black
film of greasy soot. I went over to the couch. The white sheet still
lay over part of it; but it had been thrown back, as might be when one
is stepping out of bed.

But there was no sign of Queen Tera! I took Margaret by the hand and
led her over. She reluctantly left her father to whom she was
administering, but she came docilely enough. I whispered to her as I
held her hand:

"What has become of the Queen? Tell me! You were close at hand, and
must have seen if anything happened!" She answered me very softly:

"There was nothing that I could see. Until the smoke grew too dense I
kept my eyes on the couch, but there was no change. Then, when all
grew so dark that I could not see, I thought I heard a movement close
to me. It might have been Doctor Winchester who had sunk down overcome;
but I could not be sure. I thought that it might be the Queen waking,
so I put down poor Silvio. I did not see what became of him; but I
felt as if he had deserted me when I heard him mewing over by the door.
I hope he is not offended with me!" As if in answer, Silvio came
running into the room and reared himself against her dress, pulling it
as though clamouring to be taken up. She stooped down and took him up
and began to pet and comfort him.

I went over and examined the couch and all around it most carefully.
When Mr. Trelawny and Mr. Corbeck recovered sufficiently, which they
did quickly, though Doctor Winchester took longer to come round, we
went over it afresh. But all we could find was a sort of ridge of
impalpable dust, which gave out a strange dead odour. On the couch lay
the jewel of the disk and plumes which the Queen had worn in her hair,
and the Star Jewel which had words to command the Gods.

Other than this we never got clue to what had happened. There was just
one thing which confirmed our idea of the physical annihilation of the
mummy. In the sarcophagus in the hall, where we had placed the mummy
of the cat, was a small patch of similar dust.

* * * * *

In the autumn Margaret and I were married. On the occasion she wore
the mummy robe and zone and the jewel which Queen Tera had worn in her
hair. On her breast, set in a ring of gold make like a twisted lotus
stalk, she wore the strange Jewel of Seven Stars which held words to
command the God of all the worlds. At the marriage the sunlight
streaming through the chancel windows fell on it, and it seemed to glow
like a living thin