scholar you are, I should be tempted to believe that you had misread
it. Me-Mee, Ma-Mee! That would be pretty in French, would it not? _Ma
mie_--my darling! Well, I dare say she was somebody's _mie_ in her time.
But tell me the story."

Smith told him shortly and clearly; also he produced his photographs and
copies of inscriptions.

"This is interesting--interesting truly," said the Director, when he had
glanced through them. "You must leave them with me to study. Also you
will publish them, is it not so? Perhaps one of the Societies would
help you with the cost, for it should be done in facsimile. Look at this
vignette! Most unusual. Oh, what a pity that scoundrelly priest got off
with the jewellery and burnt her Majesty's body!"

"He didn't get off with all of it."

"What, Mr. Smith? Our inspector reported to me that you found nothing."

"I dare say, sir; but your inspector did not know what I found."

"Ah, you are a discreet man! Well, let us see."

Slowly Smith unbuttoned his waistcoat. From its inner pocket and
elsewhere about his person he extracted the jewels wrapped in
mummy-cloth as he had found them. First he produced a sceptre-head of
gold, in the shape of a pomegranate fruit and engraved with the throne
name and titles of Ma-Mee.

"What a beautiful object!" said the Director. "Look! the handle was of