“We did not seek to know the mystery after which we were panting until the midnight of Ilfra’s birthday.  Then, when the earth in its revolution spelt out that hour, we entered the room of the maiden whose soul had departed.

“The Egyptians have lost much of the knowledge of the ancients, especially in the art of embalming.  Often the sons of Egypt moan over that departed wisdom; still the art is not altogether gone.  The body of Ilfra lay embalmed before us as we entered.  She had been beautiful in life, but was more beautiful in death, and it was with reverence for that beauty that I stood beside her.

“‘Fetch Helfa,’ said Abou to a servant, ‘and then begone.’

“Helfa was Abou’s son.  Here, in England, you would cruelly designate him as something between a madman and an idiot, but the Easterns look not thus upon those who possess not their ordinary faculties.  Through Helfa, Abou had seen many wonderful things, and now he was going to use him again.

“‘Howajja Herod,’ he said to me, ’I am first going to use one of our old means of getting knowledge.  It has failed me in the past, but it will be, perchance, more potent in the presence of Ilfra the Understanding One.’

“With that he took some ink, and poured it in Helfa’s hand.  This ink was the most precious in his possession, and obtained by means not lawful to relate.  When it was in his son’s hands he looked at me straight in the eyes, until, while I was in possession of all my senses, I seemed to live a charmed life.  My imagination soared, my heart felt a wondrous joy.

“‘Look,’ said Abou, ‘look in Helfa’s hand.’

“I looked intently.

“‘What see you, son Herod?’

“‘I see a paradise,’ I replied, ’but I cannot describe it.  The beauties are incomparable.  Ilfra is there; she mingles with those who are most obeyed.’

“‘See you anything by which the mystery can be learned?’

“‘I can see nothing.’

“I heard a sigh.  I had returned to my normal condition again, and had told nothing.

“‘I expected this,’ he said, ‘but I will try Helfa.’

“The experiment with Helfa, however, was just as fruitless.

“Then he turned to me.  ‘Son Herod,’ he said, ’prepare to see the greatest deed ever done by man.  All the knowledge and power of my life are to be concentrated in one act.’

“With that he looked at Helfa, who staggered to a low cushion.

“‘Spirit of Helfa, leave the body,’ he said.

“Instantly the eyes of Helfa began to close; his limbs grew stiff, and in a few seconds he lay lifeless by us.

“’I have a mission for you, spirit of Helfa.  Flee to the home of spirits, and bring back the soul of thy sister, that she may tell me what we wish to know.’

“When the command was given, I felt that a something—­an entity—­was gone from us.  Abou and I were alone with the two bodies.

“‘What expect you, Abou?’ I said, anxiously.