s though his mind were made up and his
confidence established:

"My name is Eugene Corbeck. I am a Master of Arts and Doctor of Laws
and Master of Surgery of Cambridge; Doctor of Letters of Oxford; Doctor
of Science and Doctor of Languages of London University; Doctor of
Philosophy of Berlin; Doctor of Oriental Languages of Paris. I have
some other degrees, honorary and otherwise, but I need not trouble you
with them. Those I have name will show you that I am sufficiently
feathered with diplomas to fly into even a sick-room. Early in
life--fortunately for my interests and pleasures, but unfortunately for
my pocket--I fell in with Egyptology. I must have been bitten by some
powerful scarab, for I took it bad. I went out tomb-hunting; and
managed to get a living of a sort, and to learn some things that you
can't get out of books. I was in pretty low water when I met your
Father, who was doing some explorations on his own account; and since
then I haven't found that I have many unsatisfied wants. He is a real
patron of the arts; no mad Egyptologist can ever hope for a better
chief!"

He spoke with feeling; and I was glad to see that Miss Trelawny
coloured up with pleasure at the praise of her father. I could not
help noticing, however, that Mr. Corbeck was, in a measure, speaking as
if against time. I took it that he wished, while speaking, to study
his ground; to see how far he would be justified in taking into
confidence the two strangers before him. As he went on, I could see
that his confidence kept increasing. When I thought of it afterward,
and remembered what he had said, I realised that the measure of the
information which he gave us marked his growing trust.

"I have been several times out on expeditions in Egypt for your Father;
and I have always found it a delight to work for him. Many of his
treasures--and he has some rare ones, I tell you-he has procured
through me, either by my exploration or by purchase--or--or--otherwise.
Your Father, Miss Trelawny, has a rare knowledge. He sometimes makes
up his mind that he wants to find a particular thing, of whose
existence--if it still exists--he has become aware; and he will follow
it all over the world till he gets it. I've been on just such a chase
now."

He stopped suddenly, as suddenly as thought his mouth had been shut by
the jerk of a string. We waited; when he went on he spoke with a
caution that was new to him, as though he wished to fores