-rope walking not being in my line; and I'll tell you what,
you are just the best three fellows in the whole world. Don't you think
I forget that because I haven't said much. And now let's have your yarn,
for I want to hear how things stand, which I never expected to do this
side of Judgment-day."

So we told him all, while he listened open-mouthed. When we came to the
description of the Tomb of the Kings his excitement could scarcely be
restrained.

"You haven't touched them," he almost screamed; "don't say you have been
vandals enough to touch them, for every article must be catalogued _in
situ_ and drawings must be made. If possible, specimen groups with their
surrounding offerings should be moved so that they can be set up again
in museums. Why, there's six months' work before me, at least. And to
think that if it hadn't been for you, by now I should be in process of
digestion by a lion, a stinking, mangy, sacred lion!"

Next morning I was awakened by Higgs limping into my room in some weird
sleeping-suit that he had contrived with the help of Quick.

"I say, old fellow," he said, "tell me some more about that girl, Walda
Nagasta. What a sweet face she's got, and what pluck! Of course, such
things ain't in my line, never looked at a woman these twenty years
past, hard enough to remember her next morning, but, by Jingo! the eyes
of that one made me feel quite queer here," and he hit the sleeping-suit
somewhere in the middle, "though perhaps it was only because she was
such a contrast to the lions."

"Ptolemy," I answered in a solemn voice, "let me tell you that she is
more dangerous to meddle with than any lion, and what's more, if you
don't want to further complicate matters with a flaming row, you had
better keep to your old habits and leave her eyes alone. I mean that
Oliver is in love with her."

"Of course he is. I never expected anything else, but what's that got to
do with it? Why shouldn't I be in love with her too? Though I admit,"
he added sadly, contemplating his rotund form, "the chances are in his
favour, especially as he's got the start."

"They are, Ptolemy, for she's in love with him," and I told him what we
had seen in the Tomb of Kings.

First he roared with laughter, then on second thoughts grew exceedingly
indignant.

"I call it scandalous of Oliver, compromising us all in this way--the
lucky dog! These selfish, amorous adventures will let us in for no end
of trouble. It is even probabl