The form stirred, seeming to raise phantom arms in
execration, and a stray moonbeam pierced the darkness
shrouding it. For a fleeting instant something
flashed venomously.
The sounds grew nearer. I could tell that the
newcomers had found Morris lying at the gate.
Yet still I stood, frozen with uncanny fear, and
watching—watching the spot to which that
stray beam had pierced; the spot where I had seen
the moon gleam upon the ring of the Prophet!
AT THE BRITISH ANTIQUARIAN MUSEUM
A little group of interested spectators stood at the
head of the square glass case in the centre of the
lofty apartment in the British Antiquarian Museum
known as the Burton Room (by reason of the fact that
a fine painting of Sir Richard Burton faces you as
you enter). A few other people looked on curiously
from the lower end of the case. It contained
but one exhibit—a dirty and dilapidated
markoob—or slipper of morocco leather that
had once been red.
“Our latest acquisition, gentlemen,” said
Mr. Mostyn, the curator, speaking in a low tone to
the distinguished Oriental scholars around him.
“It has been left to the Institution by the
late Professor Deeping. He describes it in a
document furnished by his solicitor as one of the
slippers worn by the Prophet Mohammed, but gives us
no further particulars. I myself cannot quite
place the relic.”
“Nor I,” interrupted one of the group.
“It is not mentioned by any of the Arabian
historians to my knowledge—that is, if it
comes from Mecca, as I understand it does.”
“I cannot possibly assert that it comes from
Mecca, Dr. Nicholson,” Mostyn replied.
“The Professor may have taken it from Al-Madinah
—perhaps from the mysterious inner passage
of the baldaquin where the treasures of the place
lie. But I can assure you that what little we
do know of its history is sufficiently unsavoury.”
I fancied that the curator’s tired cultured
voice faltered as he spoke; and now, without apparent
reason, he moved a step to the right and glanced oddly
along the room. I followed the direction of
his glance, and saw a tall man in conventional morning
dress, irreproachable in every detail, whose head
was instantly bent upon his catalogue. But before
his eyes fell I knew that their long almond shape,
as well as the peculiar burnt pallor of his countenance,
were undoubtedly those of an Oriental.
“There have been mysterious outrages committed,
I believe, upon many of those who have come in contact
with the slipper?” asked one of the savants.
“Exactly. Professor Deeping was undoubtedly
among the victims. His instructions were explicit
that the relic should be brought here by a Moslem,
but for a long time we failed to discover any Moslem
who would undertake the task; and, as you are aware,
while the slipper remained at the Professor’s
house attempts were made to steal it.”
