th street, City."

"Are you a member?" inquired Robinson.

"Not as yet, but Jones is, and it was through Jones that I came into
possession of this mysterious drug. It seems that Jones decided after
reading the advertisement that he would like to become a member of the
club. Jones' health is not very good, as you know, and he called on
Rengee Sing, and the result of the interview was that he came away with
this small vial of the wonderful Elixir, for which he paid twenty good
dollars. He was so impressed by the gentleman who sold him the powder
that he came to me, as his medical adviser, to ask my opinion as to the
advisability of taking some of it. He brought with him a paper
purporting to be the translation of an ancient papyrus manuscript, the
original of which was in Thibetian or Sanscrit and which was ingenious,
if fraudulent. He told me a rambling story of how this Rengee Sing had
procured this powder, and the whole thing was so peculiar that I decided
to interview the gentleman myself; but first I made a point of getting
our friend Strauss to analyze the powder. His report of the analysis
shows it to be composed entirely of chloride of sodium or common salt,
with a small quantity of some unknown vegetable matter which gives it a
yellow color. Armed with this information, I called upon Rengee Sing at
his office on Twenty-seventh street."

"You interest me," said Robinson, glancing at his work, and palpably
attempting to suppress a yawn.

Watson arose, and gently but firmly removed the pen from Robinson's
fingers; he then placed a book on the papers, and continued:

"The office was distinctly oriental, and there were numerous Bokhara and
other good rugs scattered about; besides there were gorgeous divans, and
the air was heavy with peculiar Eastern odors. I was admitted by a
gigantic negro dressed in oriental costume, and another negro arose as I
entered, and stood respectfully at the inner door. I asked for Rengee
Sing, and was informed that he would 'be at liberty in a few moments,'
and 'would I sit down and wait,' all in very good English from one of
the gigantic sable guardians who bowed me in. I was kept waiting but a
few moments, when the door opened and a small black-bearded Hindoo came
softly into the room dressed in the ordinary European costume. There
was nothing striking about him except his eyes, which were really the
most wonderful eyes I have ever seen in a human being. With the gentle
manner pecu