With a sigh of joy, I entered and hurried to the table. Under the first cover was a cold partridge pie. I did not touch the others, but, Lord, how I enjoyed that pie! I might have been a wolf--and then champagne! Later, seduced by an open cigar-box on the mantel, I threw myself upon a lounge and lit a weed. In ten minutes I was my own man again, and almost comfortable, for the torments that had racked my wretched muscles on reawakening from their tethered lethargy, were disappearing fast. But I was not permitted longer rest. Warned by a tap on the door, I had barely time to toss my cigar into the grate, when the door opened and a short, squat negro stepped into the room. He carried a salver of sweetmeats to the table; he stopped short and uttered a guttural exclamation of surprise. Next instant he was joined by a companion, but no negro, an Arab, a tall, thin Arab, who was the living counterpart of the mummified corpse of Ptahmes I had left in the laboratory, and of the mysterious scoundrel who had attempted my life in the cave temple at Rakh, and at my camp on the banks of the Nile. I was so utterly astounded that I wonder I did not shout out my amazement. The negro spoke in Arabic. "By Allah, he has eaten and alone," he cried. "Now tell me, Ptahmes, how a man shall serve a master with so little feeling for his servants." The Arab stalked solemnly over to the table and eyed the ruined pie. "He hungered. He ate. May his shadow increase," he drawled. "For my part," retorted the Nubian, with an ill-natured scowl, "his shadow may wither and I shall not grieve. It is impossible to please him." "His gold is good and hard and yellow and much," said the Arab, in a sort of sing-song. "Add to that ill-got," replied the negro, "and I shall be an echo to your speech. Natamkin tells me that the lady weeps still, though no more a prisoner, and he took her forth into his whirling Babel town this morning. He has put a spell on her to deprive her of her gold." "What matter if he shares it with his slaves?" demanded the Arab. "I fear him," said the Nubian. "I also," drawled the Arab. "But guard your idle tongue Uromi! He may be listening to us now." The negro shuddered and made as if to hastily depart. But the Arab laughed, and he stopped looking both angry and ashamed. "Allah!" he exclaimed, "you laugh, but you may have spoken true." "Ugh!" said the Arab, "he has bigger fish to fry--the white man you enticed into the room of wonders dies to-day." "You--know that, Ptahmes!" "Ay--I am to help him to embalm the body. Now I think of it, I wonder he has eaten. I was to stir the pot while he made merry with the lady over wine--the unbelieving dog. At one of the clock he ordered me to go to him. 'Tis almost time." "Will you not fear to stay alone in that great room of magic, Ptahmes?" "Like enough, Uromi, but I shall think me of the pay and work with tight-shut eyes till he returns." "What has he promised you?"