e.

He returned to the statuary and stared at his plaster cast till one of
the workmen remarked to his fellow that if he were the gent he'd go and
look at "a live'un" for a change.

Then Smith retired abashed.

On his way home he called at his bookseller's and ordered "all the
best works on Egyptology". When, a day or two later, they arrived in
a packing-case, together with a bill for thirty-eight pounds, he was
somewhat dismayed. Still, he tackled those books like a man, and, being
clever and industrious, within three months had a fair working knowledge
of the subject, and had even picked up a smattering of hieroglyphics.

In January--that was, at the end of those three months--Smith astonished
his Board of Directors by applying for ten weeks' leave, he who had
hitherto been content with a fortnight in the year. When questioned he
explained that he had been suffering from bronchitis, and was advised to
take a change in Egypt.

"A very good idea," said the manager; "but I'm afraid you'll find it
expensive. They fleece one in Egypt."

"I know," answered Smith; "but I've saved a little and have only myself
to spend it upon."

So Smith went to Egypt and saw the original of the beauteous head and
a thousand other fascinating things. Indeed, he did more. Attaching
himself to some excavators who were glad of his intelligent assistance,
he actually dug for a month in the neighbourhood of ancient Thebes, but
without finding anything in particular.

It was not till two years later that he made his great discovery, that
which is known as Smith's Tomb. Here it may be explained that the state
of his health had become such as to necessitate an annual visit to
Egypt, or so his superiors understood.

However, as he asked for no summer holiday, and was always ready to do
another man's work or to stop overtime, he found it easy to arrange for
these winter excursions.

On this, his third visit to Egypt, Smith obtained from the
Director-General of Antiquities at Cairo a licence to dig upon his
own account. Being already well known in the country as a skilled
Egyptologist, this was granted upon the usual terms--namely, that the
Department of Antiquities should have a right to take any of the objects
which might be found, or all of them, if it so desired.

Such preliminary matters having been arranged by correspondence, Smith,
after a few days spent in the Museum at Cairo, took the night train
to Luxor, where he found his head