ivory, and that _sacre_ thief of a priest smashed it out at the socket.
It was fresh ivory then; the robbery must have taken place not long
after the burial. See, this magnifying-glass shows it. Is that all?"

Smith handed him the surviving half of the marvellous necklace that had
been torn in two.

"I have re-threaded it," he muttered, "but every bead is in its place."

"Oh, heavens! How lovely! Note the cutting of those cornelian heads of
Hathor and the gold lotus-blooms between--yes, and the enamelled flies
beneath. We have nothing like it in the Museum."

So it went on.

"Is that all?" gasped the Director at last, when every object from the
basket glittered before them on the table.

"Yes," said Smith. "That is--no. I found a broken statuette hidden in
the sand outside the tomb. It is of the queen, but I thought perhaps you
would allow me to keep this."

"But certainly, Mr. Smith; it is yours indeed. We are not niggards here.
Still, if I might see it----"

From yet another pocket Smith produced the head. The Director gazed at
it, then he spoke with feeling.

"I said just now that you were discreet, Mr. Smith, and I have been
reflecting that you are honest. But now I must add that you are very