an might do,
it will be of a livelier description than any to which you are usually
accustomed. Vain dupe, you think yourself impeccable. Infallible ass,
there is hardly a museum in Europe where my manuscripts are not carefully
preserved for the greatest and rarest treasures by senile curators, too
ignorant to know their errors or too vain to acknowledge them. I fancied
you clever; until now I do not know that I ever caught you out, though
you may have bought many of my wares for all I know. I find you,
however, like the rest--dull, pedantic, and Pecksniffian. At Cambridge
we were not taught pretty manners, but we knew enough not to give
fellowships to pretentious charlatans like yourself.'

The room swam round Professor Lachsyrma, and the mummy behind the door
grinned. The plaster casts and the statues seemed to wave their
mutilated limbs with the joy of demoniacal possession. Dead things were
startled into life. Sick giddiness permeated his brain. It was some
horrible nightmare. Yet his soul's tempest was entirely subjective;
outwardly his demeanour suffered no change. His tormentor noted with
astonishment and admiration his apparent self-control. There was merely
a slight falter in his speech.

'What proofs have you? A blackmailer must have some token--something on
which to base a ridiculous libel.'

'A few minutes ago I handed you a spurious papyrus, which you tell me you
recognise. In the same lot of rubbish, purporting to come from the
Fayyum, were the alleged poems of Sappho. You swallowed the bait which
has waited for you so long, and, if it is any consolation to you, I will
admit that in the opinion of the profession, to continue my piscatorial
simile, I have landed the largest salmon.'

'I am deeply sensible of the compliment, but I must point out to you, my
friend, that your coming to tell me that a papyrus I happen to have
purchased from one of your shady friends is counterfeit, does not
necessarily prove it to be so.'

The Professor realised that he must act cautiously, and consider his
position quietly. Each word must be charged with suppressed meaning. His
eyes wandered over the room, resting now and again on the majestic,
impassive smile of the mummy. It seemed to restore his nerve. He found
himself unconsciously looking towards it over Carrel's head each time he
spoke. While the blackmailer, seated once more, gazed up to his face
with a defiant, insolent stare, swinging his chai