liar to his race he smiled and asked me to take a seat near
the window."

"Is it possible?" said Robinson, languidly, lighting a cigarette.

"Is what possible?" inquired Watson, frowning slightly.

"Why, that he asked you to take a seat near the window."

"Robinson," remarked Watson sternly, "remember that your mental
infirmities will not prevent my punching your head if you interrupt me
with any more foolish questions."

Robinson grinned, and after ostentatiously placing a paper-weight within
easy reach, Watson continued.

"I inquired if he was the person to whom I should apply for information
about the Methuselah Club.

"He answered that he had the honor of being the president of the club,
and would be glad to supply me with all information in his power. Did I
wish to join?

"'A friend of mine,' I said, 'has already become a member, and the
description of a wonderful powder has interested me, likewise the
history of the powder.'

"The Hindoo smiled gently, showing his white teeth, and said that he was
not surprised at my curiosity. He then went to a desk and took from it
the printed circular which Jones had already shown me, and which was
supposed to be a translation of the ancient manuscript. It is the one I
hold in my hand; please glance over it before I continue my story."

Robinson took the paper.

"What is this hieroglyphic affair at the top here?" he asked.

"That," said Dr. Watson, "is probably a copy of some very ancient amulet
or talisman. The fish at the bottom was often used to designate '_Dag_,'
or the master; next above we have the Solomon's seal, then the four
Chaldaic letters _Jod-He-Van-He-Iaho_, which is 'The Deity;' the other
symbols are strange to me."

"Ah," said Robinson, "a weird sort of thing, is it not?"

"Don't be sarcastic, read it," sententiously remarked Watson.

Robinson did so.

[Illustration]

"'Let him who dares to live forever take of the powder, but let him
think of "_Aum_;" but speak it not on pain of death; let absolute
"_muckta_" be known to him; let him study the secret "_mantras_," and
ponder on the mysteries of "_Vach_;" let him also say each day in his
prayer "_Aum ma-ni pad-me hum_."

"'He who takes of the powder three times should acquaint himself with
"{Hebrew: khet dalet}" the _marcaba_ and the _lah gash_, then he will
never die. Even though he wished to live a thousand years, so it shall
be!'"[2]

[Footnote 2: Translation of the sacred manuscript f