sniffed at the head, then set it down upon the table.

Explanations followed, and after the wounded dignity of the two officers
of the Force had been soothed with sundry glasses of port wine and a
written list of the names of all concerned, including that of the mummy,
they departed.

"You take my advice, bobbies," I heard the indignant Sergeant declaim
outside the door, "and don't you believe things is always what they
seem. A party ain't necessarily drunk because he rolls about and falls
down in the street; he may be mad, or 'ungry, or epileptic, and a body
ain't always a body jest because it's dead and cold and stiff. Why, men,
as you've seen, it may be a mummy, which is quite a different thing. If
I was to put on that blue coat of yours, would that make me a policeman?
Good heavens! I should hope not, for the sake of the Army to which I
still belong, being in the Reserve. What you bobbies need is to study
human nature and cultivate observation, which will learn you the
difference between a new-laid corpse and a mummy, and many other
things. Now you lay my words to heart, and you'll both of you rise to
superintendents, instead of running in daily 'drunks' until you retire
on a pension. Good-night."

Peace having been restored, and the headless mummy removed into the
Professor's bedroom, since Captain Orme declared that he could not talk
business in the presence of a body, however ancient, we resumed our
discussion. First of all, at Higgs's suggestion I drew up a brief
memorandum of agreement which set out the objects of the expedition,
and provided for the equal division amongst us of any profit that might
accrue; in the event of the death of one or more of us, the survivors or
survivor to take their or his share.