ordingly, and, not being Mohammedans, partook of a tot
of square-face from a bottle which I kept locked in a box to put Hans
beyond the reach of temptation.

"To your health, Harut and Marut," I said, drinking a little out of the
pannikin and giving the rest to Hans, who gulped the fiery liquor down
with a smack of his lips. For I will admit that I joined in this unholy
midnight potation to gain time for thought and to steady my nerve.

"To your health, O Lord Macumazana," the pair answered as they swallowed
their tots, which I had made pretty stiff, and set down their pannikins
in front of them with as much reverence as though these had been holy
vessels.

"Now," I said, throwing a blanket over my shoulders, for the air
was chilly, "now let us talk," and taking the lantern which Hans had
thoughtfully lighted, I held it up and contemplated them.

There they were, Harut and Marut without doubt, to all appearance
totally unchanged since some years before I had seen them at Ragnall
in England. "What are you doing here?" I asked in a kind of fiery
indignation inspired by my intense curiosity. "How did you get out of
England after you had tried to steal away the lady to whom you sent the
necklace? What did you do with that lady after you had beguiled her from
the boat at Abu-Simbel? In the name of your Holy Child, or of Shaitan
of the Mohammedans, or of Set of the Egyptians, answer me, lest I should
make an end of both of you, which I can do here without any questions
being asked," and I whipped out my pistol.

"Pardon us," said Harut with a grave smile, "but if you were to do as
you say, Lord Macumazana, many questions would be asked which _you_
might find it hard to answer. So be pleased to put that death-dealer
back into its place, and to tell us before we reply to you, what you
know of Set of the Egyptians."

"As much or as little as you do," I replied.

Both bowed as though this information were of the most satisfactory
order. Then Harut went on: "In reply to your requests, O Macumazana, we
left England by a steamboat and in due course after long journeyings we
reached our own country. We do not understand your allusions to a place
called Abu-Simbel on the Nile, whence, never having been there, we have
taken no lady. Indeed, we never meant to take that lady to whom we sent
a necklace in England. We only meant to ask certain questions of her, as
she had the gift of vision, when you appeared and interrupted us. Wha