“It is exceedingly warm,” said Lady Lyle, rising then and putting away her cross-stitch apparatus, “I thought of driving to the Pyramids this afternoon, but really ...”

“There is shade all the way,” suggested the Doctor, “I said as much to a young woman this morning who has been in the hotel for nearly two months, and hasn’t seen the Pyramids yet.”

“What has she been doing with herself?” asked Lady Fulkeward, smiling.

“Dancing with officers,” said Dr. Dean.  “How can Cheops compare with a moustached noodle in military uniform!  Good-bye for the present; I’m going to hunt for scarabei.”

“I thought you had such a collection of them already,” said Lady Lyle.

“So I have.  But the Princess had a remarkable one on last night, and I want to find another like it.  It’s blue—­very blue—­almost like a rare turquoise, and it appears it is the sign-manual of the warrior Araxes, who was a kind of king in his way, or desert chief, which was about the same thing in those days.  He fought for Amenhotep, and seemed from all accounts to be a greater man than Amenhotep himself.  The Princess Ziska is a wonderful Egyptologist; I had a most interesting conversation with her last night in the supper-room.”

“Then she is really a woman of culture and intelligence?” queried Lady Lyle.

The Doctor smiled.

“I should say she would be a great deal too much for the University of Oxford, as far as Oriental learning goes,” he said.  “She can read the Egyptian papyri, she tells me, and she can decipher anything on any of the monuments.  I only wish I could persuade her to accompany me to Thebes and Karnak.”

Lady Fulkeward unfurled her fan and swayed it to and fro with an elegant languor.

“How delightful that would be!” she sighed.  “So romantic and solemn—­all those dear old cities with those marvellous figures of the Egyptians carved and painted on the stones!  And Rameses—­dear Rameses!  He really has good legs everywhere!  Haven’t you noticed that?  So many of these ancient sculptures represent the Egyptians with such angular bodies and such frightfully thin legs, but Rameses always has good legs wherever you find him.  It’s so refreshing!  Do make up a party, Dr. Dean!—­we’ll all go with you; and I’m sure the Princess Ziska will be the most charming companion possible.  Let us have a dahabeah!  I’m good for half the expenses, if you will only arrange everything.”

The Doctor stroked his chin and looked dubious, but he was evidently attracted by the idea.

“I’ll see about it,” he said at last.  “Meanwhile I’ll go and have a hunt for some traces of Amenhotep and Araxes.”