full of scarabs. "Look here, Lady Ragnall," I added, "why can't you
leave all this unholy business alone and let us spend a pleasant
evening talking, now that those Smith people have gone? I have lots of
stories about my African adventures which would interest you."

"Because I want to hear my own African adventures, and perhaps yours
too, which I am sure will interest me a great deal more," she
exclaimed earnestly. "You think it is all foolishness, but it is not.
Those Kendah priestesses told me much when I seemed to be out of my
mind. For a long time I did not remember what they said, but of late
years, especially since George and I began to excavate that temple,
plenty has come back to me bit by bit, fragments, you know, that make
me desire to learn the rest as I never desired anything else on earth.
And the worst of it has always been that from the beginning I have
known--and know--that this can only happen with you and through you,
why I cannot say, or have forgotten. That's what sent me nearly wild
with joy when I heard that you were not only alive, but in this
country. You won't disappoint me, will you? There is nothing I can
offer you which would have any value for you, so I can only beg you
not to disappoint me--well, because I am your friend."

I turned away my head, hesitating, and when I looked up again I saw
that her beautiful eyes were full of tears. Naturally that settled the
matter, so I only said,

"Let us get on with the affair. What am I to do? Stop a bit. I may as
well provide against eventualities," and going to a table I took a
sheet of notepaper and wrote: