The herald., 1898-05-15

over ancient Egypt and you must be
| tired. You ought to be, at all events
We will keep all our theories quiet, and
when you have run down for a day or
two to see your people, we will invite
Mathews, Bristow, Richardson. Garri-
son, Arkenfield, de Taine, Bergheimer,
and few others, and you shall put
your theories into practice"
What shall we do with the coffin?''
asked Grant, anxiously.
II should think the best way" re-
piled Mr.. Murray, would be to lock 1t
up in the ante-room; no one ever wants
to go in there except myself
Every WELL" agreed Grant rather re-
luctantly. II don't like trusting her"
"Her!" said the doctor, smiling.
"Out of my sight"
my dear fellow" exclaimed Mr..
Murray. You can't saddle yourself
with, and drag about. coffin wherever
you 60. They would put you in a luna
tic asylum in no time"
Grant colored up, and laughed it off
as best he could; but, when they had
safely placed the coffin on the floor of
the ante-room, he took a long look At
the beautiful face which he almost
fancied smiled back at him, before
locking the door and handing over the
key to Mr.. Murray.
Grant and the doctor said goodnight,
and after the former had looked in the
sub-editor's room. and had spoken to
several members of the staff for few
minutes, they hailed a hanson and
drove off to the "Parnassus," where
they had taken rooms for the night.
When the two men reached the club
they We're not greatly astonished to
find that the fact Of their return to
London had leaked out, and had proved
the cause of their friends and ac-
quaintances' turning up at the Par
nassus" in large numbers. The well
come they received was a royal one.
Although both the doctor and Grant
were tired, and would gladly have es-
capped the congratulations, questionings,
inquiries, they were, of course, not per-
mitted to have their dinner in peace.
They were soon the center of a knot OF
excited members who were eager to
learn fuller and more accurate particu-
lars than those furnished by the
various evening specials" which had
been rushed out when the fact of the
travellers return had become known.
Once or twice, when the doctor grew
dangerously communicative, as his en-
thusiasm for his subjec+ waxed warm
er, Grant began to fear lest he should
be beguiled into affording more infor-
nation than was desirable, or might
even heedlessly give some inkling Of
the theories which they held respecting
their discovery. However. the eager
inquirers learned little for their pains.
| 1t was very late before the animated
circle dispersed, and Grant was able to
go to rest with the assurance that the
doctor was safe, at least till morning.
Grant awoke, next morning. with a
start, and for several moments, although
it was broad daylight, he scarcely re-
membered where he was. When at
length he recognized the room and the
articles in it, his eyes having wandered
round the apartment in search of some
clue, he recollected the events of the
night before.
After breakfast, Evan went into
Fleet street, to see Mr.. Murray, who
had promised the previous night, to
come down to the Torch" office to
meet him at eleven. Doctor Gerard,
eager to get to work, had made up his
mind to return at once to his rooms at
Highgate, and refuse admittance to
every one until he had completed the
translation of the papyrus.
Evan Grant reached the Torch" Of
flee by little after ten, and failing to
find any of the staff about, he asked for
his letters, and made his way up to his
old den to answer them. He went to
Mr.. Murray's room first, however, and
tried the door of the chamber in which
the coffin lay, but found it locked as
he had anticipated.
Several notes lay on the table. so that
the fact of his return to England had
evidently become more or less generally
known. Amongst the letters the porter
had given him, was one from Ethel, ex-
planning that she had intended to come
down to meet the "Sybile" at Graves
end: but had not expected the yacht to
arrive so soon. Of course, he would
come to Hyde Park Gardens to see her
at once.
This was just the point he was de-
batting when his chief entered
"Hullo, Grant; you here already?" ex-
claimed Mr.. Murray, shaking hands. IT
certainly thought should be first this
morning. I'm not late, am I?
"Oh, no." he continued, looking at the
clock hanging above the mantel-shelf.
Come along into my room: want to
hear all about your trip; and we shan't
be disturbed there"
When they were comfortably seated.
and had lit their cigars, Grant COM
menced the account of his adventures.
Mr.. Murray of course, already knew
good deal from his letters, so Evan
soon reached the most important point
of his narrative-the discovery of the
tomb, and the body Of the Egyptian
girl.
The editor listened very attentively
to the whole story, only occasionally
interpolating a remark or q question
where the narrator presumed that he
knew something of which he was really
in ignorance. When Grant had finished.
he explained the theories which he held
with reference to the discovery, and
those also of the doctor.
you see," said Grant, 1.-THE affair all
the way through Is a most mysterious
one. Firstly. we have Miss Vallance's
prolonged trance; secondly, we have
my vision-we'll call it that for lack of
better name;-thirdly, we have her
restoration to consciousness by means
of series of passes. of which 1 be-
came cognizant whilst in a semi-hyp
motto condition. and of which I myself
was previously unaware; fourthly we
have the Identification of a place seen
by me during the contact l had with
Miss Valance whilst she lay in the
trance state; filthy, we have the dis
| covarv of h0dv-n utrI-x,,x~