"She--or something--wrecked us in the desert when we had come from the +tomb in the Valley of the Sorcerer!" was the grim comment of Corbeck, +who was standing by. Margaret answered him like a flash: + +"Ah! she was then near her tomb from which for thousands of years her +body had not been moved. She must know that things are different now." + +"How must she know?" asked Corbeck keenly. + +"If she has that astral body that Father spoke of, surely she must know! +How can she fail to, with an invisible presence and an intellect that +can roam abroad even to the stars and the worlds beyond us!" She +paused, and her father said solemnly: + +"It is on that supposition that we are proceeding. We must have the +courage of our convictions, and act on them--to the last!" + +Margaret took his hand and held it in a dreamy kind of way as we filed +out of the house. She was holding it still when he locked the hall +door, and when we moved up the road to the gateway, whence we took a cab +to Paddington. + +When all the goods were loaded at the station, the whole of the workmen +went on to the train; this took also some of the stone-wagons used for +carrying the cases with the great sarcophagi. Ordinary carts and plenty +of horses were to be found at Westerton, which was our station for +Kyllion. Mr. Trelawny had ordered a sleeping-carriage for our party; +as soon as the train had started we all turned into our cubicles. + +That night I slept sound. There was over me a conviction of security +which was absolute and supreme. Margaret's definite announcement: +"There will not be any trouble tonight!" seemed to carry assurance with +it. I did not question it; nor did anyone else. It was only afterwards +that I began to think as to how she was so sure. The train was a slow +one, stopping many times and for considerable intervals. As Mr. +Trelawny did not wish to arrive at Westerton before dark, there was no +need to hurry; and arrangements had been made to feed the workmen at +certain places on the journey. We had our own hamper with us in the +private car. + +All that afternoon we talked over the Great Experiment, which seemed to +have become a definite entity in our thoughts. Mr. Trelawny became more +and more enthusiastic as the time wore on; hope was with him becoming +certainty. Doctor Winchester seemed to become imbued with some of his +spirit, though at times he would throw out some scientific fact which +would either make an impasse to the other's line of argument, or would +come as an arresting shock. Mr. Corbeck, on the other hand, seemed +slightly antagonistic to the theory. It may have been that whilst the +opinions of the others advanced, his own stood still; but the effect was +an attitude which appeared negative, if not wholly one of negation. + +As for Margaret, she seemed to be in some way overcome. Either it was +some new phase of feeling with her, or else she was taking the issue +more seriously than she had yet done. She was generally more or less +distraite, as though sunk in a brown study; from this she would recover +herself with a start. This was usually when there occurred some marked +episode in the journey, such as stopping at a station, or when the +thunderous rumble of crossing a viaduct woke the echoes of the hills or +cliffs around us. On each such occasion she would plunge into the +conversation, taking such a part in it as to show that, whatever had +been her abstracted thought, her senses had taken in fully all that had +gone on around her. Towards myself her manner was strange. Sometimes +it was marked by a distance, half shy, half haughty, which was new to +me. At other times there were moments of passion in look and gesture +which almost made me dizzy with delight. Little, however, of a marked +nature transpired during the journey. There was but one episode which +had in it any element of alarm, but as we were all asleep at the time it +did not disturb us. We only learned it from a communicative guard in the +morning. Whilst running between Dawlish and Teignmouth the train was +stopped by a warning given by someone who moved a torch to and fro right +on the very track. The driver had found on pulling up that just ahead +of the train a small landslip had taken place, some of the red earth +from the high bank having fallen away. It did not however reach to the +metals; and the driver had resumed his way, none too well pleased at the +delay. To use his own words, the guard thought "there was too much +bally caution on this 'ere line!'" + +We arrived at Westerton about nine o'clock in the evening. Carts and +horses were in waiting, and the work of unloading the train began at +once. Our own party did not wait to see the work done, as it was in the +hands of competent people. We took the carriage which was in waiting, +and through the darkness of the night sped on to Kyllion. + +We were all impressed by the house as it appeared in the bright +moonlight. A great grey stone mansion of the Jacobean period; vast and +spacious, standing high over the sea on the very verge of a high cliff. +When we had swept round the curve of the avenue cut through the rock, +and come out on the high plateau on which the house stood, the crash and +murmur of waves breaking against rock far below us came with an +invigorating breath of moist sea air. We understood then in an instant +how well we were shut out from the world on that rocky shelf above the +sea. + +Within the house we found all ready. Mrs. Grant and her staff had +worked well, and all was bright and fresh and clean. We took a brief +survey of the chief rooms and then separated to have a wash and to +change our clothes after our long journey of more than four-and-twenty +hours. + +We had supper in the great dining-room on the south side, the walls of +which actually hung over the sea. The murmur came up muffled, but it +never ceased. As the little promontory stood well out into the sea, the +northern side of the house was open; and the due north was in no way +shut out by the great mass of rock, which, reared high above us, shut +out the rest of the world. Far off across the bay we could see the +trembling lights of the castle, and here and there along the shore the +faint light of a fisher's window. For the rest the sea was a dark blue +plain with an occasional flicker of light as the gleam of starlight fell +on the slope of a swelling wave. + +When supper was over we all adjourned to the room which Mr. Trelawny had +set aside as his study, his bedroom being close to it. As we entered, +the first thing I noticed was a great safe, somewhat similar to that +which stood in his room in London. When we were in the room Mr. +Trelawny went over to the table, and, taking out his pocket-book, laid +it on the table. As he did so he pressed down on it with the palm of +his hand. A strange pallor came over his face. With fingers that +trembled he opened the book, saying as he did so: + +"Its bulk does not seem the same; I hope nothing has happened!" + +All three of us men crowded round close. Margaret alone remained calm; +she stood erect and silent, and still as a statue. She had a far-away +look in her eyes, as though she did not either know or care what was +going on around her. + +With a despairing gesture Trelawny threw open the pouch of the +pocket-book wherein he had placed the Jewel of Seven Stars. As he sank +down on the chair which stood close to him, he said in a hoarse voice: + +"My God! it is gone. Without it the Great Experiment can come to +nothing!" + +His words seemed to wake Margaret from her introspective mood. An +agonised spasm swept her face; but almost on the instant she was calm. +She almost smiled as she said: + +"You may have left it in your room, Father. Perhaps it has fallen out +of the pocket-book whilst you were changing." Without a word we all +hurried into the next room through the open door between the study and +the bedroom. And then a sudden calm fell on us like a cloud of fear. + +There! on the table, lay the Jewel of Seven Stars, shining and sparkling +with lurid light, as though each of the seven points of each the seven +stars gleamed through blood! + +Timidly we each looked behind us, and then at each other. Margaret was +now like the rest of us. She had lost her statuesque calm. All the +introspective rigidity had gone from her; and she clasped her hands +together till the knuckles were white. + +Without a word Mr. Trelawny raised the Jewel, and hurried with it into +the next room. As quietly as he could he opened the door of the safe +with the key fastened to his wrist and placed the Jewel within. When +the heavy doors were closed and locked he seemed to breathe more freely. + +Somehow this episode, though a disturbing one in many ways, seemed to +bring us back to our old selves. Since we had left London we had all +been overstrained; and this was a sort of relief. Another step in our +strange enterprise had been effected. + +The change back was more marked in Margaret than in any of us. Perhaps +it was that she was a woman, whilst we were men; perhaps it was that she +was younger than the rest; perhaps both reasons were effective, each in +its own way. At any rate the change was there, and I was happier than I +had been through the long journey. All her buoyancy, her tenderness, +her deep feeling seemed to shine forth once more; now and again as her +father's eyes rested on her, his face seemed to light up. + +Whilst we waited for the carts to arrive, Mr. Trelawny took us through +the house, pointing out and explaining where the objects which we had +brought with us were to be placed. In one respect only did he withhold +confidence. The positions of all those things which had connection with +the Great Experiment were not indicated. The cases containing them were +to be left in the outer hall, for the present. + +By the time we had made the survey, the carts began to arrive; and the +stir and bustle of the previous night were renewed. Mr. Trelawny stood +in the hall beside the massive ironbound door, and gave directions as to +the placing of each of the great packing-cases. Those containing many +items were placed in the inner hall where they were to be unpacked. + +In an incredibly short time the whole consignment was delivered; and the +men departed with a douceur for each, given through their foreman, +which made them effusive in their thanks. Then we all went to our own +rooms. There was a strange confidence over us all. I do not think that +any one of us had a doubt as the the quiet passing of the remainder of +the night. + +The faith was justified, for on our re-assembling in the morning we +found that all had slept well and peaceably. + +During that day all the curios, except those required for the Great +Experiment, were put into the places designed for them. Then it was +arranged that all the servants should go back with Mrs. Grant to London +on the next morning. + +When they had all gone Mr. Trelawny, having seen the doors locked, took +us into the study. + +"Now," said he when we were seated, "I have a secret to impart; but, +according to an old promise which does not leave me free, I must ask you +each to give me a solemn promise not to reveal it. For three hundred +years at least such a promise has been exacted from everyone to whom it +ws told, and more than once life and safety were secured through loyal +observance of the promise. Even as it is, I am breaking the letter, if +not the spirit of the tradition; for I should only tell it to the +immediate members of my family." + +We all gave the promise required. Then he went on: + +"There is a secret place in this house, a cave, natural originally but +finished by labour, underneath this house. I will not undertake to say +that it has always been used according to the law. During the Bloody +Assize more than a few Cornishmen found refuge in it; and later, and +earlier, it formed, I have no doubt whatever, a useful place for storing +contraband goods. 'Tre Pol and Pen', I suppose you know, have always +been smugglers; and their relations and friends and neighbours have not +held back from the enterprise. For all such reasons a safe hiding-place +was always considered a valuable possession; and as the heads of our +House have always insisted on preserving the secret, I am in honour +bound to it. Later on, if all be well, I shall of course tell you, +Margaret, and you too, Ross, under the conditions that I am bound to +make." + +He rose up, and we all followed him. Leaving us in the outer hall, he +went away alone for a few minutes; and returning, beckoned us to follow +him. + +In the inside hall we found a whole section of an outstanding angle +moved away, and from the cavity saw a great hole dimly dark, and the +beginning of a rough staircase cut in the rock. As it was not pitch +dark there was manifestly some means of lighting it naturally, so +without pause we followed our host as he descended. After some forty or +fifty steps cut in a winding passage, we came to a great cave whose +further end tapered away into blackness. It was a huge place, dimly lit +by a few irregular slits of eccentric shape. Manifestly these were +faults in the rock which would readily allow the windows be disguised. +Close to each of them was a hanging shutter which could be easily swung +across by means of a dangling rope. The sound of the ceaseless beat of +the waves came up muffled from far below. Mr. Trelawny at once began to +speak: + +"This is the spot which I have chosen, as the best I know, for the scene +of our Great Experiment. In a hundred different ways it fulfils the +conditions which I am led to believe are primary with regard to success. +Here, we are, and shall be, as isolated as Queen Tera herself would have +been in her rocky tomb in the Valley of the Sorcerer, and still in a +rocky cavern. For good or ill we must here stand by our chances, and +abide by results. If we are successful we shall be able to let in on +the world of modern science such a flood of light from the Old World as +will change every condition of thought and experiment and practice. If +we fail, then even the knowledge of our attempt will die with us. For +this, and all else which may come, I believe we are prepared!" He +paused. No one spoke, but we all bowed our heads gravely in +acquiescence. He resumed, but with a certain hesitancy: + +"It is not yet too late! If any of you have a doubt or misgiving, for +God's speak it now! Whoever it may be, can go hence without let or +hindrance. The rest of us can go on our way alone!" + +Again he paused, and looked keenly at us in turn. We looked at each +other; but no one quailed. For my own part, if I had had any doubt as +to going on, the look on Margaret's face would have reassured me. It +was fearless; it was intense; it was full of a divine calm. + +Mr. Trelawny took a long breath, and in a more cheerful, as well as in a +more decided tone, went on: + +"As we are all of one mind, the sooner we get the necessary matters in +train the better. Let me tell you that this place, like all the rest of +the house, can be lit with electricity. We could not join the wires to +the mains lest our secret should become known, but I have a cable here +which we can attach in the hall and complete the circuit!" As he was +speaking, he began to ascend the steps. From close to the entrance he +took the end of a cable; this he drew forward and attached to a switch +in the wall. Then, turning on a tap, he flooded the whole vault and +staircase below with light. I could now see from the volume of light +streaming up into the hallway that the hole beside the staircase went +direct into the cave. Above it was a pulley and a mass of strong tackle +with multiplying blocks of the Smeaton order. Mr. Trelawny, seeing me +looking at this, said, correctly interpreting my thoughts: + +"Yes! it is new. I hung it there myself on purpose. I knew we should +have to lower great weights; and as I did not wish to take too many into +my confidence, I arranged a tackle which I could work alone if +necessary." + +We set to work at once; and before nightfall had lowered, unhooked, and +placed in the positions designated for each by Trelawny, all the great +sarcophagi and all the curios and other matters which we had taken with +us. + +It was a strange and weird proceeding, the placing of those wonderful +monuments of a bygone age in that green cavern, which represented in its +cutting and purpose and up-to-date mechanism and electric lights both +the old world and the new. But as time went on I grew more and more to +recognise the wisdom and correctness of Mr. Trelawny's choice. I was +much disturbed when Silvio, who had been brought into the cave in the +arms of his mistress, and who was lying asleep on my coat which I had +taken off, sprang up when the cat mummy had been unpacked, and flew at +it with the same ferocity which he had previously exhibited. The +incident showed Margaret in a new phase, and one which gave my heart a +pang. She had been standing quite still at one side of the cave leaning +on a sarcophagus, in one of those fits of abstraction which had of late +come upon her; but on hearing the sound, and seeing Silvio's violent +onslaught, she seemed to fall into a positive fury of passion. Her eyes +blazed, and her mouth took a hard, cruel tension which was new to me. +Instinctively she stepped towards Silvio as if to interfere in the +attack. But I too had stepped forward; and as she caught my eye a +strange spasm came upon her, and she stopped. Its intensity made me +hold my breath; and I put up my hand to clear my eyes. When I had +done this, she had on the instant recovered her calm, and there was a +look of brief wonder on her face. With all her old grace and sweetness +she swept over and lifted Silvio, just as she had done on former +occasions, and held him in her arms, petting him and treating him as +though he were a little child who had erred. + +As I looked a strange fear came over me. The Margaret that I knew +seemed to be changing; and in my inmost heart I prayed that the +disturbing cause might soon come to an end. More than ever I longed at +that moment that our terrible Experiment should come to a prosperous +termination. + +When all had been arranged in the room as Mr. Trelawny wished he turned +to us, one after another, till he had concentrated the intelligence of +us all upon him. Then he said: + +"All is now ready in this place. We must only await the proper time to +begin." + +We were silent for a while. Doctor Winchester was the first to speak: + +"What is the proper time? Have you any approximation, even if you are +not satisfied as to the exact day?" He answered at once: + +"After the most anxious thought I have fixed on July 31!" + +"May I ask why that date?" He spoke his answer slowly: + +"Queen Tera was ruled in great degree by mysticism, and there are so +many evidences that she looked for resurrection that naturally she would +choose a period ruled over by a God specialised to such a purpose. Now, +the fourth month of the season of Inundation was ruled by Harmachis, +this being the name for 'Ra', the Sun-God, at his rising in the morning, +and therefore typifying the awakening or arising. This arising is +manifestly to physical life, since it is of the mid-world of human daily +life. Now as this month begins on our 25th July, the seventh day would +be July 31st, for you may be sure that the mystic Queen would not have +chosen any day but the seventh or some power of seven. + +"I dare say that some of you have wondered why our preparations have +been so deliberately undertaken. This is why! We must be ready in +every possible way when the time comes; but there was no use in having +to wait round for a needless number of days." + +And so we waited only for the 31st of July, the next day but one, when +the Great Experiment would be made. + + + + + +Chapter XVII +Doubts and Fears + + + + +We learn of great things by little experiences. The history of ages is +but an indefinite repetition of the history of hours. The record of a +soul is but a multiple of the story of a moment. The Recording Angel +writes in the Great Book in no rainbow tints; his pen is dipped in no +colours but light and darkness. For the eye of infinite wisdom there is +no need of shading. All things, all thoughts, all emotions, all +experiences, all doubts and hopes and fears, all intentions, all wishes +seen down to the lower strata of their concrete and multitudinous +elements, are finally resolved into direct opposites. + +Did any human being wish for the epitome of a life wherein were gathered +and grouped all the experiences that a child of Adam could have, the +history, fully and frankly written, of my own mind during the next +forty-eight hours would afford him all that could be wanted. And the +Recorder could have wrought as usual in sunlight and shadow, which may +be taken to represent the final expressions of Heaven and Hell. For in +the highest Heaven is Faith; and Doubt hangs over the yawning blackness +of Hell. + +There were of course times of sunshine in those two days; moments when, +in the realisation of Margaret's sweetness and her love for me, all +doubts were dissipated like morning mist before the sun. But the +balance of the time--and an overwhelming balance it was--gloom hung +over me like a pall. The hour, in whose coming I had acquiesced, was +approaching so quickly and was already so near that the sense of +finality was bearing upon me! The issue was perhaps life or death to +any of us; but for this we were all prepared. Margaret and I were one +as to the risk. The question of the moral aspect of the case, which +involved the religious belief in which I had been reared, was not one to +trouble me; for the issues, and the causes that lay behind them, were +not within my power even to comprehend. The doubt of the success of the +Great Experiment was such a doubt as exists in all enterprises which +have great possibilities. To me, whose life was passed in a series of +intellectual struggles, this form of doubt was a stimulus, rather than +deterrent. What then was it that made for me a trouble, which became an +anguish when my thoughts dwelt long on it? + +I was beginning to doubt Margaret! + +What it was that I doubted I knew not. It was not her love, or her +honour, or her truth, or her kindness, or her zeal. What then was it? + +It was herself! + +Margaret was changing! At times during the past few days I had hardly +known her as the same girl whom I had met at the picnic, and whose +vigils I had shared in the sick-room of her father. Then, even in her +moments of greatest sorrow or fright or anxiety, she was all life and +thought and keenness. Now she was generally distraite, and at times in +a sort of negative condition as though her mind--her very being--was not +present. At such moments she would have full possession of observation +and memory. She would know and remember all that was going on, and had +gone on around her; but her coming back to her old self had to me +something the sensation of a new person coming into the room. Up to the +time of leaving London I had been content whenever she was present. I +had over me that delicious sense of security which comes with the +consciousness that love is mutual. But now doubt had taken its place. +I never knew whether the personality present was my Margaret--the old +Margaret whom I had loved at the first glance--or the other new Margaret, +whom I hardly understood, and whose intellectual aloofness made an +impalpable barrier between us. Sometimes she would become, as it were, +awake all at once. At such times, though she would say to me sweet and +pleasant things which she had often said before, she would seem most +unlike herself. It was almost as if she was speaking parrot-like or at +dictation of one who could read words or acts, but not thoughts. After +one or two experiences of this kind, my own doubting began to make a +barrier; for I could not speak with the ease and freedom which were +usual to me. And so hour by hour we drifted apart. Were it not for the +few odd moments when the old Margaret was back with me full of her charm +I do not know what would have happened. As it was, each such moment +gave me a fresh start and kept my love from changing. + +I would have given the world for a confidant; but this was impossible. +How could I speak a doubt of Margaret to anyone, even her father! How +could I speak a doubt to Margaret, when Margaret herself was the theme! +I could only endure--and hope. And of the two the endurance was the +lesser pain. + +I think that Margaret must have at times felt that there was some cloud +between us, for towards the end of the first day she began to shun me a +little; or perhaps it was that she had become more diffident that usual +about me. Hitherto she had sought every opportunity of being with me, +just as I had tried to be with her; so that now any avoidance, one of +the other, made a new pain to us both. + +On this day the household seemed very still. Each one of us was about +his own work, or occupied with his own thoughts. We only met at meal +times; and then, though we talked, all seemed more or less preoccupied. +There was not in the house even the stir of the routine of service. The +precaution of Mr. Trelawny in having three rooms prepared for each of us +had rendered servants unnecessary. The dining-room was solidly prepared +with cooked provisions for several days. Towards evening I went out by +myself for a stroll. I had looked for Margaret to ask her to come with +me; but when I found her, she was in one of her apathetic moods, and the +charm of her presence seemed lost to me. Angry with myself, but unable +to quell my own spirit of discontent, I went out alone over the rocky +headland. + +On the cliff, with the wide expanse of wonderful sea before me, and no +sound but the dash of waves below and the harsh screams of the seagulls +above, my thoughts ran free. Do what I would, they returned +continuously to one subject, the solving of the doubt that was upon me. +Here in the solitude, amid the wide circle of Nature's force and strife, +my mind began to work truly. Unconsciously I found myself asking a +question which I would not allow myself to answer. At last the +persistence of a mind working truly prevailed; I found myself face to +face with my doubt. The habit of my life began to assert itself, and I +analysed the evidence before me. + +It was so startling that I had to force myself into obedience to logical +effort. My starting-place was this: Margaret was changed--in what way, +and by what means? Was it her character, or her mind, or her nature? for +her physical appearance remained the same. I began to group all that I +had ever heard of her, beginning at her birth. + +It was strange at the very first. She had been, according to Corbeck's +statement, born of a dead mother during the time that her father and his +friend were in a trance in the tomb at Aswan. That trance was +presumably effected by a woman; a woman mummied, yet preserving as we +had every reason to believe from after experience, an astral body +subject to a free will and an active intelligence. With that astral +body, space ceased to exist. The vast distance between London and Aswan +became as naught; and whatever power of necromancy the Sorceress had +might have been exercised over the dead mother, and possibly the dead +child. + +The dead child! Was it possible that the child was dead and was made +alive again? Whence then came the animating spirit--the soul? Logic was +pointing the way to me now with a vengeance! + +If the Egyptian belief was true for Egyptians, then the "Ka" of the dead +Queen and her "Khu" could animate what she might choose. In such case +Margaret would not be an individual at all, but simply a phase of Queen +Tera herself; an astral body obedient to her will! + +Here I revolted against logic. Every fibre of my being resented such a +conclusion. How could I believe that there was no Margaret at all; but +just an animated image, used by the Double of a woman of forty centuries +ago to its own ends . . . ! Somehow, the outlook was brighter to me now, +despite the new doubts. + +At least I had Margaret! + +Back swung the logical pendulum again. The child then was not dead. If +so, had the Sorceress had anything to do with her birth at all? It was +evident--so I took it again from Corbeck--that there was a strange +likeness between Margaret and the pictures of Queen Tera. How could +this be? It could not be any birth-mark reproducing what had been in +the mother's mind; for Mrs. Trelawny had never seen the pictures. Nay, +even her father had not seen them till he had found his way into the +tomb only a few days before her birth. This phase I could not get rid +of so easily as the last; the fibres of my being remained quiet. There +remained to me the horror of doubt. And even then, so strange is the +mind of man, Doubt itself took a concrete image; a vast and impenetrable +gloom, through which flickered irregularly and spasmodically tiny points +of evanescent light, which seemed to quicken the darkness into a +positive existence. + +The remaining possibility of relations between Margaret and the mummied +Queen was, that in some occult way the Sorceress had power to change +places with the other. This view of things could not be so lightly +thrown aside. There were too many suspicious circumstances to warrant +this, now that my attention was fixed on it and my intelligence +recognised the possibility. Hereupon there began to come into my mind +all the strange incomprehensible matters which had whirled through our +lives in the last few days. At first they all crowded in upon me in a +jumbled mass; but again the habit of mind of my working life prevailed, +and they took order. I found it now easier to control myself; for there +was something to grasp, some work to be done; though it was of a sorry +kind, for it was or might be antagonistic to Margaret. But Margaret was +herself at stake! I was thinking of her and fighting for her; and yet +if I were to work in the dark, I might be even harmful to her. My first +weapon in her defence was truth. I must know and understand; I might +then be able to act. Certainly, I could not act beneficently without a +just conception and recognition of the facts. Arranged in order these +were as follows: + +Firstly: the strange likeness of Queen Tera to Margaret who had been +born in another country a thousand miles away, where her mother could +not possibly have had even a passing knowledge of her appearance. + +Secondly: the disappearance of Van Huyn's book when I had read up to +the description of the Star Ruby. + +Thirdly: the finding of the lamps in the boudoir. Tera with her astral +body could have unlocked the door of Corbeck's room in the hotel, and +have locked it again after her exit with the lamps. She could in the +same way have opened the window, and put the lamps in the boudoir. It +need not have been that Margaret in her own person should have had any +hand in this; but--but it was at least strange. + +Fourthly: here the suspicions of the Detective and the Doctor came back +to me with renewed force, and with a larger understanding. + +Fifthly: there were the occasions on which Margaret foretold with +accuracy the coming occasions of quietude, as though she had some +conviction or knowledge of the intentions of the astral-bodied Queen. + +Sixthly: there was her suggestion of the finding of the Ruby which her +father had lost. As I thought now afresh over this episode in the light +of suspicion in which her own powers were involved, the only conclusion +I could come to was--always supposing that the theory of the Queen's +astral power was correct--that Queen Tera being anxious that all should +go well in the movement from London to Kyllion had in her own way taken +the Jewel from Mr. Trelawny's pocket-book, finding it of some use in her +supernatural guardianship of the journey. Then in some mysterious way +she had, through Margaret, made the suggestion of its loss and finding. + +Seventhly, and lastly, was the strange dual existence which Margaret +seemed of late to be leading; and which in some way seemed a consequence +or corollary of all that had gone before. + +The dual existence! This was indeed the conclusion which overcame all +difficulties and reconciled opposites. If indeed Margaret were not in +all ways a free agent, but could be compelled to speak or act as she +might be instructed; or if her whole being could be changed for another +without the possibility of any one noticing the doing of it, then all +things were possible. All would depend on the spirit of the +individuality by which she could be so compelled. If this individuality +were just and kind and clean, all might be well. But if not! . . . The +thought was too awful for words. I ground my teeth with futile rage, as +the ideas of horrible possibilities swept through me. + +Up to this morning Margaret's lapses into her new self had been few and +hardly noticeable, save when once or twice her attitude towards myself +had been marked by a bearing strange to me. But today the contrary was +the case; and the change presaged badly. It might be that that other +individuality was of the lower, not of the better sort! Now that I +thought of it I had reason to fear. In the history of the mummy, from +the time of Van Huyn's breaking into the tomb, the record of deaths that +we knew of, presumably effected by her will and agency, was a startling +one. The Arab who had stolen the hand from the mummy; and the one who +had taken it from his body. The Arab chief who had tried to steal the +Jewel from Van Huyn, and whose throat bore the marks of seven fingers. +The two men found dead on the first night of Trelawny's taking away the +sarcophagus; and the three on the return to the tomb. The Arab who had +opened the secret serdab. Nine dead men, one of them slain manifestly +by the Queen's own hand! And beyond this again the several savage +attacks on Mr. Trelawny in his own room, in which, aided by her +Familiar, she had tried to open the safe and to extract the Talisman +jewel. His device of fastening the key to his wrist by a steel bangle, +though successful in the end, had wellnigh cost him his life. + +If then the Queen, intent on her resurrection under her own conditions +had, so to speak, waded to it through blood, what might she not do were +her purpose thwarted? What terrible step might she not take to effect +her wishes? Nay, what were her wishes; what was her ultimate purpose? +As yet we had had only Margaret's statement of them, given in all the +glorious enthusiasm of her lofty soul. In her record there was no +expression of love to be sought or found. All we knew for certain was +that she had set before her the object of resurrection, and that in it +the North which she had manifestly loved was to have a special part. +But that the resurrection was to be accomplished in the lonely tomb in +the Valley of the Sorcerer was apparent. All preparations had been +carefully made for accomplishment from within, and for her ultimate exit +in her new and living form. The sarcophagus was unlidded. The oil jars, +though hermetically sealed, were to be easily opened by hand; and in +them provision was made for shrinkage through a vast period of time. +Even flint and steel were provided for the production of flame. The +Mummy Pit was left open in violation of usage; and beside the stone door +on the cliff side was fixed an imperishable chain by which she might in +safety descend to earth. But as to what her after intentions were we had +no clue. If it was that she meant to begin life again as a humble +individual, there was something so noble in the thought that it even +warmed my heart to her and turned my wishes to her success. + +The very idea seemed to endorse Margaret's magnificent tribute to her +purpose, and helped to calm my troubled spirit. + +Then and there, with this feeling strong upon me, I determined to warn +Margaret and her father of dire possibilities; and to await, as well +content as I could in my ignorance, the development of things over which +I had no power. + +I returned to the house in a different frame of mind to that in which I +had left it; and was enchanted to find Margaret--the old Margaret-- +waiting for me. + +After dinner, when I was alone for a time with the father and daughter, +I opened the subject, though with considerable hesitation: + +"Would it not be well to take every possible precaution, in case the +Queen may not wish what we are doing, with regard to what may occur +before the Experiment; and at or after her waking, if it comes off?" +Margaret's answer came back quickly; so quickly that I was convinced she +must have had it ready for some one: + +"But she does approve! Surely it cannot be otherwise. Father is doing, +with all his brains and all his energy and all his great courage, just +exactly what the great Queen had arranged!" + +"But," I answered, "that can hardly be. All that she arranged was in a +tomb high up in a rock, in a desert solitude, shut away from the world +by every conceivable means. She seems to have depended on this isolation +to insure against accident. Surely, here in another country and age, +with quite different conditions, she may in her anxiety make mistakes +and treat any of you--of us--as she did those others in times gone past. +Nine men that we know of have been slain by her own hand or by her +instigation. She can be remorseless if she will." It did not strike me +till afterwards when I was thinking over this conversation, how +thoroughly I had accepted the living and conscious condition of Queen +Tera as a fact. Before I spoke, I had feared I might offend Mr. +Trelawny; but to my pleasant surprise he smiled quite genially as he +answered me: + +"My dear fellow, in a way you are quite right. The Queen did +undoubtedly intend isolation; and, all told, it would be best that her +experiment should be made as she arranged it. But just think, that +became impossible when once the Dutch explorer had broken into her tomb. +That was not my doing. I am innocent of it, though it was the cause of +my setting out to rediscover the sepulchre. Mind, I do not say for a +moment that I would not have done just the same as Van Huyn. I went +into the tomb from curiosity; and I took away what I did, being fired +with the zeal of acquisitiveness which animates the collector. But, +remember also, that at this time I did not know of the Queen's intention +of resurrection; I had no idea of the completeness of her preparations. +All that came long afterwards. But when it did come, I have done all +that I could to carry out her wishes to the full. My only fear is that +I may have misinterpreted some of her cryptic instructions, or have +omitted or overlooked something. But of this I am certain; I have left +undone nothing that I can imagine right to be done; and I have done +nothing that I know of to clash with Queen Tera's arrangement. I want +her Great Experiment to succeed. To this end I have not spared labour +or time or money--or myself. I have endured hardship, and braved danger. +All my brains; all my knowledge and learning, such as they are; all my +endeavours such as they can be, have been, are, and shall be devoted to +this end, till we either win or lose the great stake that we play for." + +"The great stake?" I repeated; "the resurrection of the woman, and the +woman's life? The proof that resurrection can be accomplished; by +magical powers; by scientific knowledge; or by use of some force which +at present the world does not know?" + +Then Mr. Trelawny spoke out the hopes of his heart which up to now he +had indicated rather than expressed. Once or twice I had heard Corbeck +speak of the fiery energy of his youth; but, save for the noble words of +Margaret when she had spoken of Queen Tera's hope--which coming from his +daughter made possible a belief that her power was in some sense due to +heredity--I had seen no marked sign of it. But now his words, sweeping +before them like a torrent all antagonistic thought, gave me a new idea +of the man. + +"'A woman's life!' What is a woman's life in the scale with what we +hope for! Why, we are risking already a woman's life; the dearest life +to me in all the world, and that grows more dear with every hour that +passes. We are risking as well the lives of four men; yours and my own, +as well as those two others who have been won to our confidence. 'The +proof that resurrection can be accomplished!' That is much. A +marvellous thing in this age of science, and the scepticism that +knowledge makes. But life and resurrection are themselves but items in +what may be won by the accomplishment of this Great Experiment. Imagine +what it will be for the world of thought--the true world of human +progress--the veritable road to the Stars, the itur ad astra of the +Ancients--if there can come back to us out of the unknown past one who +can yield to us the lore stored in the great Library of Alexandria, and +lost in its consuming flames. Not only history can be set right, and +the teachings of science made veritable from their beginnings; but we +can be placed on the road to the knowledge of lost arts, lost learning, +lost sciences, so that our feet may tread on the indicated path to their +ultimate and complete restoration. Why, this woman can tell us what the +world was like before what is called 'the Flood'; can give us the origin +of that vast astounding myth; can set the mind back to the consideration +of things which to us now seem primeval, but which were old stories +before the days of the Patriarchs. But this is not the end! No, not +even the beginning! If the story of this woman be all that we think-- +which some of us most firmly believe; if her powers and the restoration +of them prove to be what we expect, why, then we may yet achieve a +knowledge beyond what our age has ever known--beyond what is believed +today possible for the children of men. If indeed this resurrection can +be accomplished, how can we doubt the old knowledge, the old magic, the +old belief! And if this be so, we must take it that the 'Ka' of this +great and learned Queen has won secrets of more than mortal worth from +her surroundings amongst the stars. This woman in her life voluntarily +went down living to the grave, and came back again, as we learn from the +records in her tomb; she chose to die her mortal death whilst young, so +that at her resurrection in another age, beyond a trance of countless +magnitude, she might emerge from her tomb in all the fulness and +splendour of her youth and power. Already we have evidence that though +her body slept in patience through those many centuries, her +intelligence never passed away, that her resolution never flagged, that +her will remained supreme; and, most important of all, that her memory +was unimpaired. Oh, what possibilities are there in the coming of such +a being into our midst! One whose history began before the concrete +teaching of our Bible; whose experiences were antecedent to the +formulation of the Gods of Greece; who can link together the Old and the +New, Earth and Heaven, and yield to the known worlds of thought and +physical existence the mystery of the Unknown--of the Old World in its +youth, and of Worlds beyond our ken!" + +He paused, almost overcome. Margaret had taken his hand when he spoke +of her being so dear to him, and held it hard. As he spoke she +continued to hold it. But there came over her face that change which I +had so often seen of late; that mysterious veiling of her own +personality which gave me the subtle sense of separation from her. In +his impassioned vehemence her father did not notice; but when he stopped +she seemed all at once to be herself again. In her glorious eyes came +the added brightness of unshed tears; and with a gesture of passionate +love and admiration, she stooped and kissed her father's hand. Then, +turning to me, she too spoke: + +"Malcolm, you have spoken of the deaths that came from the poor Queen; +or rather that justly came from meddling with her arrangements and +thwarting her purpose. Do you not think that, in putting it as you have +done, you have been unjust? Who would not have done just as she did? +Remember she was fighting for her life! Ay, and for more than her life! +For life, and love, and all the glorious possibilities of that dim +future in the unknown world of the North which had such enchanting hopes +for her! Do you not think that she, with all the learning of her time, +and with all the great and resistless force of her mighty nature, had +hopes of spreading in a wider way the lofty aspirations of her soul! +That she hoped to bring to the conquering of unknown worlds, and using +to the advantage of her people, all that she had won from sleep and +death and time; all of which might and could have been frustrated by the +ruthless hand of an assassin or a thief. Were it you, in such case +would you not struggle by all means to achieve the object of your life +and hope; whose possibilities grew and grew in the passing of those +endless years? Can you think that that active brain was at rest during +all those weary centuries, whilst her free soul was flitting from world +to world amongst the boundless regions of the stars? Had these stars in +their myriad and varied life no lessons for her; as they have had for us +since we followed the glorious path which she and her people marked for +us, when they sent their winged imaginations circling amongst the lamps +of the night!" + +Here she paused. She too was overcome, and the welling tears ran down +her cheeks. I was myself more moved than I can say. This was indeed my +Margaret; and in the consciousness of her presence my heart leapt. Out +of my happiness came boldness, and I dared to say now what I had feared +would be impossible: something which would call the attention of Mr. +Trelawny to what I imagined was the dual existence of his daughter. As +I took Margaret's hand in mine and kissed it, I said to her father: + +"Why, sir! she couldn't speak more eloquently if the very spirit of +Queen Tera was with her to animate her and suggest thoughts!" + +Mr. Trelawny's answer simply overwhelmed me with surprise. It +manifested to me that he too had gone through just such a process of +thought as my own. + +"And what if it was; if it is! I know well that the spirit of her +mother is within her. If in addition there be the spirit of that great +and wondrous Queen, then she would be no less dear to me, but doubly +dear! Do not have fear for her, Malcolm Ross; at least have no more +fear than you may have for the rest of us!" Margaret took up the theme, +speaking so quickly that her words seemed a continuation of her +father's, rather than an interruption of them. + +"Have no special fear for me, Malcolm. Queen Tera knows, and will offer +us no harm. I know it! I know it, as surely as I am lost in the depth +of my own love for you!" + +There was something in her voice so strange to me that I looked quickly +into her eyes. They were bright as ever, but veiled to my seeing the +inward thought behind them as are the eyes of a caged lion. + +Then the two other men came in, and the subject changed. + + + + + +Chapter XVIII +The Lesson of the "Ka" + + + + +That night we all went to bed early. The next night would be an anxious +one, and Mr. Trelawny thought that we should all be fortified with what +sleep we could get. The day, too, would be full of work. Everything in +connection with the Great Experiment would have to be gone over, so that +at the last we might not fail from any unthought-of flaw in our working. +We made, of course, arrangements for summoning aid in case such should +be needed; but I do not think that any of us had any real apprehension +of danger. Certainly we had no fear of such danger from violence as we +had had to guard against in London during Mr. Trelawny's long trance. + +For my own part I felt a strange sense of relief in the matter. I had +accepted Mr. Trelawny's reasoning that if the Queen were indeed such as +we surmised--such as indeed we now took for granted--there would not be +any opposition on her part; for we were carrying out her own wishes to +the very last. So far I was at ease--far more at ease than earlier in +the day I should have thought possible; but there were other sources of +trouble which I could not blot out from my mind. Chief amongst them was +Margaret's strange condition. If it was indeed that she had in her own +person a dual existence, what might happen when the two existences +became one? Again, and again, and again I turned this matter over in my +mind, till I could have shrieked out in nervous anxiety. It was no +consolation to me to remember that Margaret was herself satisfied, and +her father acquiescent. Love is, after all, a selfish thing; and it +throws a black shadow on anything between which and the light it stands. +I seemed to hear the hands go round the dial of the clock; I saw +darkness turn to gloom, and gloom to grey, and grey to light without +pause or hindrance to the succession of my miserable feelings. At last, +when it was decently possible without the fear of disturbing others, I +got up. I crept along the passage to find if all was well with the +others; for we had arranged that the door of each of our rooms should be +left slightly open so that any sound of disturbance would be easily and +distinctly heard. + +One and all slept; I could hear the regular breathing of each, and my +heart rejoiced that this miserable night of anxiety was safely passed. +As I knelt in my own room in a burst of thankful prayer, I knew in the +depths of my own heart the measure of my fear. I found my way out of +the house, and went down to the water by the long stairway cut in the +rock. A swim in the cool bright sea braced my nerves and made me my old +self again. + +As I came back to the top of the steps I could see the bright sunlight, +rising from behind me, turning the rocks across the bay to glittering +gold. And yet I felt somehow disturbed. It was all too bright; as it +sometimes is before the coming of a storm. As I paused to watch it, I +felt a soft hand on my shoulder; and, turning, found Margaret close to +me; Margaret as bright and radiant as the morning glory of the sun! It +was my own Margaret this time! My old Margaret, without alloy of any +other; and I felt that, at least, this last and fatal day was well +begun. + +But alas! the joy did not last. When we got back to the house from a +stroll around the cliffs, the same old routine of yesterday was resumed: +gloom and anxiety, hope, high spirits, deep depression, and apathetic +aloofness. + +But it was to be a day of work; and we all braced ourselves to it with +an energy which wrought its own salvation. + +After breakfast we all adjourned to the cave, where Mr. Trelawny went +over, point by point, the position of each item of our paraphernalia. +He explained as he went on why each piece was so placed. He had with +him the great rolls of paper with the measured plans and the signs and +drawings which he had had made from his own and Corbeck's rough notes. +As he had told us, these contained the whole of the hieroglyphics on +walls and ceilings and floor of the tomb in the Valley of the Sorcerer. +Even had not the measurements, made to scale, recorded the position of +each piece of furniture, we could have eventually placed them by a study +of the cryptic writings and symbols. + +Mr. Trelawny explained to us certain other things, not laid down on the +chart. Such as, for instance, that the hollowed part of the table was +exactly fitted to the bottom of the Magic Coffer, which was therefore +intended to be placed on it. The respective legs of this table were +indicated by differently shaped uraei outlined on the floor, the head of +each being extended in the direction of the similar uraeus twined round +the leg. Also that the mummy, when laid on the raised portion in the +bottom of the sarcophagus, seemingly made to fit the form, would lie +head to the West and feet to the East, thus receiving the natural earth +currents. "If this be intended," he said, "as I presume it is, I gather +that the force to be used has something to do with magnetism or +electricity, or both. It may be, of course, that some other force, +such, for instance, as that emanating from radium, is to be employed. I +have experimented with the latter, but only in such small quantity as I +could obtain; but so far as I can ascertain the stone of the Coffer is +absolutely impervious to its influence. There must be some such +unsusceptible substances in nature. Radium does not seemingly manifest +itself when distributed through pitchblende; and there are doubtless +other such substances in which it can be imprisoned. Possibly these may +belong to that class of "inert" elements discovered or isolated by Sir +William Ramsay. It is therefore possible that in this Coffer, made from +an aerolite and therefore perhaps containing some element unknown in our +world, may be imprisoned some mighty power which is to be released on +its opening." + +This appeared to be an end of this branch of the subject; but as he +still kept the fixed look of one who is engaged in a theme we all waited +in silence. After a pause he went on: + +"There is one thing which has up to now, I confess, puzzled me. It may +not be of prime importance; but in a matter like this, where all is +unknown, we must take it that everything is important. I cannot think +that in a matter worked out with such extraordinary scrupulosity such a +thing should be overlooked. As you may see by the ground-plan of the +tomb the sarcophagus stands near the north wall, with the Magic Coffer +to the south of it. The space covered by the former is left quite bare +of symbol or ornamentation of any kind. At the first glance this would +seem to imply that the drawings had been made after the sarcophagus had +been put into its place. But a more minute examination will show that +the symbolisation on the floor is so arranged that a definite effect is +produced. See, here the writings run in correct order as though they +had jumped across the gap. It is only from certain effects that it +becomes clear that there is a meaning of some kind. What that meaning +may be is what we want to know. Look at the top and bottom of the +vacant space, which lies West and East corresponding to the head and +foot of the sarcophagus. In both are duplications of the same +symbolisation, but so arranged that the parts of each one of them are +integral portions of some other writing running crosswise. It is only +when we get a coup d'oeil from either the head or the foot that you +recognise that there are symbolisations. See! they are in triplicate at +the corners and the centre of both top and bottom. In every case there +is a sun cut in half by the line of the sarcophagus, as by the horizon. +Close behind each of these and faced away from it, as though in some way +dependent on it, is the vase which in hieroglyphic writing symbolises +the heart--'Ab' the Egyptians called it. Beyond each of these again is +the figure of a pair of widespread arms turned upwards from the elbow; +this is the determinative of the 'Ka' or 'Double'. But its relative +position is different at top and bottom. At the head of the sarcophagus +the top of the 'Ka' is turned towards the mouth of the vase, but at the +foot the extended arms point away from it. + +"The symbolisation seems to mean that during the passing of the Sun from +West to East--from sunset to sunrise, or through the Under World, +otherwise night--the Heart, which is material even in the tomb and cannot +leave it, simply revolves, so that it can always rest on 'Ra' the +Sun-God, the origin of all good; but that the Double, which represents +the active principle, goes whither it will, the same by night as by day. +If this be correct it is a warning--a caution--a reminder that the +consciousness of the mummy does not rest but is to be reckoned with. + +"Or it may be intended to convey that after the particular night of the +resurrection, the 'Ka' would leave the heart altogether, thus typifying +that in her resurrection the Queen would be restored to a lower and +purely physical existence. In such case what would become of her memory +and the experiences of her wide-wandering soul? The chiefest value of +her resurrection would be lost to the world! This, however, does not +alarm me. It is only guess-work after all, and is contradictory to the +intellectual belief of the Egyptian theology, that the 'Ka' is an +essential portion of humanity." He paused and we all waited. The +silence was broken by Doctor Winchester: + +"But would not all this imply that the Queen feared intrusion of her +tomb?" Mr. Trelawny smiled as he answered: + +"My dear sir, she was prepared for it. The grave robber is no modern +application of endeavour; he was probably known in the Queen's own +dynasty. Not only was she prepared for intrusion, but, as shown in +several ways, she expected it. The hiding of the lamps in the serdab, +and the institution of the avenging 'treasurer' shows that there was +defence, positive as well as negative. Indeed, from the many +indications afforded in the clues laid out with the most consummated +thought, we may almost gather that she entertained it as a possibility +that others--like ourselves, for instance--might in all seriousness +undertake the work which she had made ready for her own hands when the +time should have come. This very matter that I have been speaking of is +an instance. The clue is intended for seeing eyes!" + +Again we were silent. It was Margaret who spoke: + +"Father, may I have that chart? I should like to study it during the +day!" + +"Certainly, my dear!" answered Mr. Trelawny heartily, as he handed it to +her. He resumed his instructions in a different tone, a more matter-of- +fact one suitable to a practical theme which had no mystery about it: + +"I think you had better all understand the working of the electric light +in case any sudden contingency should arise. I dare say you have +noticed that we have a complete supply in every part of the house, so +that there need not be a dark corner anywhere. This I had specially +arranged. It is worked by a set of turbines moved by the flowing and +ebbing tide, after the manner of the turbines at Niagara. I hope by +this means to nullify accident and to have without fail a full supply +ready at any time. Come with me and I will explain the system of +circuits, and point out to you the taps and the fuses." I could not but +notice, as we went with him all over the house, how absolutely complete +the system was, and how he had guarded himself against any disaster that +human thought could foresee. + +But out of the very completeness came a fear! In such an enterprise as +ours the bounds of human thought were but narrow. Beyond it lay the +vast of Divine wisdom, and Divine power! + +When we came back to the cave, Mr. Trelawny took up another theme: + +"We have now to settle definitely the exact hour at which the Great +Experiment is to be made. So far as science and mechanism go, if the +preparations are complete, all hours are the same. But as we have to +deal with preparations made by a woman of extraordinarily subtle mind, +and who had full belief in magic and had a cryptic meaning in +everything, we should place ourselves in her position before deciding. +It is now manifest that the sunset has an important place in the +arrangements. As those suns, cut so mathematically by the edge of the +sarcophagus, were arranged of full design, we must take our cue from +this. Again, we find all along that the number seven has had an +important bearing on every phase of the Queen's thought and reasoning +and action. The logical result is that the seventh hour after sunset +was the time fixed on. This is borne out by the fact that on each of +the occasions when action was taken in my house, this was the time +chosen. As the sun sets tonight in Cornwall at eight, our hour is to +be three in the morning!" He spoke in a matter-of-fact way, though +with great gravity; but there was nothing of mystery in his word or +manner. Still, we were all impressed to a remarkable degree. I could +see this in the other men by the pallor that came on some of their +faces, and by the stillness and unquestioning silence with which the +decision was received. The only one who remained in any way at ease was +Margaret, who had lapsed into one of her moods of abstraction, but who +seemed to wake up to a note of gladness. Her father, who was watching +her intently, smiled; her mood was to him a direct confirmation of his +theory. + +For myself I was almost overcome. The definite fixing of the hour +seemed like the voice of Doom. When I think of it now, I can realise +how a condemned man feels at his sentence, or at the sounding of the +last hour he is to hear. + +There could be no going back now! We were in the hands of God! + +The hands of God . . . ! And yet . . . ! What other forces were +arrayed? . . . What would become of us all, poor atoms of earthly dust +whirled in the wind which cometh whence and goeth whither no man may +know. It was not for myself . . . Margaret . . . ! + +I was recalled by Mr. Trelawny's firm voice: + +"Now we shall see to the lamps and finish our preparations." +Accordingly we set to work, and under his supervision made ready the +Egyptian lamps, seeing that they were well filled with the cedar oil, +and that the wicks were adjusted and in good order. We lighted and +tested them one by one, and left them ready so that they would light at +once and evenly. When this was done we had a general look round; and +fixed all in readiness for our work at night. + +All this had taken time, and we were I think all surprised when as we +emerged from the cave we heard the great clock in the hall chime four. + +We had a late lunch, a thing possible without trouble in the present +state of our commissariat arrangements. After it, by Mr. Trelawny's +advice, we separated; each to prepare in our own way for the strain of +the coming night. Margaret looked pale and somewhat overwrought, so I +advised her to lie down and try to sleep. She promised that she would. +The abstraction which had been upon her fitfully all day lifted for the +time; with all her old sweetness and loving delicacy she kissed me +good-bye for the present! With the sense of happiness which this gave +me I went out for a walk on the cliffs. I did not want to think; and I +had an instinctive feeling that fresh air and God's sunlight, and the +myriad beauties of the works of His hand would be the best preparation +of fortitude for what was to come. + +When I got back, all the party were assembling for a late tea. Coming +fresh from the exhilaration of nature, it struck me as almost comic that +we, who were nearing the end of so strange--almost monstrous--an +undertaking, should be yet bound by the needs and habits of our lives. + +All the men of the party were grave; the time of seclusion, even if it +had given them rest, had also given opportunity for thought. Margaret +was bright, almost buoyant; but I missed about her something of her +usual spontaneity. Towards myself there was a shadowy air of reserve, +which brought back something of my suspicion. When tea was over, she +went out of the room; but returned in a minute with the roll of drawing +which she had taken with her earlier in the day. Coming close to Mr. +Trelawny, she said: + +"Father, I have been carefully considering what you said today about +the hidden meaning of those suns and hearts and 'Ka's', and I have been +examining the drawings again." + +"And with what result, my child?" asked Mr. Trelawny eagerly. + +"There is another reading possible!" + +"And that?" His voice was now tremulous with anxiety. Margaret spoke +with a strange ring in her voice; a ring that cannot be, unless there is +the consciousness of truth behind it: + +"It means that at the sunset the 'Ka' is to enter the 'Ab'; and it is +only at the sunrise that it will leave it!" + +"Go on!" said her father hoarsely. + +"It means that for this night the Queen's Double, which is otherwise +free, will remain in her heart, which is mortal and cannot leave its +prison-place in the mummy-shrouding. It means that when the sun has +dropped into the sea, Queen Tera will cease to exist as a conscious +power, till sunrise; unless the Great Experiment can recall her to +waking life. It means that there will be nothing whatever for you or +others to fear from her in such way as we have all cause to remember. +Whatever change may come from the working of the Great Experiment, there +can come none from the poor, helpless, dead woman who has waited all +those centuries for this night; who has given up to the coming hour all +the freedom of eternity, won in the old way, in hope of a new life in a +new world such as she longed for . . . !" She stopped suddenly. As she +had gone on speaking there had come with her words a strange pathetic, +almost pleading, tone which touched me to the quick. As she stopped, I +could see, before she turned away her head, that her eyes were full of +tears. + +For once the heart of her father did not respond to her feeling. He +looked exultant, but with a grim masterfulness which reminded me of the +set look of his stern face as he had lain in the trance. He did not +offer any consolation to his daughter in her sympathetic pain. He only +said: + +"We may test the accuracy of your surmise, and of her feeling, when the +time comes!" Having said so, he went up the stone stairway and into his +own room. Margaret's face had a troubled look as she gazed after him. + +Strangely enough her trouble did not as usual touch me to the quick. + +When Mr. Trelawny had gone, silence reigned. I do not think that any of +us wanted to talk. Presently Margaret went to her room, and I went out +on the terrace over the sea. The fresh air and the beauty of all before +helped to restore the good spirits which I had known earlier in the day. +Presently I felt myself actually rejoicing in the belief that the danger +which I had feared from the Queen's violence on the coming night was +obviated. I believed in Margaret's belief so thoroughly that it did not +occur to me to dispute her reasoning. In a lofty frame of mind, and +with less anxiety than I had felt for days, I went to my room and lay +down on the sofa. + +I was awaked by Corbeck calling to me, hurriedly: + +"Come down to the cave as quickly as you can. Mr. Trelawny wants to see +us all there at once. Hurry!" + +I jumped up and ran down to the cave. All were there except Margaret, +who came immediately after me carrying Silvio in her arms. When the cat +saw his old enemy he struggled to get down; but Margaret held him fast +and soothed him. I looked at my watch. It was close to eight. + +When Margaret was with us her father said directly, with a quiet +insistence which was new to me: + +"You believe, Margaret, that Queen Tera has voluntarily undertaken to +give up her freedom for this night? To become a mummy and nothing more, +till the Experiment has been completed? To be content that she shall be +powerless under all and any circumstances until after all is over and +the act of resurrection has been accomplished, or the effort has +failed?" After a pause Margaret answered in a low voice: + +"Yes!" + +In the pause her whole being, appearance, expression, voice, manner had +changed. Even Silvio noticed it, and with a violent effort wriggled away +from her arms; she did not seem to notice the act. I expected that the +cat, when he had achieved his freedom, would have attacked the mummy; +but on this occasion he did not. He seemed too cowed to approach it. +He shrunk away, and with a piteous "miaou" came over and rubbed himself +against my ankles. I took him up in my arms, and he nestled there +content. Mr. Trelawny spoke again: + +"You are sure of what you say! You believe it with all your soul?" +Margaret's face had lost the abstracted look; it now seemed illuminated +with the devotion of one to whom is given to speak of great things. She +answered in a voice which, though quiet, vibrated with conviction: + +"I know it! My knowledge is beyond belief!" Mr. Trelawny spoke again: + +"Then you are so sure, that were you Queen Tera herself, you would be +willing to prove it in any way that I might suggest?" + +"Yes, any way!" the answer rang out fearlessly. He spoke again, in a +voice in which was no note of doubt: + +"Even in the abandonment of your Familiar to death--to annihilation." + +She paused, and I could see that she suffered--suffered horribly. There +was in her eyes a hunted look, which no man can, unmoved, see in the +eyes of his beloved. I was about to interrupt, when her father's eyes, +glancing round with a fierce determination, met mine. I stood silent, +almost spellbound; so also the other men. Something was going on before +us which we did not understand! + +With a few long strides Mr. Trelawny went to the west side of the cave +and tore back the shutter which obscured the window. The cool air blew +in, and the sunlight streamed over them both, for Margaret was now by +his side. He pointed to where the sun was sinking into the sea in a +halo of golden fire, and his face was as set as flint. In a voice whose +absolute uncompromising hardness I shall hear in my ears at times till +my dying day, he said: + +"Choose! Speak! When the sun has dipped below the sea, it will be too +late!" The glory of the dying sun seemed to light up Margaret's face, +till it shone as if lit from within by a noble light, as she answered: + +"Even that!" + +Then stepping over to where the mummy cat stood on the little table, she +placed her hand on it. She had now left the sunlight, and the shadows +looked dark and deep over her. In a clear voice she said: + +"Were I Tera, I would say 'Take all I have! This night is for the Gods +alone!'" + +As she spoke the sun dipped, and the cold shadow suddenly fell on us. +We all stood still for a while. Silvio jumped from my arms and ran over +to his mistress, rearing himself up against her dress as if asking to be +lifted. He took no notice whatever of the mummy now. + +Margaret was glorious with all her wonted sweetness as she said sadly: + +"The sun is down, Father! Shall any of us see it again? The night of +nights is come!" + + + + + +Chapter XIX +The Great Experiment + + + + +If any evidence had been wanted of how absolutely one and all of us had +come to believe in the spiritual existence of the Egyptian Queen, it +would have been found in the change which in a few minutes had been +effected in us by the statement of voluntary negation made, we all +believed, through Margaret. Despite the coming of the fearful ordeal, +the sense of which it was impossible to forget, we looked and acted as +though a great relief had come to us. We had indeed lived in such a +state of terrorism during the days when Mr. Trelawny was lying in a +trance that the feeling had bitten deeply into us. No one knows till he +has experienced it, what it is to be in constant dread of some unknown +danger which may come at any time and in any form. + +The change was manifested in different ways, according to each nature. +Margaret was sad. Doctor Winchester was in high spirits, and keenly +observant; the process of thought which had served as an antidote to +fear, being now relieved from this duty, added to his intellectual +enthusiasm. Mr. Corbeck seemed to be in a retrospective rather than a +speculative mood. I was myself rather inclined to be gay; the relief +from certain anxiety regarding Margaret was sufficient for me for the +time. + +As to Mr. Trelawny he seemed less changed than any. Perhaps this was +only natural, as he had had in his mind the intention for so many years +of doing that in which we were tonight engaged, that any event +connected with it could only seem to him as an episode, a step to the +end. His was that commanding nature which looks so to the end of an +undertaking that all else is of secondary importance. Even now, though +his terrible sternness relaxed under the relief from the strain, he +never flagged nor faltered for a moment in his purpose. He asked us men +to come with him; and going to the hall we presently managed to lower +into the cave an oak table, fairly long and not too wide, which stood +against the wall in the hall. This we placed under the strong cluster +of electric lights in the middle of the cave. Margaret looked on for a +while; then all at once her face blanched, and in an agitated voice she +said: + +"What are you going to do, Father?" + +"To unroll the mummy of the cat! Queen Tera will not need her Familiar +tonight. If she should want him, it might be dangerous to us; so we +shall make him safe. You are not alarmed, dear?" + +"Oh no!" she answered quickly. "But I was thinking of my Silvio, and +how I should feel if he had been the mummy that was to be unswathed!" + +Mr. Trelawny got knives and scissors ready, and placed the cat on the +table. It was a grim beginning to our work; and it made my heart sink +when I thought of what might happen in that lonely house in the +mid-gloom of the night. The sense of loneliness and isolation from the +world was increased by the moaning of the wind which had now risen +ominously, and by the beating of waves on the rocks below. But we had +too grave a task before us to be swayed by external manifestations: the +unrolling of the mummy began. + +There was an incredible number of bandages; and the tearing sound--they +being stuck fast to each other by bitumen and gums and spices--and the +little cloud of red pungent dust that arose, pressed on the senses of +all of us. As the last wrappings came away, we saw the animal seated +before us. He was all hunkered up; his hair and teeth and claws were +complete. The eyes were closed, but the eyelids had not the fierce look +which I expected. The whiskers had been pressed down on the side of the +face by the bandaging; but when the pressure ws taken away they stood +out, just as they would have done in life. He was a magnificent +creature, a tiger-cat of great size. But as we looked at him, our first +glance of admiration changed to one of fear, and a shudder ran through +each one of us; for here was a confirmation of the fears which we had +endured. + +His mouth and his claws were smeared with the dry, red stains of recent +blood! + +Doctor Winchester was the first to recover; blood in itself had small +disturbing quality for him. He had taken out his magnifying-glass and +was examining the stains on the cat's mouth. Mr. Trelawny breathed +loudly, as though a strain had been taken from him. + +"It is as I expected," he said. "This promises well for what is to +follow." + +By this time Doctor Winchester was looking at the red stained paws. "As +I expected!" he said. "He has seven claws, too!" Opening his +pocket-book, he took out the piece of blotting-paper marked by Silvio's +claws, on which was also marked in pencil a diagram of the cuts made on +Mr. Trelawny's wrist. He placed the paper under the mummy cat's paw. +The marks fitted exactly. + +When we had carefully examined the cat, finding, however, nothing +strange about it but its wonderful preservation, Mr. Trelawny lifted it +from the table. Margaret started forward, crying out: + +"Take care, Father! Take care! He may injure you!" + +"Not now, my dear!" he answered as he moved towards the stairway. Her +face fell. "Where are you going?" she asked in a faint voice. + +"To the kitchen," he answered. "Fire will take away all danger for the +future; even an astral body cannot materialise from ashes!" He signed +to us to follow him. Margaret turned away with a sob. I went to her; +but she motioned me back and whispered: + +"No, no! Go with the others. Father may want you. Oh! it seems like +murder! The poor Queen's pet . . . !" The tears were dropping from +under the fingers that covered her eyes. + +In the kitchen was a fire of wood ready laid. To this Mr. Trelawny +applied a match; in a few seconds the kindling had caught and the flames +leaped. When the fire was solidly ablaze, he threw the body of the cat +into it. For a few seconds it lay a dark mass amidst the flames, and +the room was rank with the smell of burning hair. Then the dry body +caught fire too. The inflammable substances used in embalming became +new fuel, and the flames roared. A few minutes of fierce conflagration; +and then we breathed freely. Queen Tera's Familiar was no more! + +When we went back to the cave we found Margaret sitting in the dark. +She had switched off the electric light, and only a faint glow of the +evening light came through the narrow openings. Her father went quickly +over to her and put his arms round her in a loving protective way. She +laid her head on his shoulder for a minute and seemed comforted. +Presently she called to me: + +"Malcolm, turn up the light!" I carried out her orders, and could see +that, though she had been crying, her eyes were now dry. Her father saw +it too and looked glad. He said to us in a grave tone: + +"Now we had better prepare for our great work. It will not do to leave +anything to the last!" Margaret must have had a suspicion of what was +coming, for it was with a sinking voice that she asked: + +"What are you going to do now?" Mr. Trelawny too must have had a +suspicion of her feelings, for he answered in a low tone: + +"To unroll the mummy of Queen Tera!" She came close to him and said +pleadingly in a whisper: + +"Father, you are not going to unswathe her! All you men . . . ! And in +the glare of light!" + +"But why not, my dear?" + +"Just think, Father, a woman! All alone! In such a way! In such a +place! Oh! it's cruel, cruel!" She was manifestly much overcome. Her +cheeks were flaming red, and her eyes were full of indignant tears. Her +father saw her distress; and, sympathising with it, began to comfort +her. I was moving off; but he signed to me to stay. I took it that +after the usual manner of men he wanted help on such an occasion, and +man-like wished to throw on someone else the task of dealing with a +woman in indignant distress. However, he began to appeal first to her +reason: + +"Not a woman, dear; a mummy! She has been dead nearly five thousand +years!" + +"What does that matter? Sex is not a matter of years! A woman is a +woman, if she had been dead five thousand centuries! And you expect her +to arise out of that long sleep! It could not be real death, if she is +to rise out of it! You have led me to believe that she will come alive +when the Coffer is opened!" + +"I did, my dear; and I believe it! But if it isn't death that has been +the matter with her all these years, it is something uncommonly like it. +Then again, just think; it was men who embalmed her. They didn't have +women's rights or lady doctors in ancient Egypt, my dear! And besides," +he went on more freely, seeing that she was accepting his argument, if +not yielding to it, "we men are accustomed to such things. Corbeck and +I have unrolled a hundred mummies; and there were as many women as men +amongst them. Doctor Winchester in his work has had to deal with women +as well of men, till custom has made him think nothing of sex. Even +Ross has in his work as a barrister . . ." He stopped suddenly. + +"You were going to help too!" she said to me, with an indignant look. + +I said nothing; I thought silence was best. Mr. Trelawny went on +hurriedly; I could see that he was glad of interruption, for the part of +his argument concerning a barrister's work was becoming decidedly weak: + +"My child, you will be with us yourself. Would we do anything which +would hurt or offend you? Come now! be reasonable! We are not at a +pleasure party. We are all grave men, entering gravely on an experiment +which may unfold the wisdom of old times, and enlarge human knowledge +indefinitely; which may put the minds of men on new tracks of thought +and research. An experiment," as he went on his voice deepened, "which +may be fraught with death to any one of us--to us all! We know from what +has been, that there are, or may be, vast and unknown dangers ahead of +us, of which none in the house today may ever see the end. Take it, my +child, that we are not acting lightly; but with all the gravity of +deeply earnest men! Besides, my dear, whatever feelings you or any of +us may have on the subject, it is necessary for the success of the +experiment to unswathe her. I think that under any circumstances it +would be necessary to remove the wrappings before she became again a +live human being instead of a spiritualised corpse with an astral body. +Were her original intention carried out, and did she come to new life +within her mummy wrappings, it might be to exchange a coffin for a +grave! She would die the death of the buried alive! But now, when she +has voluntarily abandoned for the time her astral power, there can be no +doubt on the subject." + +Margaret's face cleared. "All right, Father!" she said as she kissed +him. "But oh! it seems a horrible indignity to a Queen, and a woman." + +I was moving away to the staircase when she called me: + +"Where are you going?" I came back and took her hand and stroked it as +I answered: + +"I shall come back when the unrolling is over!" She looked at me long, +and a faint suggestion of a smile came over her face as she said: + +"Perhaps you had better stay, too! It may be useful to you in your work +as a barrister!" She smiled out as she met my eyes: but in an instant +she changed. Her face grew grave, and deadly white. In a far away +voice she said: + +"Father is right! It is a terrible occasion; we need all to be serious +over it. But all the same--nay, for that very reason you had better +stay, Malcolm! You may be glad, later on, that you were present +tonight!" + +My heart sank down, down, at her words; but I thought it better to say +nothing. Fear was stalking openly enough amongst us already! + +By this time Mr. Trelawny, assisted by Mr. Corbeck and Doctor +Winchester, had raised the lid of the ironstone sarcophagus which +contained the mummy of the Queen. It was a large one; but it was none +too big. The mummy was both long and broad and high; and was of such +weight that it was no easy task, even for the four of us, to lift it +out. Under Mr. Trelawny's direction we laid it out on the table +prepared for it. + +Then, and then only, did the full horror of the whole thing burst upon +me! There, in the full glare of the light, the whole material and +sordid side of death seemed staringly real. The outer wrappings, torn +and loosened by rude touch, and with the colour either darkened by dust +or worn light by friction, seemed creased as by rough treatment; the +jagged edges of the wrapping-cloths looked fringed; the painting was +patchy, and the varnish chipped. The coverings were evidently many, for +the bulk was great. But through all, showed that unhidable human +figure, which seems to look more horrible when partially concealed than +at any other time. What was before us was Death, and nothing else. All +the romance and sentiment of fancy had disappeared. The two elder men, +enthusiasts who had often done such work, were not disconcerted; and +Doctor Winchester seemed to hold himself in a business-like attitude, as +if before the operating-table. But I felt low-spirited, and miserable, +and ashamed; and besides I was pained and alarmed by Margaret's ghastly +pallor. + +Then the work began. The unrolling of the mummy cat had prepared me +somewhat for it; but this was so much larger, and so infinitely more +elaborate, that it seemed a different thing. Moreover, in addition to +the ever present sense of death and humanity, there was a feeling of +something finer in all this. The cat had been embalmed with coarser +materials; here, all, when once the outer coverings were removed, was +more delicately done. It seemed as if only the finest gums and spices +had been used in this embalming. But there were the same surroundings, +the same attendant red dust and pungent presence of bitumen; there was +the same sound of rending which marked the tearing away of the bandages. +There were an enormous number of these, and their bulk when opened was +great. As the men unrolled them, I grew more and more excited. I did +not take a part in it myself; Margaret had looked at me gratefully as I +drew back. We clasped hands, and held each other hard. As the +unrolling went on, the wrappings became finer, and the smell less laden +with bitumen, but more pungent. We all, I think, began to feel it as +though it caught or touched us in some special way. This, however, did +not interfere with the work; it went on uninterruptedly. Some of the +inner wrappings bore symbols or pictures. These were done sometimes +wholly in pale green colour, sometimes in many colours; but always with +a prevalence of green. Now and again Mr. Trelawny or Mr. Corbeck would +point out some special drawing before laying the bandage on the pile +behind them, which kept growing to a monstrous height. + +At last we knew that the wrappings were coming to an end. Already the +proportions were reduced to those of a normal figure of the manifest +height of the Queen, who was more than average height. And as the end +drew nearer, so Margaret's pallor grew; and her heart beat more and more +wildly, till her breast heaved in a way that frightened me. + +Just as her father was taking away the last of the bandages, he happened +to look up and caught the pained and anxious look of her pale face. He +paused, and taking her concern to be as to the outrage on modesty, said +in a comforting way: + +"Do not be uneasy, dear! See! there is nothing to harm you. The Queen +has on a robe.--Ay, and a royal robe, too!" + +The wrapping was a wide piece the whole length of the body. It being +removed, a profusely full robe of white linen had appeared, covering the +body from the throat to the feet. + +And such linen! We all bent over to look at it. + +Margaret lost her concern, in her woman's interest in fine stuff. Then +the rest of us looked with admiration; for surely such linen was never +seen by the eyes of our age. It was as fine as the finest silk. But +never was spun or woven silk which lay in such gracious folds, constrict +though they were by the close wrappings of the mummy cloth, and fixed +into hardness by the passing of thousands of years. + +Round the neck it was delicately embroidered in pure gold with tiny +sprays of sycamore; and round the feet, similarly worked, was an endless +line of lotus plants of unequal height, and with all the graceful +abandon of natural growth. + +Across the body, but manifestly not surrounding it, was a girdle of +jewels. A wondrous girdle, which shone and glowed with all the forms +and phases and colours of the sky! + +The buckle was a great yellow stone, round of outline, deep and curved, +as if a yielding globe had been pressed down. It shone and glowed, as +though a veritable sun lay within; the rays of its light seemed to +strike out and illumine all round. Flanking it were two great moonstones +of lesser size, whose glowing, beside the glory of the sunstone, was +like the silvery sheen of moonlight. + +And then on either side, linked by golden clasps of exquisite shape, was +a line of flaming jewels, of which the colours seemed to glow. Each of +these stones seemed to hold a living star, which twinkled in every phase +of changing light. + +Margaret raised her hands in ecstasy. She bent over to examine more +closely; but suddenly drew back and stood fully erect at her grand +height. She seemed to speak with the conviction of absolute knowledge +as she said: + +"That is no cerement! It was no meant for the clothing of death! It is +a marriage robe!" + +Mr. Trelawny leaned over and touched the linen robe. He lifted a fold +at the neck, and I knew from the quick intake of his breath that +something had surprised him. He lifted yet a little more; and then he, +too, stood back and pointed, saying: + +"Margaret is right! That dress is not intended to be worn by the dead! +See! her figure is not robed in it. It is but laid upon her." He +lifted the zone of jewels and handed it to Margaret. Then with both +hands he raised the ample robe, and laid it across the arms which she +extended in a natural impulse. Things of such beauty were too precious +to be handled with any but the greatest care. + +We all stood awed at the beauty of the figure which, save for the face +cloth, now lay completely nude before us. Mr. Trelawny bent over, and +with hands that trembled slightly, raised this linen cloth which was of +the same fineness as the robe. As he stood back and the whole glorious +beauty of the Queen was revealed, I felt a rush of shame sweep over me. +It was not right that we should be there, gazing with irreverent eyes on +such unclad beauty: it was indecent; it was almost sacrilegious! And +yet the white wonder of that beautiful form was something to dream of. +It was not like death at all; it was like a statue carven in ivory by +the hand of a Praxiteles. There was nothing of that horrible shrinkage +which death seems to effect in a moment. There was none of the wrinkled +toughness which seems to be a leading characteristic of most mummies. +There was not the shrunken attenuation of a body dried in the sand, as I +had seen before in museums. All the pores of the body seemed to have +been preserved in some wonderful way. The flesh was full and round, as +in a living person; and the skin was as smooth as satin. The colour +seemed extraordinary. It was like ivory, new ivory; except where the +right arm, with shattered, bloodstained wrist and missing hand had lain +bare to exposure in the sarcophagus for so many tens of centuries. + +With a womanly impulse; with a mouth that drooped with pity, with eyes +that flashed with anger, and cheeks that flamed, Margaret threw over the +body the beautiful robe which lay across her arm. Only the face was +then to be seen. This was more startling even than the body, for it +seemed not dead, but alive. The eyelids were closed; but the long, +black, curling lashes lay over on the cheeks. The nostrils, set in +grave pride, seemed to have the repose which, when it is seen in life, +is greater than the repose of death. The full, red lips, though the +mouth was not open, showed the tiniest white line of pearly teeth +within. Her hair, glorious in quantity and glossy black as the raven's +wing, was piled in great masses over the white forehead, on which a few +curling tresses strayed like tendrils. I was amazed at the likeness to +Margaret, though I had had my mind prepared for this by Mr. Corbeck's +quotation of her father's statement. This woman--I could not think of +her as a mummy or a corpse--was the image of Margaret as my eyes had +first lit on her. The likeness was increased by the jewelled ornament +which she wore in her hair, the "Disk and Plumes", such as Margaret, +too, had worn. It, too, was a glorious jewel; one noble pearl of +moonlight lustre, flanked by carven pieces of moonstone. + +Mr. Trelawny was overcome as he looked. He quite broke down; and when +Margaret flew to him and held him close in her arms and comforted him, I +heard him murmur brokenly: + +"It looks as if you were dead, my child!" + +There was a long silence. I could hear without the roar of the wind, +which was now risen to a tempest, and the furious dashing of the waves +far below. Mr. Trelawny's voice broke the spell: + +"Later on we must try and find out the process of embalming. It is not +like any that I know. There does not seem to have been any opening cut +for the withdrawing of the viscera and organs, which apparently remain +intact within the body. Then, again, there is no moisture in the flesh; +but its place is supplied with something else, as though wax or stearine +had been conveyed into the veins by some subtle process. I wonder could +it be possible that at that time they could have used paraffin. It +might have been, by some process that we know not, pumped into the +veins, where it hardened!" + +Margaret, having thrown a white sheet over the Queen's body, asked us to +bring it to her own room, where we laid it on her bed. Then she sent us +away, saying: + +"Leave her alone with me. There are still many hours to pass, and I do +not like to leave her lying there, all stark in the glare of light. +This may be the Bridal she prepared for--the Bridal of Death; and at +least she shall wear her pretty robes." + +When presently she brought me back to her room, the dead Queen was +dressed in the robe of fine linen with the embroidery of gold; and all +her beautiful jewels were in place. Candles were lit around her, and +white flowers lay upon her breast. + +Hand in hand we stood looking at her for a while. Then with a sigh, +Margaret covered her with one of her own snowy sheets. She turned away; +and after softly closing the door of the room, went back with me to the +others who had now come into the dining room. Here we all began to talk +over the things that had been, and that were to be. + +Now and again I could feel that one or other of us was forcing +conversation, as if we were not sure of ourselves. The long wait was +beginning to tell on our nerves. It was apparent to me that Mr. +Trelawny had suffered in that strange trance more than we suspected, or +than he cared to show. True, his will and his determination were as +strong as ever; but the purely physical side of him had been weakened +somewhat. It was indeed only natural that it should be. No man can go +through a period of four days of absolute negation of life without being +weakened by it somehow. + +As the hours crept by, the time passed more and more slowly. The other +men seemed to get unconsciously a little drowsy. I wondered if in the +case of Mr. Trelawny and Mr. Corbeck, who had already been under the +hypnotic influence of the Queen, the same dormance was manifesting +itself. Doctor Winchester had periods of distraction which grew longer +and more frequent as the time wore on. + +As to Margaret, the suspense told on her exceedingly, as might have been +expected in the case of a woman. She grew paler and paler still; till +at last about midnight, I began to be seriously alarmed about her. I +got her to come into the library with me, and tried to make her lie down +on a sofa for a little while. As Mr. Trelawny had decided that the +experiment was to be made exactly at the seventh hour after sunset, it +would be as nearly as possible three o'clock in the morning when the +great trial should be made. Even allowing a whole hour for the final +preparations, we had still two hours of waiting to go through, and I +promised faithfully to watch her and to awake her at any time she might +name. She would not hear of it, however. She thanked me sweetly and +smiled at me as she did so; but she assured me that she was not sleepy, +and that she was quite able to bear up. That it was only the suspense +and excitement of waiting that made her pale. I agreed perforce; but I +kept her talking of many things in the library for more than an hour; so +that at last, when she insisted on going back to her father's room I +felt that I had at least done something to help her pass the time. + +We found the three men sitting patiently in silence. With manlike +fortitude they were content to be still when they felt they had done all +in their power. And so we waited. + +The striking of two o'clock seemed to freshen us all up. Whatever +shadows had been settling over us during the long hours preceding seemed +to lift at once; and we went about our separate duties alert and with +alacrity. We looked first to the windows to see that they were closed, +and we got ready our respirators to put them on when the time should be +close at hand. We had from the first arranged to use them for we did +not know whether some noxious fume might not come from the magic coffer +when it should be opened. Somehow, it never seemed to occur to any of +us that there was any doubt as to its opening. + +Then, under Margaret's guidance, we carried the mummied body of Queen +Tera from her room into her father's, and laid it on a couch. We put +the sheet lightly over it, so that if she should wake she could at once +slip from under it. The severed hand was placed in its true position on +her breast, and under it the Jewel of Seven Stars which Mr. Trelawny had +taken from the great safe. It seemed to flash and blaze as he put it in +its place. + +It was a strange sight, and a strange experience. The group of grave +silent men carried the white still figure, which looked like an ivory +statue when through our moving the sheet fell back, away from the +lighted candles and the white flowers. We placed it on the couch in +that other room, where the blaze of the electric lights shone on the +great sarcophagus fixed in the middle of the room ready for the final +experiment, the great experiment consequent on the researches during a +lifetime of these two travelled scholars. Again, the startling likeness +between Margaret and the mummy, intensified by her own extraordinary +pallor, heightened the strangeness of it all. When all was finally +fixed three-quarters of an hour had gone, for we were deliberate in all +our doings. Margaret beckoned me, and I went out with her to bring in +Silvio. He came to her purring. She took him up and handed him to me; +and then did a thing which moved me strangely and brought home to me +keenly the desperate nature of the enterprise on which we were embarked. +One by one, she blew out the candles carefully and placed them back in +their usual places. When she had finished she said to me: + +"They are done with now. Whatever comes--life or death--there will be no +purpose in their using now." Then taking Silvio into her arms, and +pressing him close to her bosom where he purred loudly, we went back to +the room. I closed the door carefully behind me, feeling as I did so a +strange thrill as of finality. There was to be no going back now. Then +we put on our respirators, and took our places as had been arranged. I +was to stand by the taps of the electric lights beside the door, ready +to turn them off or on as Mr. Trelawny should direct. Doctor Winchester +was to stand behind the couch so that he should not be between the mummy +and the sarcophagus; he was to watch carefully what should take place +with regard to the Queen. Margaret was to be beside him; she held +Silvio ready to place him upon the couch or beside it when she might +think right. Mr. Trelawny and Mr. Corbeck were to attend to the +lighting of the lamps. When the hands of the clock were close to the +hour, they stood ready with their linstocks. + +The striking of the silver bell of the clock seemed to smite on our +hearts like a knell of doom. One! Two! Three! + +Before the third stroke the wicks of the lamps had caught, and I had +turned out the electric light. In the dimness of the struggling lamps, +and after the bright glow of the electric light, the room and all within +it took weird shapes, and all seemed in an instant to change. We waited +with our hearts beating. I know mine did, and I fancied I could hear +the pulsation of the others. + +The seconds seemed to pass with leaden wings. It were as though all the +world were standing still. The figures of the others stood out dimly, +Margaret's white dress alone showing clearly in the gloom. The thick +respirators which we all wore added to the strange appearance. The thin +light of the lamps showed Mr. Trelawny's square jaw and strong mouth and +the brown shaven face of Mr. Corbeck. Their eyes seemed to glare in the +light. Across the room Doctor Winchester's eyes twinkled like stars, +and Margaret's blazed like black suns. Silvio's eyes were like +emeralds. + +Would the lamps never burn up! + +It was only a few seconds in all till they did blaze up. A slow, steady +light, growing more and more bright, and changing in colour from blue to +crystal white. So they stayed for a couple of minutes without change in +the coffer; till at last there began to appear all over it a delicate +glow. This grew and grew, till it became like a blazing jewel, and then +like a living thing whose essence of life was light. We waited and +waited, our hearts seeming to stand still. + +All at once there was a sound like a tiny muffled explosion and the +cover lifted right up on a level plane a few inches; there was no +mistaking anything now, for the whole room was full of a blaze of light. +Then the cover, staying fast at one side rose slowly up on the other, as +though yielding to some pressure of balance. The coffer still continued +to glow; from it began to steal a faint greenish smoke. I could not +smell it fully on account of the respirator; but, even through that, I +was conscious of a strange pungent odour. Then this smoke began to grow +thicker, and to roll out in volumes of ever increasing density till the +whole room began to get obscure. I had a terrible desire to rush over +to Margaret, whom I saw through the smoke still standing erect behind +the couch. Then, as I looked, I saw Doctor Winchester sink down. He +was not unconscious; for he waved his hand back and forward, as though +to forbid any one to come to him. At this time the figures of Mr. +Trelawny and Mr. Corbeck were becoming indistinct in the smoke which +rolled round them in thick billowy clouds. Finally I lost sight of them +altogether. The coffer still continued to glow; but the lamps began to +grow dim. At first I thought that their light was being overpowered by +the thick black smoke; but presently I saw that they were, one by one, +burning out. They must have burned quickly to produce such fierce and +vivid flames. + +I waited and waited, expecting every instant to hear the command to turn +up the light; but none came. I waited still, and looked with harrowing +intensity at the rolling billows of smoke still pouring out of the +glowing casket, whilst the lamps sank down and went out one by one. + +Finally there was but one lamp alight, and that was dimly blue and +flickering. The only effective light in the room was from the glowing +casket. I kept my eyes fixed toward Margaret; it was for her now that +all my anxiety was claimed. I could just see her white frock beyond the +still white shrouded figure on the couch. Silvio was troubled; his +piteous mewing was the only sound in the room. Deeper and denser grew +the black mist and its pungency began to assail my nostrils as well as +my eyes. Now the volume of smoke coming from the coffer seemed to +lessen, and the smoke itself to be less dense. Across the room I saw +something white move where the couch was. There were several movements. +I could just catch the quick glint of white through the dense smoke in +the fading light; for now the glow of the coffer began quickly to +subside. I could still hear Silvio, but his mewing came from close +under; a moment later I could feel him piteously crouching on my foot. + +Then the last spark of light disappeared, and through the Egyptian +darkness I could see the faint line of white around the window blinds. +I felt that the time had come to speak; so I pulled off my respirator +and called out: + +"Shall I turn up the light?" There was no answer; so before the thick +smoke choked me, I called again but more loudly: + +"Mr. Trelawny, shall I turn up the light?" He did not answer; but from +across the room I heard Margaret's voice, sounding as sweet and clear as +a bell: + +"Yes, Malcolm!" I turned the tap and the lamps flashed out. But they +were only dim points of light in the midst of that murky ball of smoke. +In that thick atmosphere there was little possibility of illumination. +I ran across to Margaret, guided by her white dress, and caught hold of +her and held her hand. She recognised my anxiety and said at once: + +"I am all right." + +"Thank God!" I said. "How are the others? Quick, let us open all the +windows and get rid of this smoke!" To my surprise, she answered in a +sleepy way: + +"They will be all right. They won't get any harm." I did not stop to +inquire how or on what ground she formed such an opinion, but threw up +the lower sashes of all the windows, and pulled down the upper. Then I +threw open the door. + +A few seconds made a perceptible change as the thick, black smoke began +to roll out of the windows. Then the lights began to grow into strength +and I could see the room. All the men were overcome. Beside the couch +Doctor Winchester lay on his back as though he had sunk down and rolled +over; and on the farther side of the sarcophagus, where they had stood, +lay Mr. Trelawny and Mr. Corbeck. It was a relief to me to see that, +though they were unconscious, all three were breathing heavily as though +in a stupor. Margaret still stood behind the couch. She seemed at +first to be in a partially dazed condition; but every instant appeared +to get more command of herself. She stepped forward and helped me to +raise her father and drag him close to a window. Together we placed the +others similarly, and she flew down to the dining-room and returned with +a decanter of brandy. This we proceeded to administer to them all in +turn. It was not many minutes after we had opened the windows when all +three were struggling back to consciousness. During this time my entire +thoughts and efforts had been concentrated on their restoration; but now +that this strain was off, I looked round the room to see what had been +the effect of the experiment. The thick smoke had nearly cleared away; +but the room was still misty and was full of a strange pungent acrid +odour. + +The great sarcophagus was just as it had been. The coffer was open, and +in it, scattered through certain divisions or partitions wrought in its +own substance, was a scattering of black ashes. Over all, sarcophagus, +coffer and, indeed, all in the room, was a sort of black film of greasy +soot. I went over to the couch. The white sheet still lay over part of +it; but it had been thrown back, as might be when one is stepping out of +bed. + +But there was no sign of Queen Tera! I took Margaret by the hand and +led her over. She reluctantly left her father to whom she was +administering, but she came docilely enough. I whispered to her as I +held her hand: + +"What has become of the Queen? Tell me! You were close at hand, and +must have seen if anything happened!" She answered me very softly: + +"There was nothing that I could see. Until the smoke grew too dense I +kept my eyes on the couch, but there was no change. Then, when all grew +so dark that I could not see, I thought I heard a movement close to me. +It might have been Doctor Winchester who had sunk down overcome; but I +could not be sure. I thought that it might be the Queen waking, so I +put down poor Silvio. I did not see what became of him; but I felt as +if he had deserted me when I heard him mewing over by the door. I hope +he is not offended with me!" As if in answer, Silvio came running into +the room and reared himself against her dress, pulling it as though +clamouring to be taken up. She stooped down and took him up and began to +pet and comfort him. + +I went over and examined the couch and all around it most carefully. +When Mr. Trelawny and Mr. Corbeck recovered sufficiently, which they did +quickly, though Doctor Winchester took longer to come round, we went +over it afresh. But all we could find was a sort of ridge of impalpable +dust, which gave out a strange dead odour. On the couch lay the jewel +of the disk and plumes which the Queen had worn in her hair, and the +Star Jewel which had words to command the Gods. + +Other than this we never got clue to what had happened. There was just +one thing which confirmed our idea of the physical annihilation of the +mummy. In the sarcophagus in the hall, where we had placed the mummy of +the cat, was a small patch of similar dust. + +* * * * * + +In the autumn Margaret and I were married. On the occasion she wore the +mummy robe and zone and the jewel which Queen Tera had worn in her hair. +On her breast, set in a ring of gold make like a twisted lotus stalk, +she wore the strange Jewel of Seven Stars which held words to command +the God of all the worlds. At the marriage the sunlight streaming +through the chancel windows fell on it, and it seemed to glow like a +living thing. + +The graven words may have been of efficacy; for Margaret holds to them, +and there is no other life in all the world so happy as my own. + +We often think of the great Queen, and we talk of her freely. Once, +when I said with a sigh that I was sorry she could not have waked into a +new life in a new world, my wife, putting both her hands in mine and +looking into my eyes with that far-away eloquent dreamy look which +sometimes comes into her own, said lovingly: + +"Do not grieve for her! Who knows, but she may have found the joy she +sought? Love and patience are all that make for happiness in this world; +or in the world of the past or of the future; of the living or the dead. +She dreamed her dream; and that is all that any of us can ask!" + + +THE END + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Jewel of Seven Stars +by Bram Stoker + |