72 THE STRAND

from the mtrinsic value of this relie, it has associations for me which are beyond price, and further than that, my friend the Raj: told me that if ever | pntul with 1t, or 1t wis stolen, il fortune would ever afterwards pursuc me. Now, Mr. Donovan, [ am not a superstitious man, but 1 confess that in this instance T am weak enough to believe that the Rajah’s words will come true, and that some \tlanw calamity will befall uthcr me or mine.

“Without attachmge any 1mpmhmu {O that," 1 answered, “ 1 confess that it is a sertous busimess, and T will dowhat T can to recover this extraordinary goblet. vou say yvou leave for IKgypt to-morrow

“Yes, [ am going out ona (m\umncnl commuission, and shall probably be absent sIx months.”

• Then I had better travel down to Issher

with you at once, as I like to start at the fountain head m such matters.”

The Colonel was most anxious that 1 should do this, and, requesting him to wai for a few minutes, 1 retired to my mner sanctum, and when T reappeared 1t was in the character of a venerable parson, with flowing grey hair, spectacles. and the (nthudt)\ white Lh()l\c My visitor did not recogmse me until I spoke, and then he

1cquwt(“ a to know why T had transforme:d myself in such a manner.

I'told him I had a particular reason for 1t, but felt 1t was advisable not to reveal the rcason then, and [ enjoined on him the necessity of supporting me in the character

O

and mchiding all elephant trappings ;

MNAGAZINFE,

[ had assumed, for I considered it important

that nonce of his houschold should know that I was a detective. T begoed that he would mtroduce me as the Rev. John

SMarshall, from the Midland Counties. He promisced to do this; and we took the next tram down to Iisher,

The Manor was a quaint old mansion, and dated back to the commencement of Queen [Klizabeth's reign. The Colonel had bought the property, and being somewhat of an antiquartan, he had allowed it to remain in s origimal state, so far as the actual build- Y was concer ned. Buthe had had it done up mside a hittley and furnizhed in great taste i the Flizabethan stvle, and mstead of the walls bemg papered tlu\ were hung with tapestry,

I' found that besides the goblet some antique rings and a few pieces of gold and silver had been carried off. But these things were of cnm]mrativdy small value, and the Colonel's great concern was about the lost skull, which had been kept under a glass shade i what he called his * Trea- sure - Chamber.” It was a small room, lichted by an oriel window., The walls were wainscoted half way up, and the upper part was hung with tapestry. In this room there was @ most extraordinary

THE T REASURE CHANBEILL

mizcellancous collection of things, kinds ot Indian weapons |

specimens of clothing