icoe, "that is quite an interesting question. It is
not unusual to find mummy cases smeared with bitumen; there is a mummy
of a priestess in the next gallery which is completely coated with
bitumen except the gilded face. Now, this bitumen was put on for a
purpose--for the purpose of obliterating the inscriptions and thus
concealing the identity of the deceased from the robbers and
desecrators of tombs. And there is the oddity of this mummy of
Sebek-hotep. Evidently there was an intention of obliterating the
inscriptions. The whole of the back is covered thickly with bitumen,
and so are the feet. Then the workers seem to have changed their minds
and left the inscriptions and decoration untouched. Why they intended
to cover it, and why, having commenced, they left it partially covered
only, is a mystery. The mummy was found in its original tomb and quite
undisturbed, so far as tomb-robbers are concerned. Poor Bellingham was
greatly puzzled as to what the explanation could be."

"Speaking of bitumen," said I, "reminds me of a question that has
occurred to me. You know that this substance has been used a good deal
by modern painters and that it has a very dangerous peculiarity; I mean
its tendency to liquefy, without any obvious reason, long after it has
dried."

"Yes, I know. Isn't there some story about a picture of Reynolds's in
which bitumen had been used? A portrait of a lady, I think. The
bitumen softened, and one of the lady's eyes slipped down on to her
cheek; and they had to hang the portrait upside down and keep it warm
until the eye slipped back again into its place. But what was your
question?"

"I was wondering whether the bitumen used by the Egyptian artists has
ever been known to soften after this great lapse of time."

"Yes, I think it has. I have heard of instances in which the bitumen
coatings have softened under certain circumstances and become quite
'tacky.' But, bless my soul! here am I gossiping with you and wasting
your time, and it is nearly a quarter to nine!"

My guest rose hastily, and I, with many apologies for having detained
him, proceeded to fulfil my promise to guide him to his destination.
As we sallied forth together the glamour of Egypt faded by degrees, and
when he shook my hand stiffly at the gate of the Bellinghams' house,
all his vivacity and enthusiasm had vanished, leaving the taciturn
lawyer, dry, uncommunicative, and not a little suspicious.

CHAPTER X