"I inquired if he was the person to whom I should apply for information about the Methuselah Club. "He answered that he had the honor of being the president of the club, and would be glad to supply me with all information in his power. Did I wish to join? "'A friend of mine,' I said, 'has already become a member, and the description of a wonderful powder has interested me, likewise the history of the powder.' "The Hindoo smiled gently, showing his white teeth, and said that he was not surprised at my curiosity. He then went to a desk and took from it the printed circular which Jones had already shown me, and which was supposed to be a translation of the ancient manuscript. It is the one I hold in my hand; please glance over it before I continue my story." Robinson took the paper. "What is this hieroglyphic affair at the top here?" he asked. "That," said Dr. Watson, "is probably a copy of some very ancient amulet or talisman. The fish at the bottom was often used to designate '_Dag_,' or the master; next above we have the Solomon's seal, then the four Chaldaic letters _Jod-He-Van-He-Iaho_, which is 'The Deity;' the other symbols are strange to me." "Ah," said Robinson, "a weird sort of thing, is it not?" "Don't be sarcastic, read it," sententiously remarked Watson. Robinson did so. [Illustration] "'Let him who dares to live forever take of the powder, but let him think of "_Aum_;" but speak it not on pain of death; let absolute "_muckta_" be known to him; let him study the secret "_mantras_," and ponder on the mysteries of "_Vach_;" let him also say each day in his prayer "_Aum ma-ni pad-me hum_." "'He who takes of the powder three times should acquaint himself with "חד" the _marcaba_ and the _lah gash_, then he will never die. Even though he wished to live a thousand years, so it shall be!'"[2] [Footnote 2: Translation of the sacred manuscript found with the "Elixir of Life."] "Well," remarked Watson, "what do you think of it?" "Fake," answered Robinson. "Verily, out of the mouths of babes, etc.," said Watson, "but, O learned friend, you have not heard the whole story. Listen. I asked Rengee Sing if he would be good enough to explain to me fully about the powder and especially how and where he obtained it.