The Jewel of Seven Stars

d of Kn

all over tenderly, as though they were things that he loved. In his delight and excitement he breathed so hard that it

lamps are the ones you h

re! Of course I'm sure. There isn't anot

ough, but his manner was so exasperating that I was sure h

e's nothing new under the sun, you know, Mr. Corbeck; not even in Egypt. These may be the originals,

reserve; and in his indignation poured forth a torrent

eaded 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 Sl

; and then went on in

on, old fellow, for my rudeness. I quite lost my temper at the suggestion that I

t is when people are angry that you learn the truth from them. I keep cool; that is my trade! Do you know, you have t

having given himself away. All at once he

m back?" I was so surprised

m back!" The trave

here they are before your eyes! We found you looking at them when we cam

"We had only come across them,

t Miss Trelawny and myself; turning his

m here; that you found them in that drawer? Tha

heir own accord. But who it was, or when, or how, neither of us knows. We sh

seemed a long time. The first to speak was t

ur pardon, miss!" Then his

articles placed in a drawer in the boudoir; but none of them could throw any light o

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 diffe

se 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 al

ran over to the cat mummy and began to scratch angrily at it. Miss Trelawny had some difficulty in taking him

so!" from

mean?" from M

trange thing!" f

t prove anything!"

from myself, thinking it

nt we dropped the th

ned, when there came a low tap on the door. In obedience to my su

" said I, "sit d

aited: he went on: "You know that that room where they were found

es

he house was opened, and shut again. I heard it, and t

I said; "I heard a w

ike you as strang

ing I have ever encountered. It is all so strange that one seems to wonder,

choosing his words to begin;

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

ing, 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

he inf

the cool audaci

one to this house, where they were received through a window on the ground floor. They

monstrous. I did not want, however, my relief to

uppose brought th

y Mr. Corbeck himself; the matter might

beck is a liar and a fraud; and that he is in conspiracy with

out 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

ence!" I said; and he went away to

y was to be repeated; for before long I had another private visit from Doctor Winchester who had now paid hi

ll 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 so

e could get. For myself, I had perfect confidence in both men; and any comparing n

he seems to me a good fellow as well as an enthusiast. By the way, it will be necessary t

body, excepting yourself. We have to remember that when Mr. Trelawny recovers

ile: and I shall ask him to come and have a

s, and brought him back with me. I thought the detectives

with only those men to guard them. They're a de

r that suspicion was not

The traveller professed his willingness to be of any assistance which he could, provided, he added, that it wa

ill, to translate som

ell you that hieroglyphic writing is not quite mastered yet; though

nswered. "One of them

at which he had that evening introduced to Silvio. The

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

the mummy cat in M

I am, for the present at all events, practically bound to s

one word "Checkmate!" from which I think he may have gathered that I guessed more o

ly bound t

ce took up the ch

d 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

with emotion. After a time he

; 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 knowled

pect and esteem of both Doctor Winchester and myself. We understood th

hat 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

en the answer came sl

t possibly be some extraordinary one. But there would b

d t

ough 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 peo

jumped up, and in his impulsi

pledge myself that if I find my duty to Mr. Trelawny's wishes will, in his own i

ave 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 tal

through any process of explanation or limitation, but spok

e 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 mi

with Doctor Winchester

s interested seemed like a tiny speck in the midst of a wilderness. Without and around it were darkness and unknown danger, pressing in from ev

n the spot where he had seen it three years before. Having placed in it several sli

h will, I have no doubt, be to you an interesting beginning to a special stu

r he pause

u have told me of him puts him in a new light. The best proof of it is t

h me, put on my respirator, and went