interesting room.
Books piled upon the floor; objects from tombs awaiting examination,
lying here and there; a hoard of Ptolemaic silver coins, just dug up at
Alexandria, standing on a table in the pot that had hidden them for two
thousand years; in the corner the mummy of a royal child, aged six or
seven, not long ago discovered, with some inscription scrawled upon
the wrappings (brought here to be deciphered by the Master), and the
withered lotus-bloom, love's last offering, thrust beneath one of the
pink retaining bands.

"A touching object," thought Smith to himself. "Really, they might have
left the dear little girl in peace."

Smith had a tender heart, but even as he reflected he became aware
that some of the jewellery hidden in an inner pocket of his waistcoat
(designed for bank-notes) was fretting his skin. He had a tender
conscience also.

Just then the Director, a French savant, bustled in, alert, vigorous,
full of interest.

"Ah, my dear Mr. Smith!" he said, in his excellent English. "I am indeed
glad to see you back again, especially as I understand that you are come
rejoicing and bringing your sheaves with you. They tell me you have been
extraordinarily successful. What do you say is the name of this queen
whose tomb you have found--Ma-Mee? A very unusual name. How do you
get the extra vowel? Is it for euphony, eh? Did I not know how good a
scholar you are, I should be tempted to believe that you had misread
it. Me-Mee, Ma-Mee! That would be pretty in French, would it not? _Ma
mie_--my darling! Well, I dare say she was somebody's _mie_ in her time.
But tell me the story."

Smith told him shortly and clearly; also he produced his photographs and
copies of inscriptions.

"This is interesting--interesting truly," said the Director, when he had
glanced through them. "You must leave them with me to study. Also you
will publish them, is it not so? Perhaps one of the Societies would
help you with the cost, for it should be done in facsimile. Look at this
vignette! Most unusual. Oh, what a pity that scoundrelly priest got off
with the jewellery and burnt her Majesty's body!"

"He didn't get off with all of it."

"What, Mr. Smith? Our inspector reported to me that you found nothing."

"I dare say, sir; but your inspector did not know what I found."

"Ah, you are a discreet man! Well, let us see."

Slowly Smith unbuttoned his waistcoat. From its inner pocket and
elsewhere about his person he extracted t