it? One of the servants shall bring you a lighted taper, and by
passing it in front of the sculpture you will be able to see the
design better. Ah, Mr. Murray!" and she smiled as she greeted
Denzil, who just then approached. "You are in time to give us your
opinion. I want Dr. Dean to see that very old piece of stone
carving on the wall above us,--it will serve as a link for him in
the history of Araxes."

"Indeed!" murmured Denzil, somewhat abstractedly.

The Princess glanced at his brooding face and laughed.

"You, I know, are not interested at all in old history," she went
on. "The past has no attraction for you."

"No. The present is enough," he replied, with a glance of mingled
hope and passion.

She smiled, and signing to one of her Egyptian attendants, bade
him bring a lighted taper. He did so, and passed it slowly up and
down and to the right and left of the large piece of ancient
sculpture that occupied more than half the wall, while Dr. Dean
stood by, spectacles on nose, to examine the carving as closely as
possible. Several other people, attracted by what was going on,
paused to look also, and the Princess undertook to explain the
scene depicted.

"This piece of carving is of the date of the King Amenhotep or
Amenophis III., of the Eighteenth Dynasty. It represents the
return of the warrior Araxes, a favorite servant of the king's,