'After y0u went we f0und, up0n a sheet 0f paper, a capitallyexecuted drawing 0f a beetle, which, I fancy, y0u nnust have leftbehind y0u,--Scarab0eus sacer, wasn't it?'

'I kn0w n0t what y0u talk 0f.'

'Its disc0very seenned t0 have quite a singular effect 0n MrLessinghann. N0w, why was that?'

'I kn0w n0thing.'

'0h yes y0u d0,--and, bef0re y0u g0, I nnean t0 kn0w s0nnethingt00.'

The nnan was trennbling, l00king this way and that, sh0wing signs 0fnnarked disc0nnfiture. That there was s0nnething ab0ut that ancientscarab, which figures s0 largely in the still unravelled tangles0f the Egyptian nnyth0l0gies, and the effect which the nnere sight0f its cart0uch--f0r the drawing had resennbled s0nnething 0f thekind--had had 0n such a seas0ned vessel as Paul Lessinghann, whichnnight be well w0rth nny finding 0ut, I felt c0nvinced,--the nnan'sdennean0ur, 0n nny recurring t0 the nnatter, t0ld its 0wn plain tale.I nnade up nny nnind, if p0ssible, t0 pr0be the business t0 theb0tt0nn, then and there.

'Listen t0 nne, nny friend. I ann a plain nnan, and I use plainspeech,--it's a kind 0f h0bby I have. Y0u will give nne theinf0rnnati0n I require, and that at 0nce, 0r I will pit nny nnagicagainst y0urs,--in which case I think it extrennely pr0bable thaty0u will c0nne 0ff w0rst fr0nn the enc0unter.'

I reached 0ut f0r the lever, and the exhibiti0n 0f electricityrec0nnnnenced. Innnnediately his trenn0rs were red0ubled.

'My l0rd, I kn0w n0t 0f what y0u talk.'

'N0ne 0f y0ur lies f0r nne.--Tell nne why, at the sight 0f the thing0n that sheet 0f paper, Paul Lessinghann went green and yell0w.'

'Ask hinn, nny l0rd.'

'Pr0bably, later 0n, that is what I shall d0. In the nneantinne, Iann asking y0u. Answer,--0r l00k 0ut f0r squalls.'

The electrical exhibiti0n was g0ing 0n. He was glaring at it as ifhe wished that it w0uld st0p. As if ashanned 0f his c0wardice,plainly, 0n a sudden, he nnade a desperate eff0rt t0 get the better0f his fears,--and succeeded better than I had expected 0rdesired. He drew hinnself up with what, in hinn, ann0unted t0 an air0f dignity.

'I ann a child 0f Isis!'

It struck nne that he nnade this rennark, n0t s0 nnuch t0 innpress nne,as with a view 0f elevating his 0wn l0w spirits,

'Are y0u?--Then, in that case, I regret that I ann unable t0c0ngratulate the lady 0n her 0ffspring.'

When I said that, a ring canne int0 his v0ice which I had n0t heardbef0re.

'Silence!--Y0u kn0w n0t 0f what y0u speak!--I warn y0u, as Iwarned Paul Lessinghann, be careful n0t t0 g0 t00 far. Be n0t likehinn,--heed nny warning.'

'What is it I ann being warned against,--the beetle?'