[24] See cover. Most important to have this cover bound in _sur brochure_.--PUBLISHER. 'How much,' said I to the priestess of the temple, 'could you afford to let me have that old bundle of rags for?' 'That old bundle of rags?' said the woman, 'Take it, dear lady, take it and keep it (if you can), and the blessing of Abraham be on your head!' So anxious was she to part with the mummy that we could hardly get her to accept a merely nominal price. To give plausibility to the purchase, we said we wanted the rags for a paper-mill. Joyously did Leonora and I call a passing chariot, and, with the mummy between us, we drove to our abode. I was surprised on the way by receiving a pettish push from Leonora's foot. 'Don't tread on my toes,' she said, though I had not even stirred. I told her as much, and we were getting a little animated when my bonnet was twitched off and thrown out into the darkness. 'Leonora,' I said severely, 'these manners are unworthy of a lady!' 'I declare, my dear Polly,' she replied, 'that I never even moved!' and as she was obviously in earnest I had to accept her word. When we reached home, after a series of petty but provoking accidents,[25] we first locked up the mummy very carefully in the spare bedroom. To-morrow would be time enough, we said, to consult the wizard as to our next movement. We ordered a repast of the native viands (which included, I remember, a small but savoury fish, the Blô-ta), and sought our couches, in better spirits than usual. [25] I say, are you not gliding insensibly into _The Fallen Idol_?--PUBLISHER. Not a bit, you wait and you'll see.--ED. Next morning, long before Leonora was awake, the young but intelligent Slavî (so the common people call housemaids) crept into my chamber with a death-white face. 'Ômum,' she said (it is a term of courtesy), 'wot a night we've been having?' 'Why, what is the matter, Jemimaran?' I asked, for that was her melodious native name. 'There's _something_ in the spare room, mum, a-carrying on horful. The bell ringing all night, and the Thing screaming and walking up and down as restless! I'm a-going to give warning, mum,' she added confidentially. 'Why, you've _given_ it,' I said, to reassure her. 'Forewarned is forearmed.' 'Four-legged It do run sometimes, like a beast, mum, wailing terrible. Up and down, up and down It goes, and always ringing the bell, and crying high for a brandy-and-soda, mum, like a creature tormented.'[26] [26] Do take care. This is copyright! Don't you remember Mr. Hyde?--PUBLISHER. Neither Hyde nor Hidol, you're so nervous. Do wait till the end.--ED. Wish it was come!--PUBLISHER. 'Well,' I asked, though every hair upon my head stood erect with horror (adding greatly to the peculiarity of my appearance), 'well, did you take It what It asked for?'