New-York tribune., 1905-02-02
a Professor Of EGyp7oIogy.
By GUY BoOTHBY.
IN TWO PARTsPART l.

u say, Tor the half hour preceding dlnner-tne
grand hall of the Hotel Occidental throughout the
season is practically a lounge and is crowded with
the most fashionable folk wintering in Cairo. The
evening 1 am anxious to describe was certainly no
exception TO the rule. At the foot of the fine
marble staircase the pride of its owner. well
known member of the French Ministry was chatting
with an English duchess. whose pretty but some
what delicate daughter flirting mildly with
of the Srdars Bimbashis, leave from the Sou
dan On the right hand lounge OF the hall
Italian countess. whose antecedents were doubt
full as her diamonds. apparently listening to
story handsome Greek attach6 was telling her;
in reality, however. she was endeavoring TO catch
scraps OF conversation being carried few
feet away between a witty Russian and equally
clever daughter of the United States Almost every
nationality represented there. but fortunately
for our prestige, the majority were English. The
scene was a brilliant one. and the sprnkling OF
military and diplomatic uniforms 0here
ception at the KhedviaI palace later lent an ad-
ditional touch of color to the picture. Taken alto
gether and regarded from political point Of view.
the gathering had n significance of its own.
At the end OF the hail. near the large glass doors.
a handsome elderly lady. with gray hair con-
versing with one of the leading English doctors OF
the place-a gray haired, clever looking man,
who possessed the happy faculty of being
able to impress every with whom he talked
with the idea that he infinitely preferred his or her
society to that OF any other member of the worlds
population. They were discussing the question Of
the most suitable clothing for a Nile voyage and as
the lady's daughter, who was seated next her, had
been conversant with her mothers ideas Of the
subject since their first visit Egypt (as. in
deed. had been the doctor) she preferred to lie
back the divan and watch the people about her
She had large. dark contemplatve eyes. that were
more suggestive of Eastern than Western
origin. Like her mother. she took life seriously.
From this however. it must not be inferred that
she IN any way bluestockng-that is of
course, in the vulgar acceptation of the word She
thorough in all she undertook. and for the rea-
that mathematics interested her in very much
the way that Wagner, chess, and shall We
say croquet interest other people. she made it her
hobby and IL must be confessed she certainly sue
ceeded in it, At other times she rode, drove,
played tennis and hockey and looked upon her
world with calm observant eyes that were more
disposed to find good than evil in it, Contrad1c-
tions that we are even TO ourselves. it was only
those who knew her intimately-and they were rev
and far between-who realized that under that ap-
parenty sober matter OF fact peFSohas taTre
or more properly speaking. the @ Gceu y, P0SSiIy 5bi
but that am right in my surmise this story VIII
surely be sufficient proof -, -.
their eomfortabIe Yorkshire home N SgpSemPer Pe
reached Cairo in November-the best month TO
arrive; in my opinion, for the rush mas not SET m
beos ngen of their duties and what is better
still. all the best rooms have not oeen oespokeI-
1t was the middle of December. and the fash
ionable caravanserai. upon which they had for
many years bestowed their patronage 'Was crowd
being turned away, and the managers continual
lament was that he had not another huhoreo rooiiS
wherein to place more guests.
on this particular evening Mrs. Westmoreland
with DR.. Forsyth-that is to say. they were TO eat
their meal at his table In order to meet { man OF
ance they had not as yet made me lnoIvlIual III
question was certain ProIesSoT ptoIoaf and
the author Of several well known works mrs
Westmoreland was not of exacting nature. and
50 she dlled IN dSreeaDie COtipdHSI N4N
not trouble herself very much Wnether II was 4 Win
an English earl distinguished forelsn s4VanI,
1T really does not matter my DEAR she was was
wont observe to her daughter: go Ions h as tLe
there is absolutely nothing % choose between thSh
AL onv mem Feed them Wen and they'll lie down
and purr like They don't want e0hVefSa aIIOI, ,I
they they hayG fb,n enough 4o9e of H@ 'na' the
From this II viii be seen that Mrs Westmoreland
was well acquainted with her world; whether MISS
Cecilia shared her opinions is another matter AZ
any rate s1e TO haa eet9 Who was pOpu
arly supposed to possess an eXtFhorundIS 4nITltSe
Concerning the localities Of sombs OF the PhaFaGGhs
the Eleventh Twelfth ana IL ong to Se
observed the DOCTOR who had consulted ms ms %atca Ga
and your host. you will permit me to oner you my
apologies - 49,. L,..5 - cha sound Of |
his own voice. and on this occasion ne 5 va even
less inclined TO do SO than usual Mrs rco and
Cecilia he felt sure. would marry ere long.
"He has still three minutes in which TO put In an |
appearance. Observed that young lady quietly. And
hen she added In the same tone perhaps we !
Both Mrs Westmoreland and her friend. the /
Doctor. regarded her with mildly reproachIu @ Eyes
The former could not understand any one Tet9sins
4 dinner such she felt sure the doctor had ar !
ole to imagine a man who would dare to disappoint
the famous DR.. Forsyth. VINO hdvIhs tdIeu IN 4
aaFsy d the Land sPfe6 Of Tss Shs PSaSaoPs PSasaS
NV GOOD friend Constanides will not disappoint |
us i feel sure" he said consulting his watch for |
the fourth time. Possibly I am little fast; at \
any rate, / have never known him TO be unPunctual
: remarka be-a very remarkable man is ConStan- !
des I cannot remember ever TO have met another |
Having thus bestowed his approval upon him. the
doctor pulled s n0Cpez d0%n S 6 his be
sionaI manner. and looked around the hall as IL l
he assertion he had just made; ,-,
You have, Of course e, read his Neurological
Egypt observed Miss & Cecilia tith Gsmurely speaking
b e t6e 6ecfop @sS5 66ked %fFs e RfE9nS eoGssd
'Ahem! WeiI let me see; he stammresIre,d5-trying
10 lind a way out of the difficulty We'll, TO tell
ure that have studied that particular work AS
matter Of fact you ss hfSs aSe SO IS no az
connected with my profession That. Of course.
mis- Miss ceciiias mouth twiched as if She were en-
ieavoring TO keep back smile Al the same mo-
nan entered So remarkable was he that every one
urned to look at him-a fact which did not appear
He tall. well shaped, and carried himself /
ace n Was n ovaIRS eyes large and Set mewbat
vide apart. II was only when they We're directed
hey possessed. The cheekbones were a tribe high,
md the forehead possibly retreated toward the let
,ack hair more than Is customary in Greeks He
yore neither beard nor moustache. thus enabling
ne TO the wide firm mouth. the compression
4 the lips OF which spoke for the determination OF
heir pOssessor. Those who had an eve FOR such
hings noted the fact that he was faultIessIv i
ressed while Miss Cecilia. who had the precious
dft OF observation largely developed noted that
With the exception of single ring and a magnin-
ent pearl stud. the latter strangely set he wore
10 JewelIy of any sort description.
He looked about him for Dr. Forsyth. and when
e had located him, hastened forward.
%h doareay ne trace sas Of o o4sh aseeS ~a9h
must crave your pardon thousand times II have
waiting"