not the first time that the Princess has appeared in two
parts the same evening."

VII

In spite of envy, jealousy, and malice, a certain curiosity greater
than all these drew everybody to the Princess Zut-Ski's ball. Lady
Fitz-Fulke was there in virgin white, looking more youthful than ever,
in spite of her sixty-five years and the card labeled "Fresh Paint"
which somebody had playfully placed upon her enameled shoulder. The
McFecklesses, the Pyles, Flossy, the doctor, and the Chevalier--looking
still anxious--were in attendance.

The mysterious Nubian doorkeeper admitted the guests through the same
narrow passages, much to the disgust of Lady Pyle and the discomfiture
of her paunchy husband; but on reaching a large circular interior hall,
a greater surprise was in store for them. It was found that the only
entrance to the body of the hall was along a narrow ledge against the
bare wall some distance from the floor, which obliged the guests to
walk slowly, in single file, along this precarious strip, giving them
the attitudes of an Egyptian frieze, which was suggested in the
original plaster above them. It is needless to say that, while the
effect was ingenious and striking from the centre of the room, where
the Princess stood with a few personal friends, it was exceedingly
uncomfortable to the figures themselves, in their enforced march along
the ledge,--especially a figure of Sir Midas Pyle's proportions.
Suddenly an exclamation broke from the doctor.

"Do you see," he said to the Princess, pointing to the figure of the
Chevalier, who was filing along with his sinewy hands slightly turned
inward, "how surprisingly like he is to the first attendant on the King
in the real frieze above? And that," added the doctor, "was none other
than 'Arry Axes, the Egyptian you are always thinking of." And he
peered curiously at her.

"Goodness me!" murmured the Princess, in an Arabic much more soft and
fluent than the original gum. "So he does--look like him."

"And do you know you look like him, too? Would you mind taking a walk
around together?"

They did, amid the acclamations of the crowd. The likeness was
perfect. The Princess, however, was quite white as she eagerly
rejoined the doctor.

"And this means--?" she hissed in a low whisper.

"That he is the real 'Arry Axes! Hush, not a word now! We join the
dahabiyeh to-night. At daybreak you will meet him at the fourth angle
of the pyramid, first turning