214 
THE STRAND MAGAZINE. 
satin-wood panels lined the walls and the 
painted ceiling was lit by softly-shaded 
electric lights. 
When Dr. Howe entered he saw half-a- 
dozen men seated round the table. Dinner 
was at an end and they were lounging in their 
chairs, and the air was heavy with cigar- 
smoke. 
44 The doctor, sir,” announced the steward, 
who at once withdrew. 
Hartway, a tall, elderly man, with a grey 
moustache and a heavy, massive face, rose 
and came forward, and Dr. Howe recognized 
him as the man he had seen through his 
glasses holding the white object in his hand. 
44 How d’ye do, Dr. Howe,” he said, in a 
deep voice. “ It is exceedingly kind of you 
to come.” 
“ I received ” 
Before he could proceed, the other cut him 
short. 
“ Will you take a glass of port ? Try one 
of these cigars. They are quite mild. 
Gentlemen, this is Dr. Howe.” 
The other men at the table nodded curtly. 
” Perhaps I had better get my work done 
first, ” said Howe, 44 I’ll take a cigar later.” 
“ Very well,” said Hartway. 44 Sit down, 
won’t von ? The reason why we sent for you 
at this late hour will take a few minutes’ 
explanation.” 
He swung his chair round to face Howe. 
4 4 We have a sort of bet on,” he began, 
smiling slightly. 44 My friend here, Pro- 
fessor Madison, is the famous Egyptologist. 
You may have heard his name before.” 
Ilartway paused and poured himself out a 
glass of wine. 44 Well, the Professor has been 
excavating recently in the Nile Valley 
somewhere near the village of ” 
He looked inquiringly at Professor Madison, 
who sat opposite him. 
“ El Amarna,” was the reply. 
Dr. Howe looked across the table. The 
Professor was a grey-bearded man with a 
narrow face and dreamy eyes. 
Ah, yes,” continued Hartway. 44 Perhaps 
you will tell Dr. Howe what you found there.” 
u To be as brief as possible, I found, in one 
of the tombs of the Pharaohs, a perfectly 
ordinary alabaster canopic jar, of the type 
that is conspicuous • in Egyptian burials,” 
said Madison. 44 It was sealed, of course. 
Only there was an inscription on it that was 
ver\ odd.” 
The Professor leaned forward and picked 
up a white jar from the table, which Howe, 
who had not noticed it before, recognized as 
the object he had observed through his glasses. 
44 You will see that the stopper is carved 
elaborately to represent the head of the 
Pharaoh, wearing the usual male wig of the 
period and having the royal cobra upon the 
forehead. But here, on the sides, you will 
see the inscription. Now that inscription, 
which is difficult to render literally into 
English, says that if anyone opens this jar, 
let him beware, for instant death will come 
upon him. Now, an inscription of that sort 
on an alabaster canopic jar is very strange — 
so unusual that one is almost inclined to think 
there may be something in it. Personally, 
long association with the East has made me 
superstitious, and I would not open that jar 
willingly.” 
44 We have been discussing the subject 
during dinner,” said Hartway. 44 And most 
of us — in fact, all of us — being superstitious, we 
are naturally very much interested in the jar. 
It has been suggested that one of us should 
open it, to see what happens. But since we 
are all superstitious, we do not wish to run 
any unnecessary risks.” 
44 Quite so,” said Dr. Howe, thoroughly 
mystified. 44 I should leave it alone if I were 
you.” 
44 No, no,” exclaimed Julian Vornheim, 
who sat next to him. 44 We are determined 
to open it.” 
44 Certainly,” came an American voice 
from behind a cloud of smoke. 44 We’re just 
going to have that stopper out.” 
44 My friend Mr. Stonewall William is 
very anxious to put the inscription to the 
test,” said Hart way. 44 In fact, we are all 
anxious, except Professor Madison, who 
refuses to have anything to do with it.” 
44 Which of you is going to open it ? ” 
asked Dr. Howe, looking round. 
They all leaned forward and looked at him 
attentively. 
44 That is for you to decide,” said Stone- 
wall William, a small, dried-up little man 
with brilliant eyes. His voice was high and 
thin. 
44 Yes,” echoed Hartway, in his deep bass 
voice. “ That is for you to decide.” 
44 For me to decide ? Do you want me 
to open it ? ” 
There was a chorus of dissent. 
44 Certainly not,” said the American mil- 
lionaire. 44 We ain’t going to let anybody 
run such a risk. No, it’s to be one of us — 
that is, excepting Professor Madison. Now, 
doctor, if you were going to select out of a few 
men to run a risk, whom would you naturally 
select ? ” 
44 Well, the oldest, I suppose.” 
