fortune rising out of it for the proprietors. But apart from these
ordinary surface things, he studied other matters--"occult"
peculiarities of temperament, "coincidences," strange occurrences
generally. He could read the Egyptian hieroglyphs perfectly, and
he understood the difference between "royal cartouche" scarabei
and Birmingham-manufactured ones. He was never dull; he had plenty
to do; and he took everything as it came in its turn. Even the
costume ball for which he had now attired himself did not present
itself to him as a "bore," but as a new vein of information,
opening to him fresh glimpses of the genus homo as seen in a state
of eccentricity.

"I think," he now said, complacently, "that the cap and gown look
well for a man of my years. It is a simple garb, but cool,
convenient and not unbecoming. I had thought at first of adopting
the dress of an ancient Egyptian priest, but I find it difficult
to secure the complete outfit. I would never wear a costume of the
kind that was not in every point historically correct."

No one smiled. No one would have dared to smile at Dr. Maxwell
Dean when he spoke of "historically correct" things. He had
studied them as he had studied everything, and he knew all about
them.

Sir Chetwynd murmured:

"Quite right--er--the ancient designs were very elaborate--"

"And symbolic," finished Dr. Dean. "Symbolic of very curious
meanings, I assure you. But I fear I have interrupted your talk.