for that very purpose.
Men who shrink from little will often fear to incur the direct curse of
widely venerated gods in order to obtain their desires, even if they
be not their own gods. Such were my conclusions about this curious and
ancient writing which I regret I cannot give in full as I neglected to
copy it at the time.

I may add that it seemed extremely strange to me that it and the other
which dealt with a particular temple in Egypt should have passed into
Lady Ragnall's hands over two thousand years later in a distant part of
Africa, and that subsequently her husband should have been killed in
her presence whilst excavating the very temple to which they referred,
whence too in all probability they were taken. Moreover, oddly enough
Lady Ragnall had herself for a while filled the role of Isis in a shrine
whereof these two papyri had been part of the sacred appurtenances for
unknown ages, and one of her official titles there was Prophetess and
Lady of the Moon, whose symbol she wore upon her breast.

Although I have always recognized that there are a great many more
things in the world than are dreamt of in our philosophy, I say with
truth and confidence that I am not a superstitious man. Yet I confess
that these papers and the circumstances connected with them, made me
feel afraid.

Also they made me wish that I had not come to Ragnall Castle.

Well, the Atterby-Smiths had so far effectually put a stop to any talk
of such matters and even if Lady Ragnall should succeed in getting
rid of them by that morning train, as to which I was doubtful, there
remained but a single day of my visit during which it ought not to be
hard to stave off the subject. Thus I reflected, standing face to face
with those mummies, till presently I observed that the Singer of Amen
who wore a staring, gold mask, seemed to be watching me with her oblong
painted eyes. To my fancy a sardonic smile gathered in them and spread
to the mouth.

"That's what _you_ think," this smile seemed to say, "as once before you
thought that Fate could be escaped. Wait and see, my friend. Wait and
see!"

"Not in this room any way," I remarked aloud, and departed in a hurry
down the passage which led to the main staircase.

Before I reached its end a remarkable sight caused me to halt in the
shadow. The Atterby-Smith family were going to bed _en bloc_. They
marched in single file up the great stair, each of them carrying a
hand candle. Papa led and you