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hurricane lamps that he might see better。 With a kind of fierce
eagerness he surveyed her who lay within the coffin； and after he
had done so； uttered a sigh as of intense relief。
Next he pointed to the metal cup out of which he had drunk。
Bickley filled it again from the thermos flask； which I observed
excited his keen interest； for； having touched the flask with his
hand and found that it was cool； he appeared to marvel that the
fluid coming from it should be hot and steaming。 Presently he
smiled as though he had got the clue to the mystery； and
swallowed his second drink of coffee and spirit。 This done； he
motioned to us to lift the lid of the lady's coffin； pointing out
a certain catch in the bolts which at first we could not master；
for it will be remembered that on this coffin these were shot。
In the end； by pursuing the same methods that we had used in
the instance of his own； we raised the coffin lid and once more
were driven to retreat from the sepulchre for a while by the
overpowering odour like to that of a whole greenhouse full of
tuberoses； that flowed out of it； inducing a kind of stupefaction
from which even Tommy fled。
When we returned it was to find the man kneeling by the side of
the coffin； for as yet he could not stand； with his glowing eyes
fixed upon the face of her who slept therein and waving his long
arms above her。
〃Hypnotic business！ Wonder if it will work；〃 whispered Bickley。
Then he lifted the syringe and looked inquiringly at the man； who
shook his head； and went on with his mesmeric passes。
I crept round him and took my stand by the sleeper's head； that
I might watch her face； which was well worth watching； while
Bickley； with his medicine at hand； remained near her feet； I
think engaged in disinfecting the syringe in some spirit or acid。
I believe he was about to make an attempt to use it when
suddenly； as though beneath the influence of the hypnotic passes；
a change appeared on the Glittering Lady's face。 Hitherto；
beautiful as it was； it had been a dead face though one of a
person who had suddenly been cut off while in full health and
vigour a few hours； or at the most a day or so before。 Now it
began to live again； it was as though the spirit were returning
from afar； and not without toil and tribulation。
Expression after expression flitted across the features； indeed
these seemed to change so much from moment to moment that they
might have belonged to several different individuals； though each
was beautiful。 The fact of these remarkable changes with the
suggestion of multiform personalities which they conveyed
impressed both Bickley and myself very much indeed。 Then the
breast heaved tumultuously； it even appeared to struggle。 Next
the eyes opened。 They were full of wonder； even of fear； but oh！
what marvelous eyes。 I do not know how to describe them； I
cannot even state their exact colour； except that it was dark；
something like the blue of sapphires of the deepest tint； and yet
not black； large； too； and soft as a deer's。 They shut again as
though the light hurt them； then once more opened and wandered
about； apparently without seeing。
At length they found my face； for I was still bending over her；
and； resting there； appeared to take it in by degrees。 More； it
seemed to touch and stir some human spring in the still…sleeping
heart。 At least the fear passed from her features and was
replaced by a faint smile； such as a patient sometimes gives to
one known and well loved； as the effects of chloroform pass away。
For a while she looked at me with an earnest； searching gaze；
then suddenly； for the first time moving her arms； lifted them
and threw them round my neck。
The old man stared； bending his imperial brows into a little
frown； but did nothing。 Bickley stared also through his glasses
and sniffed as though in disapproval； while I remained quite
still； fighting with a wild impulse to kiss her on the lips as
one would an awakening and beloved child。 I doubt if I could have
done so； however； for really I was immovable； my heart seemed to
stop and all my muscles to be paralysed。
I do not know for how long this endured； but I do know how it
ended。 Presently in the intense silence I heard Bastin's heavy
voice and looking round； saw his big head projecting into the
sepulchre。
〃Well； I never！〃 he said； 〃you seem to have woke them up with a
vengeance。 If you begin like that with the lady； there will be
complications before you have done； Arbuthnot。〃
Talk of being brought back to earth with a rush！ I could have
killed Bastin； and Bickley； turning on him like a tiger； told him
to be off； find wood and light a large fire in front of the
statue。 I think he was about to argue when the Ancient gave him a
glance of his fierce eyes； which alarmed him； and he departed；
bewildered； to return presently with the wood。
But the sound of his voice had broken the spell。 The Lady let
her arms fall with a start； and shut her eyes again； seeming to
faint。 Bickley sprang forward with his sal volatile and applied
it to her nostrils； the Ancient not interfering； for he seemed to
recognise that he had to deal with a man of skill and one who
meant well by them。
In the end we brought her round again and； to omit details；
Bickley gave her； not coffee and brandy； but a mixture he
compounded of hot water； preserved milk and meat essence。 The
effect of it on her was wonderful； since a few minutes after
swallowing it she sat up in the coffin。 Then we lifted her from
that narrow bed in which she had slept forah！ how long？ and
perceived that beneath her also were crystal boxes of the
radiant； heat…giving substance。 We sat her on the floor of the
sepulchre； wrapping her also in a blanket。
Now it was that Tommy； after frisking round her as though in
welcome of an old friend； calmly established himself beside her
and laid his black head upon her knee。 She noted it and smiled
for the first time； a marvelously sweet and gentle smile。 More；
she placed her slender hand upon the dog and stroked him feebly。
Bickley tried to make her drink some more of his mixture； but
she refused； motioning him to give it to Tommy。 This； however； he
would not do because there was but one cup。 Presently both of the
sleepers began to shiver； which caused Bickley anxiety。 Abusing
Bastin beneath his breath for being so long with the fire； he
drew the blankets closer about them。
Then an idea came to him and he examined the glowing boxes in
the coffin。 They were loose； being merely set in prepared
cavities in the crystal。 Wrapping our handkerchiefs about his
hand； he took them out and placed them around the wakened
patients； a proceeding of which the Ancient nodded approval。 Just
then； too； Bastin returned with his first load of firewood； and
soon we had a merry blaze going just outside the sepulchre。 I saw
that they observed the lighting of this fire by means of a match
with much interest。
Now they grew warm again； as indeed we did alsotoo warm。 Then
in my turn I had an idea。 I knew that by now the sun would be
beating hotly against the rock of the mount； and suggested to
Bickley； that； if possible； the best thing we could do would be
to get them into its life…giving rays。 He agreed； if we could
make them understand and they were able to walk。 So I tried。
First I directed the Ancient's attention to the mouth of the cave
which at this distance showed as a white circle of light。 He
looked at it and then at me with grave inquiry。 I made motions to
suggest that he should proceed there； repeating the word 〃Sun〃 in
the Orofenan tongue。 He understood at once； though whether he
read my mind rather than what I said I am not sure。 Apparently
the Glittering Lady understood also and seemed to be most anxious
to go。 Only she looked rather pitifully at her feet and shook her
head。 This decided me。
I do not know if I have mentioned anywhere that I am a tall man
and very muscular。 She was tall； also； but as I judged not so
very heavy after her long fast。 At any rate I felt quite certain
that I could carry her for that distance。 Stooping down； I lifted
her up； signing to her to put her arms round my neck； which she
did。 Then calling to Bickley and Bastin to bring along the
Ancient between them； with some difficulty I struggled out of the
sepulchre； and started down the cave。 She was more heavy than I
thought； and yet I could have wished the journey longer。 To begin
with she seemed quite trustful and happy in my arms； where she
lay with her head against my shoulder； smiling a little as a
child might do； especially when I had to stop and throw her long
hair round my neck like a muffler； to prevent it from trailing in
the dust。
A bundle of lavender； or a truss of new…mown hay； could not
have been more sweet to carry and there was something electric
about the touch of her； which went