The Jewel of Seven Stars

ing of t

remember that he only undertook to advise; for if action were required he might have to refer the matter to headquarters. With this understanding

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

e? that is t

ean?" asked the o

st 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,

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 thi

e but

e others

lars." The Detective paused before asking again: "Would any other skilled person-at the British Museum, fo

his shoulders would see at a gla

t 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

to how the robbery was effected?" The Policem

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 oth

d. 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 r

p." Sergeant Daw turned to her so quickly that I could not help rem

, on what you ba

s already awake to suspicion; but it came

it!" The Detective looked at her for some second

oods. 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 des

rength than she had yet been, despite the new shock and annoyance of the

gan 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 littl

owing interest at everything. After having examined some cabi

at 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 wa

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. I

iews and ideas, and had so little thought of self, that in her companionship I forgot for the

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 quot

iantess!" s

uite 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

ll 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 sarco

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

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 wa

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

n 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 g

uable thing he had, except one. When I asked him what that one was, he refused to tell me, and forbade me

rouped together, the Sarcophagus, the Coffer, and t

sulting 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 no

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-whe

to show interest in what she had said than anything else, for the furnis

ed 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 o

something in here. Perhap

of the housemaids may have used it to put something b

did so, both Miss Trelawny an

f ancient Egyptian lamps, of various

s beating like a trip-hammer; and I could see by the he

rbeck, followed by Sergeant Daw, came into the hall. The door of the boudoir was open, and when they saw us Mr. Corbeck came ru

s. The lamps that were worth all the rest a thousand times...." He stopped, struck by the strange pallor of her face. Then his eyes, followi

-safe-safe! ... But how, in the name of

aking breath. I looked at him, and as he caught my glance he

been there when he had spoken to me of her being the fi