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and oils were left； so that it might re…embalm itself； if the worms
came to life in its members。
Oh！ the persistence of this /double/； sealed there in the tomb； a prey
to anxiety； lest corruption should take hold of it； which had to serve
its long duration in suffocating darkness； in absolute silence；
without anything to mark the days and nights； or the seasons or the
centuries； or the tens of centuries without end！ It was with such a
terrible conception of death as this that each one in those days was
absorbed in the preparation of his eternal chamber。
And for Amenophis II。 this more or less is what happened to his
/double/。 Unaccustomed to any kind of noise； after three or four
hundred years passed in the company of certain familiars； lulled in
the same heavy slumber as himself； he heard the sound of muffled blows
in the distance； by the side of the hidden well。 The secret entrance
was discovered： men were breaking through its walls！ Living beings
were about to appear； pillagers of tombs； no doubt； come to unswathe
them all！ But no！ Only some priests of Osiris； advancing with fear in
a funeral procession。 They brought nine great coffins containing the
mummies of nine kings； his sons； grandsons and other unknown
successors； down to that King Setnakht； who governed Egypt two and a
half centuries after him。 It was simply to hide them better that they
brought them hither； and placed them all together in a chamber that
was immediately walled up。 Then they departed。 The stones of the door
were sealed afresh； and everything fell again into the old mournful
and burning darkness。
Slowly the centuries rolled onperhaps ten； perhaps twentyin a
silence no longer even disturbed by the scratchings of the worms； long
since dead。 And a day came when； at the side of the entrance； the same
blows were heard again。 。 。 。 And this time it was the robbers。
Carrying torches in their hands； they rushed headlong in； with shouts
and cries and； except in the safe hiding…place of the nine coffins；
everything was plundered； the bandages torn off； the golden trinkets
snatched from the necks of the mummies。 Then； when they had sorted
their booty； they walled up the entrance as before； and went their
way； leaving an inextricable confusion of shrouds； of human bodies； of
entrails issuing from shattered vases； of broken gods and emblems。
Afterwards； for long centuries； there was silence again； and finally；
in our days； the /double/； then in its last weakness and almost non…
existent； perceived the same noise of stones being unsealed by blows
of pickaxes。 The third time； the living men who entered were of a race
never seen before。 At first they seemed respectful and pious； only
touching things gently。 But they came to plunder everything； even the
nine coffins in their still inviolate hiding…place。 They gathered the
smallest fragments with a solicitude almost religious。 That they might
lose nothing they even sifted the rubbish and the dust。 But； as for
Amenophis； who was already nothing more than a lamentable mummy；
without jewels or bandages； they left him at the bottom of his
sarcophagus of sandstone。 And since that day； doomed to receive each
morning numerous people of a strange aspect； he dwells alone in his
hypogeum； where there is now neither a being nor a thing belonging to
his time。
But yes； there is！ We had not looked all round。 There in one of the
lateral chambers some bodies are lying； dead bodiesthree corpses
（unswathed at the time of the pillage）； side by side on their rags。
First； a woman； the queen probably； with loosened hair。 Her profile
has preserved its exquisite lines。 How beautiful she still is！ And
then a young boy with the little greyish face of a doll。 His head is
shaved； except for that long curl at the right side； which denotes a
prince of the royal blood。 And the third a man。 Ugh！ How terrible he
islooking as if he found death a thing irresistibly comical。 He even
writhes with laughter； and eats a corner of his shroud as if to
prevent himself from bursting into a too unseemly mirth。
And then； suddenly； black night！ And we stand as if congealed in our
place。 The electric light has gone outeverywhere at once。 Above； on
the earth； midday must have soundedfor those who still have
cognisance of the sun and the hours。
The guard who has brought us hither shouts in his Bedouin falsetto； in
order to get the light switched on again； but the infinite thickness
of the walls； instead of prolonging the vibrations； seems to deaden
them； and besides； who could hear us； in the depths where we now are？
Then； groping in the absolute darkness； he makes his way up the
sloping passage。 The hurried patter of his sandals and the flapping of
his burnous grow faint in the distance； and the cries that he
continues to utter sound so smothered to us soon that we might
ourselves be buried。 And meanwhile we do not move。 But how comes it
that it is so hot amongst these mummies？ It seems as if there were
fires burning in some oven close by。 And above all there is a want of
air。 Perhaps the corridors； after our passage； have contracted； as
happens sometimes in the anguish of dreams。 Perhaps the long fissure
by which we have crawled hither； perhaps it has closed in upon us。
But at length the cries of alarm are heard and the light is turned on
again。 The three corpses have not profited by the unguarded moments to
attempt any aggressive movement。 Their positions； their expressions
have not changed： the queen calm and beautiful as ever； the man eating
still the corner of his rags to stifle the mad laughter of thirty…
three centuries。
The Bedouin is now returned； breathless from his journey。 He urges us
to come to see the king before the electric light is again
extinguished； and this time for good and all。 Behold us now at the end
of the hall； on the edge of a dark crypt； leaning over and peering
within。 It is a place oval in form； with a vault of a funereal black；
relieved by frescoes； either white or of the colour of ashes。 They
represent； these frescoes； a whole new register of gods and demons；
some slim and sheathed narrowly like mummies； others with big heads
and big bellies like hippopotami。 Placed on the ground and watched
from above by all these figures is an enormous sarcophagus of stone；
wide open； and in it we can distinguish vaguely the outline of a human
body： the Pharaoh！
At least we should have liked to see him better。 The necessary light
is forthcoming at once： the Bedouin Grand Master of Ceremonies touches
an electric button and a powerful lamp illumines the face of
Amenophis； detailing with a clearness that almost frightens you the
closed eyes； the grimacing countenance； and the whole of the sad
mummy。 This theatrical effect took us by surprise； we were not
prepared for it。
He was buried in magnificence； but the pillagers have stripped him of
everything； even of his beautiful breastplate of tortoises