, suddenly, I remembered the mummy upstairs.

"At first it only occurred to me as a fantastic possibility that I
could conceal the body in the mummy-case. But as I turned over the
idea I began to see that it was really practicable; and not only
practicable but easy; and not only easy but eminently safe. If once
the mummy-case was in the Museum, I was rid of it for ever.

"The circumstances were, as you, sir, have justly observed, singularly
favorable. There would be no hue and cry, no hurry, no anxiety; but
ample time for all the necessary preparations. Then the mummy-case
itself was curiously suitable. Its length was ample, as I knew from
having measured it. It was a cartonnage of rather flexible material
and had an opening behind, secured with a lacing so that it could be
opened without injury. Nothing need be cut but the lacing, which could
be replaced. A little damage might be done in extracting the mummy and
in introducing the deceased; but such cracks as might occur would be of
no importance. For here again Fortune favored me. The whole of the
back of the mummy-case was coated with bitumen, and it would be easy
when once the deceased was safely inside to apply a fresh coat, which
would cover up not only the cracks but also the new lacing.

"After careful consideration, I decided to adopt the plan. I went
downstairs and sent the caretaker on an errand to the Law Courts. Then
I returned and carried the deceased up to one of the third-floor rooms,
where I removed his clothes and laid him out on a long packing-case in
the position in which he would lie in the mummy-case. I folded his
clothes neatly and packed them, with the exception of his boots, in a
suit-case that he had been taking to Paris and which contained nothing
but his nightclothes, toilet articles, and a change of linen. By the
time I had done this and thoroughly washed the oilcloth on the stairs
and landing, the caretaker had returned. I informed him that Mr.
Bellingham had started for Paris and then I went home. The upper part
of the house was, of course, secured by the Chubb lock, but I had
also--_ex abundantia cautelae_--locked the door of the room in which I
had deposited the deceased.

"I had, of course, some knowledge of the methods of embalming, but
principally of those employed by the ancients. Hence, on the following
day, I went to the British Museum library and consulted the most recent
works on the subject; and exceedingly i