"Araxes was great, but now Araxes is a forgotten hero," said the
Princess slowly, each accent of her dulcet voice chiming on the
ear like the stroke of a small silver bell. "None of the modern
discoverers know anything about him yet. They have not even found
his tomb; but he was buried in the Pyramids with all the honors of
a king. No doubt your clever men will excavate him some day."

"I think the Pyramids have been very thoroughly explored," said
Dr. Dean. "Nothing of any importance remains in them now."

The Princess arched her lovely eyebrows.

"No? Ah! I daresay you know them better than I do!" and she
laughed, a laugh which was not mirthful so much as scornful.

"I am very much interested in Araxes," said Gervase then, "partly,
I suppose, because he is as yet in the happy condition of being an
interred mummy. Nobody has dug him up, unwound his cerements, or
photographed him, and his ornaments have not been stolen. And in
the second place I am interested in him because it appears he was
in love with the famous dancer of his day whom the Princess
represents to-night,--Charmazel. I wish I had heard the story
before I came to Cairo; I would have got myself up as Araxes in
person to-night."

"In order to play the lover of Charmazel?" queried the Doctor.

"Exactly!" replied Gervase with flashing eyes; "I daresay I could
have acted the part."