she laughed again.

That dinner with nothing to drink, although to avoid suspicion I let
Moxley fill my glass once or twice, and little to eat for my appetite
had vanished, went by like a bad dream. I recall no more about it until
I heard Lady Ragnall tell Moxley to see that there was a good fire
in the museum where we were going to study that night and must not be
disturbed.

Another minute and I was automatically opening the door for her. As she
passed she paused to do something to her dress and whispered,

"Come in a quarter of an hour. Mind--no port which clouds the
intellect."

"I have none left to cloud," I remarked after her.

Then I went back and sat by the fire feeling most miserable and staring
at the decanters, for never in my life do I remember wanting a bottle
of wine more. The big clock ticked and ticked and at last chimed the
quarter, jarring on my nerves in that great lonely banqueting hall. Then
I rose and crept upstairs like an evil-doer and it seemed to me that the
servants in the hall looked on me with suspicion, as well they might.

I reached the museum and found it brilliantly lit, but empty except for
the cheerful company of the two mummies who also appeared to regard me
with gleaming but doubtful eyes. So I sat down there in front of the
fire, not even daring to smoke lest tobacco should complicate _Taduki_.

Presently I heard a low sound of laughter, looked up and nearly fell
backwards, that is, metaphorically, for the chair prevented such a
physical collapse.

It was not wonderful since before me, like a bride of ancient days
adorned for her husband, stood the goddess Isis--white robes, feathered
headdress, ancient bracelets, gold-studded sandals on bare feet, scented
hair, ruby necklace and all the rest. I stared, then there burst from me
words which were the last I meant to say,

"Great Heavens! how beautiful you are."

"Am I?" she asked. "I am glad," and she glided across the room and
locked the door.

"Now," she said, returning, "we had better get to business, that is
unless you would like to worship the goddess Isis a little first, to
bring yourself into a proper frame of mind, you know."

"No," I replied, my dignity returning to me. "I do not wish to worship
any goddess, especially when she isn't a goddess. It was not a part of
the bargain."

"Quite so," she said, nodding, "but who knows what you will be
worshipping before an hour is over? Oh! forgive me for laughing at y