himself, a box had been sent to him by ordinary carrier. (As I sat
at my table, Scotland Yard was busy endeavouring to trace the
sender.) Respecting this box we had made an extraordinary discovery.

It was of the kind used by Eastern conjurors for what is generally
known as "the Box Trick." That is to say, it could only be opened
(short of smashing it) from the inside! You will remember what we
found within it? Consider this with the new fact, above, and to
what conclusion do you come?

Something (it is not possible to speak of someone in connection with
so small a box) had been concealed inside, and had killed Professor
Deeping whilst he was actually engaged in endeavouring to force it
open. This inconceivable creature had then searched the study for
the slipper--or for the key of the safe. Interrupted and trapped
by the arrival of the police, the creature had returned to the box,
re-closed it, and had actually been there when the study was
searched!

For a creature so small as the murderous thing in the box to slip
out during the confusion, and at some time prior to Bristol's
arrival, was no difficult matter. The inspector and I were certain
that these were the facts.

But what was this creature?

I turned to the chapter in "Assyrian Mythology"--"The Tradition
of the Hashishin."

The legends which the late Professor Deeping had collected relative