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〃Arrested？ For what？〃
〃For murder。 It is quite on the cards。 I wish to be ready for every
event。 There is only one course open to me； and I am determined to take
it。〃
〃For Heaven's sake； don't do anything rash！〃
〃Believe me； it would be far more rash to adopt any other course。 I
hope that we won't need to bother you； but it will ease my mind to know
that you have this statement of my motives。 And now I am ready to take
your advice and to go to roost； for I want to be at my best in the morning。〃
Abercrombie Smith was not an entirely pleasant man to have as an
enemy。 Slow and easytempered； he was formidable when driven to
action。 He brought to every purpose in life the same deliberate
resoluteness which had distinguished him as a scientific student。 He had
laid his studies aside for a day； but he intended that the day should not be
wasted。 Not a word did he say to his host as to his plans； but by nine
o'clock he was well on his way to Oxford。
In the High Street he stopped at Clifford's； the gun…maker's； and
bought a heavy revolver； with a box of central…fire cartridges。 Six of
them he slipped into the chambers； and half…cocking the weapon； placed it
in the pocket of his coat。 He then made his way to Hastie's rooms； where
the big oarsman was lounging over his breakfast； with the Sporting Times
propped up against the coffeepot。
〃Hullo！ What's up？〃 he asked。 〃Have some coffee？〃
〃No； thank you。 I want you to come with me； Hastie； and do what I
ask you。〃
〃Certainly； my boy。〃
〃And bring a heavy stick with you。〃
〃Hullo！〃 Hastie stared。 〃Here's a hunting…crop that would fell an ox。〃
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〃One other thing。 You have a box of amputating knives。 Give me
the longest of them。〃
〃There you are。 You seem to be fairly on the war trail。 Anything
else？〃
〃No； that will do。〃 Smith placed the knife inside his coat； and led the
way to the quadrangle。 〃We are neither of us chickens； Hastie；〃 said he。
〃I think I can do this job alone； but I take you as a precaution。 I am
going to have a little talk with Bellingham。 If I have only him to deal
with； I won't； of course； need you。 If I shout； however； up you come； and
lam out with your whip as hard as you can lick。 Do you understand？〃
〃All right。 I'll come if I hear you bellow。〃
〃Stay here； then。 It may be a little time； but don't budge until I come
down。〃
〃I'm a fixture。〃
Smith ascended the stairs； opened Bellingham's door and stepped in。
Bellingham was seated behind his table； writing。 Beside him； among his
litter of strange possessions； towered the mummy case； with its sale
number 249 still stuck upon its front； and its hideous occupant stiff and
stark within it。 Smith looked very deliberately round him； closed the
door； locked it； took the key from the inside； and then stepping across to
the fireplace； struck a match and set the fire alight。 Bellingham sat
staring； with amazement and rage upon his bloated face。
〃Well； really now； you make yourself at home；〃 he gasped。
Smith sat himself deliberately down； placing his watch upon the table；
drew out his pistol； cocked it； and laid it in his lap。 Then he took the long
amputating knife from his bosom； and threw it down in front of
Bellingham。
〃Now； then；〃 said he； 〃just get to work and cut up that mummy。〃
〃Oh； is that it？〃 said Bellingham with a sneer。
〃Yes； that is it。 They tell me that the law can't touch you。 But I
have a law that will set matters straight。 If in five minutes you have not
set to work； I swear by the God who made me that I will put a bullet
through your brain！〃
〃You would murder me？〃
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Bellingham had half risen； and his face was the colour of putty。
〃Yes。〃
〃And for what？〃
〃To stop your mischief。 One minute has gone。〃
〃But what have I done？〃
〃I know and you know。〃
〃This is mere bullying。〃
〃Two minutes are gone。〃
〃But you must give reasons。 You are a madmana dangerous
madman。 Why should I destroy my own property？ It is a valuable
mummy。〃
〃You must cut it up； and you must burn it。〃
〃I will do no such thing。〃
〃Four minutes are gone。〃
Smith took up the pistol and he looked towards Bellingham with an
inexorable face。 As the second… hand stole round； he raised his hand； and
the finger twitched upon the trigger。
〃There！ there！ I'll do it！〃 screamed Bellingham。
In frantic haste he caught up the knife and hacked at the figure of the
mummy； ever glancing round to see the eye and the weapon of his terrible
visitor bent upon him。 The creature crackled and snapped under every
stab of the keen blade。 A thick yellow dust rose up from it。 Spices and
dried essences rained down upon the floor。 Suddenly； with a rending
crack； its backbone snapped asunder； and it fell； a brown heap of
sprawling limbs； upon the floor。
〃Now into the fire！〃 said Smith。
The flames leaped and roared as the dried and tinderlike debris was
piled upon it。 The little room was like the stoke…hole of a steamer and
the sweat ran down the faces of the two men； but still the one stooped and
worked； while the other sat watching him with a set face。 A thick； fat
smoke oozed out from the fire； and a heavy smell of burned rosin and
singed hair filled the air。 In a quarter of an hour a few charred and brittle
sticks were all that was left of Lot No。 249。
〃Perhaps that will satisfy you；〃 snarled Bellingham； with hate and fear
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in his little grey eyes as he glanced back at his tormenter。 〃No； I must
make a clean sweep of all your materials。 We must have no more devil's
tricks。 In with all these leaves！ They may have something to do with
it。〃
〃And what now？〃 asked Bellingham； when the leaves also had been
added to the blaze。
〃Now the roll of papyrus which you had on the table that night。 It is
in that drawer； I think。〃
〃No； no；〃 shouted Bellingham。 〃Don't burn that！ Why； man； you
don't know what you do。 It is unique； it contains wisdom which is
nowhere else to be found。〃
〃Out with it！〃
〃But look here； Smith； you can't really mean it。 I'll share the
knowledge with you。 I'll teach you all that is in it。 Or； stay； let me only
copy it before you burn it！〃
Smith stepped forward and turned the key in the drawer。 Taking out
the yellow； curled roll of paper； he threw it into the fire； and pressed it
down with his heel。 Bellingham screamed； and grabbed at it； but Smith
pushed him back； and stood over it until it was reduced to a formless grey
ash。
〃Now； Master B。；〃 said he； 〃I think I have pretty well drawn your teeth。
You'll hear from me again； if you return to your old tricks。 And now
good…morning； for I must go back to my studies。〃
And such is the narrative of Abercrombie Smith as to the singular
events which occurred in Old College； Oxford； in the spring of '84。 As
Bellingham left the university immediately afterwards； and was last heard
of in the Soudan； there is no one who can contradict his statement。 But
the wisdom of men is small； and the ways of nature are strange； and who
shall put a bound to the dark things which may be found by those who
seek for them？
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RO