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leaped three indescribable demons。 Then； rising； she took a cake of
chalk from the table and； drawing a mystic half circle on the floor；
returned to the divan； lit a cigarette； and leaning comfortably back； said in
a low； monotonous voice； 〃Advance one foot within that magic line； and
on that head； although it wore a crown； I launch the curse of Rome。〃
〃Ionly wanted to take youwith a kodak；〃 he said； with a light laugh
to conceal his confusion； as he produced the instrument from his coat…tail
pocket。
〃Not with that cheap box；〃 she said； rising with magnificent disdain。
〃Come again with a decent instrumentand perhaps〃 Then； lightly
humming in a pure contralto； 〃I've been photographed like thisI've been
photographed like that；〃 she summoned the slave to conduct him back； and
vanished through a canvas screen； which nevertheless seemed to the dazed
Chevalier to be the stony front of the pyramids。
V
〃And you saw her？〃 said the doctor in French。
〃Yes； but the three…thousand…year gag did not work！ She spotted you；
cher ami； on the instant。 And she wouldn't let me take her with my
kodak。〃
The doctor looked grave。 〃I see；〃 he mused thoughtfully。 〃You must
have my camera； a larger one and more bulky perhaps to carry； but she
will not object to that；she who has stood for full lengths。 I will give you
some private instructions。〃
〃But； cher doctor； this previous…existence ideaat what do you arrive？〃
〃There is much to say for it；〃 said the doctor oracularly。 〃It has
survived in the belief of all ages。 Who can tell？ That some men in a
previous existence may have been goats or apes；〃 continued the doctor；
looking at him curiously； 〃does not seem improbable！ From the time of
Pythagoras we have known that； but that the individual as an individual
ego has been remanded or projected； has harked back or anticipated
himself； is； we may say； with our powers of apperception；that is； the
perception that we are perceiving； is〃
But the Chevalier had fled。 〃No matter；〃 said the doctor； 〃I will see
McFeckless。〃 He did。 He found him gloomy； distraught； baleful。 He
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felt his pulse。 〃The mixture as before；〃 he said briefly； 〃and a little
innocent diversion。 There is an Aunt Sally on the esplanadetwo throws
for a penny。 It will do you good。 Think no more of this woman！
Listen；I wish you well； your family have always been good patients of
mine。 Marry some good Scotch girl； I know one with fifty thousand
pounds。 Let the Princess go！〃
〃To himnever！ I will marry her！ Yet；〃 he murmured softly to
himself； 〃feefty thousand pun' is nae small sum。 Aye！ Not that I care
for sillerbut feefty thousand pun'！ Eh； sirs！〃
VI
Dr。 Haustus knew that the Chevalier had again visited the Princess；
although he had kept the visit a secret；and indeed was himself invisible
for a day or two afterwards。 At last the doctor's curiosity induced him to
visit the Chevalier's apartment。 Entering； he was surprisedeven in that
Land of Mysteryto find the room profoundly dark； smelling of Eastern
drugs； and the Chevalier sitting before a large plate of glass which he was
examining by the aid of a lurid ruby lamp；the only light in the weird
gloom。 His face was pale and distraught； his locks were disheveled。
〃Voila！〃 he said。 〃Mon Dieu！ It is my third attempt。 Always the
samehideous； monstrous； unearthly！ It is she； and yet it is not she！〃
The doctor； professional man as he was and inured to such spectacles；
was startled！ The plate before him showed the Princess's face in all its
beautiful contour； but only dimly veiling a ghastly death's…head below。
There was the whole bony structure of the head and the eyeless sockets；
even the graceful； swan…like neck showed the articulated vertebral column
that supported it in all its hideous reality。 The beautiful shoulders were
there； dimly as in a dreambut beneath was the empty clavicle； the knotty
joint； the hollow sternum； and the ribs of a skeleton half length！
The doctor's voice broke the silence。 〃My friend；〃 he said dryly； 〃you
see only the truth！ You see what she really is； this peerless Princess of
yours。 You see her as she is to…day； and you see her kinship to the bones
that have lain for centuries in yonder pyramid。 Yet they were once as fair
as this； and this was as fair as theyin effect the same！ You that have
madly； impiously adored her superficial beauty； the mere dust of tomorrow；
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let this be a warning to you！ You that have no soul to speak of； let that
suffice you！ Take her and be happy。 Adieu！〃
Yet； as he passed out of the fitting tomblike gloom of the apartment
and descended the stairs； he murmured to himself： 〃Odd that I should have
lent him my camera with the Rontgen…ray attachment still on。 No matter！
It is not the first time that the Princess has appeared in two parts the same
evening。〃
VII
In spite of envy； jealousy； and malice； a certain curiosity greater than
all these drew everybody to the Princess Zut…Ski's ball。 Lady Fitz…Fulke
was there in virgin white； looking more youthful than ever； in spite of her
sixty…five years and the card labeled 〃Fresh Paint〃 which somebody had
playfully placed upon her enameled shoulder。 The McFecklesses； the
Pyles； Flossy； the doctor； and the Chevalierlooking still anxiouswere in
attendance。
The mysterious Nubian doorkeeper admitted the guests through the
same narrow passages； much to the disgust of Lady Pyle and the
discomfiture of her paunchy husband； but on reaching a large circular
interior hall； a greater surprise was in store for them。 It was found that the
only entrance to the body of the hall was along a narrow ledge against the
bare wall some distance from the floor； which obliged the guests to walk
slowly； in single file； along this precarious strip；