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Ali。
〃'Nonsense！' I said。 'Who ever heard of a live mummy？'
〃We lifted the body out of the coffin； nearly choking ourselves with
mummy dust in the process； and there beneath it half hidden among the
spices； we made our first find。 It was a roll of papyrus； carelessly
fastened and wrapped in a piece of mummy cloth； having to all
appearance been thrown into the coffin at the moment of closing。＇*＇
＇*＇ This roll contained the third unfinished book of the history。 The
other two rolls were neatly fastened in the usual fashion。 All
three are written by one hand in the Demotic character。Editor。
〃Ali eyed the papyrus greedily； but I seized it and put it in my
pocket； for it was agreed that I was to have all that might be
discovered。 Then we began to unwrap the body。 It was covered with very
broad strong bandages； thickly wound and roughly tied； sometimes by
means of simple knots； the whole working the appearance of having been
executed in great haste and with difficulty。 Just over the head was a
large lump。 Presently； the bandages covering it were off； and there；
on the face； lay a second roll of papyrus。 I put down my hand to lift
it； but it would not come away。 It appeared to be fixed to the stout
seamless shroud which was drawn over the whole body； and tied beneath
the feetas a farmer ties sacks。 This shroud； which was also thickly
waxed； was in one piece； being made to fit the form like a garment。 I
took a candle and examined the roll and then I saw why it was fast。
The spices had congealed and glued it to the sack…like shroud。 It was
impossible to get it away without tearing the outer sheets of
papyrus。＇*＇
＇*＇ This accounts for the gaps in the last sheets of the second roll。
Editor。
〃At last； however； I wrenched it loose and put it with the other in my
pocket。
〃Then we went on with our dreadful task in silence。 With much care we
ripped loose the sack…like garment； and at last the body of a man lay
before us。 Between his knees was a third roll of papyrus。 I secured
it； then held down the light and looked at him。 One glance at his face
was enough to tell a doctor how he had died。
〃This body was not much dried up。 Evidently it had not passed the
allotted seventy days in natron； and therefore the expression and
likeness were better preserved than is usual。 Without entering into
particulars； I will only say that I hope I shall never see such
another look as that which was frozen on this dead man's face。 Even
the Arabs recoiled from it in horror and began to mutter prayers。
〃For the rest； the usual opening on the left side through which the
embalmers did their work was absent； the finely…cut features were
those of a person of middle age； although the hair was already grey；
and the frame was that of a very powerful man； the shoulders being of
an extraordinary width。 I had not time to examine very closely；
however； for within a few seconds from its uncovering； the unembalmed
body began to crumble now that it was exposed to the action of the
air。 In five or six minutes there was literally nothing left of it but
a wisp of hair； the skull； and a few of the larger bones。 I noticed
that one of the tibi？I forget if it was the right or the lefthad
been fractured and very badly set。 It must have been quite an inch
shorter than the other。
〃Well； there was nothing more to find； and now that the excitement was
over； what between the heat； the exertion； and the smell of mummy dust
and spices； I felt more dead than alive。
〃I am tired of writing； and this ship rolls。 This letter； of course；
goes overland； and I am coming by 'long sea；' but I hope to be in
London within ten days after you get it。 Then I will tell you of my
pleasing experiences in the course of the ascent from the tomb…
chamber； and of how that prince of rascals； Ali Baba； and his thieves
tried to frighten me into handing over the papyri； and how I worsted
them。 Then； too； we will get the rolls deciphered。 I expect that they
only contain the usual thing； copies of the 'Book of the Dead；' but
there /may/ be something else in them。 Needless to say； I did not
narrate this little adventure in Egypt； or I should have had the
Boulac Museum people on my track。 Good…bye； 'Mafish Fineesh；' as Ali
Baba always said。〃
In due course； my friend； the writer of the letter from which I have
quoted； arrived in London； and on the very next day we paid a visit to
a learned acquaintance well versed in Hieroglyphics and Demotic
writing。 The anxiety with which we watched him skilfully damping and
unfolding one of the rolls and peering through his gold…rimmed glasses
at the mysterious characters may well be imagined。
〃Hum；〃 he said； 〃whatever it is； this is /not/ a copy of the 'Book of
the Dead。' By George； what's this？ CleCleoCleopatra Why； my
dear Sirs； as I am a living man； this is the history of somebody who
lived in the days of Cleopatra； /the/ Cleopatra； for here's Antony's
name with hers！ Well； there's six months' work before me heresix
months； at the very least！〃 And in that joyful prospect he fairly lost
control of himself； and skipped about the room； shaking hands with us
at intervals； and saying 〃I'll translateI'll translate it if it
kills me； and we will publish it； and； by the living Osiris； it shall
drive every Egyptologist in Europe mad with envy！ Oh； what a find！
what a most glorious find！〃
And O you whose eyes fall upon these pages； see； they have been
translated； and they have been printed； and here they lie before you
an undiscovered land wherein you are free to travel！
Harmachis speaks to you from his forgotten tomb。 The walls of Time
fall down； and； as at the lightning's leap； a picture from the past
starts upon your view； framed in the darkness of the ages。
He shows you those two Egypts which the silent pyramids looked down
upon long centuries agothe Egypt of the Greek； the Roman； and the
Ptolemy； and that other outworn Egypt of the Hierophant； hoary with
years； heavy with the legends of antiquity and the memory of long…lost
honours。
He tells you how the smouldering loyalty of the land of Khem blazed up
before it died； and how fiercely the old Time…consecrated Faith
struggled against the conquering tide of Change that rose； like Nile
at flood； and drowned the ancient Gods of Egypt。
Here； in his pages； you shall learn the glory of Isis the Many…shaped；
the Executrix of Decrees。 Here you shall make acquaintance with the
shade of Cleopatra； that 〃Thing of Flame；〃 whose passion…breathing
beauty shaped the destiny of Empires。 Here you shall read how the soul
of Charmion was slain of the sword her vengeance smithied。
Here Harmachis； the doomed Egyptian； being about to die； salutes you
who follow on the path he trod。 In the story of his broken years he
shows to you what may in its degree be the story of your own。 Crying
aloud from that dim Amenti＇*＇ where to…day he wears out his