duty to civilization; things have progressed since the days of
Araxes."

Denzil stared at him gloomily.

"Araxes is Dr. Dean's fad," he said. "I don't know anything about
Egyptian mummies, and don't want to know. My matter is with the
present, and not with the past."

They had reached the hotel by this time, and turned into the
gardens side by side.

"You understand?" repeated Denzil. "We cannot be friends!"

Gervase gave him a profoundly courteous salute, and the two
separated.

Later on in the afternoon, about an hour before dinner-time,
Gervase, strolling on the terrace of the hotel alone, saw Helen
Murray seated at a little distance under some trees, with a book
in her hand which she was not reading. There were tears in her
eyes, but as he approached her she furtively dashed them away and
greeted him with a poor attempt at a smile.

"You have a moment to spare me?" he asked, sitting down beside
her.

She bent her head in acquiescence.

"I am a very unhappy man, Mademoiselle Helen," he began, looking