Carboys had never heard another word from nor of him
from that hour until three nights ago."

"Oho!" said Cleek, with a strong, rising inflection. "And he did hear of
him, then?"

"Yes," replied Narkom. "Quite unexpectedly, and while he was preparing to
spend a dull evening at home with Van Nant--for the night was, as you
must recollect, my dear fellow, a horribly wet and stormy one--a message
came to him from Miss Morrison asking him to come over to Wandsworth
without delay, as a most amazing thing had happened. A box marked 'From
Abdul ben Meerza' had been delivered there, of all astonishing places.
The message concluded by saying that as it was such a horrible night,
the Captain, her father, would not hear of his returning, so begged him
to bring his effects, and come prepared to remain until morning.

"He went, of course, carrying with him a small bag containing his
pyjamas, his shaving tackle, and such few accessories as would be
necessary, since, if he stopped, he must start from there to business in
the morning; and on his arrival was handed a small leather case
addressed as he had been told. Imagining all sorts of wonders, from
jewels of fabulous value to documents entitling him to endless wealth,
he unfastened the case, and found within it a broad belt of blue
enamelled leather secured with a circular brass clasp, on which was
rudely scratched in English the words, 'The wizards of the East grew
rich by being unseen. Whoso clasps this belt about his waist may become
invisible for the wishing. So does ben Meerza remember.'

"Of course, Carboys treated it as the veriest rubbish--who wouldn't?
Indeed, suspected Van Nant of having played a joke upon him, and
laughingly threw it aside; and, finding that he had taken an
uncomfortable journey for nothing, got some good out of it by spending a
pleasant evening with the Captain and his daughter. A room had been made
ready for him--in fact, although he did not know it, Miss Morrison had
given him hers, and had herself gone to a less attractive one--and in
due time he prepared to turn in for the night. As they parted Miss
Morrison rison, in a bantering spirit, picked up the belt and handed it
to him, remarking that he had better keep it, as, after marriage, he
might some time be glad to creep into the house unseen; and, in the same
bantering spirit, he had replied that he had better begin learning how
the thing worked in case of necessity, and taking the belt, clasped i