seventy."

"How did you come by it?" asked Alwyn, curiously turning the book
over and over.

"How did our Order come by it, you mean," said Heliobas. "Very
simply. Chaldean fraternities existed in the time of Esdras, and
to the supreme Chief of these, Esdras himself delivered it. You
look dubious, but I assure you it is quite authentic,--we have its
entire history up to date."

"Then are you all Chaldeans here?"

"Not all--but most of us. Three of the brethren are Egyptians, and
two are natives of Damascus. The rest are, like myself,
descendants of a race supposed to have perished from off the face
of the earth, yet still powerful to a degree undreamed of by the
men of this puny age."

Alwyn gave an upward glance at the speaker's regal form--a glance
of genuine admiration.

"As far as that goes," he said, with a frank laugh, "I'm quite
willing to believe you and your companions are kings in disguise,
--you all have that appearance! But regarding this book,"--and
again he turned over the silver-bound relic--"if its authenticity
can be proved, as you say, why, the British Museum would give, ah!
... let me see!--it would give ..."

"Nothing!" declared Heliobas quietly, "believe me, nothing! The