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began to creep into the apartment beyond。 I followed
him； standing on my feet in the usual fashion。 Looking
over his shoulder； he perceived it。
〃Down； my son； down； my Baboon； down on to thy hands
and knees。 We enter the presence of _i_ She _i_ ； and；
if thou art not humble； of a surety she will blast
thee where thou standest。〃
I halted； and felt scared。 Indeed； my knees began to
give way of their own mere motion； but reflection came
to my aid。 I was an Englishman； and why； I asked
myself； should I creep into the presence of some
savage woman as though I were a monkey in fact as well
as in name？ I would not and could not do it； that is；
unless I was absolutely sure that my life or comfort
depended upon it。 If once I began to creep upon my
knees I should always have to do so； and it would be a
patent acknowledgment of inferiority。 So； fortified by
an insular prejudice against 〃kootooing；〃 which has；
like most of our so…called prejudices； a good deal of
common…sense to recommend it； I marched in boldly
after Billali。 I found myself in another apartment；
considerably smaller than the ante…room； of which the
walls were entirely hung with rich…looking curtains of
the same make as those over the door； the work； as I
subsequently discovered； of the mutes who sat in the
ante…chamber and wove them in strips； which were
afterwards sewn together。 Also； here and there about
the room； were settees of a beautiful black wood of
the ebony tribe； inlaid with ivory； and all over the
floor were other tapestries； or rather rugs。 At the
top end of this apartment was what appeared to be a
recess； also draped with curtains； through which shone
rays of light。 There was nobody in the place except
ourselves。
Painfully and slowly old Billali crept up the length
of the cave； and with the most dignified stride that I
could command I followed after him。 But I felt that it
was more or less of a failure。 To begin with； it is
not possible to look dignified when you are following
in the wake of an old man writhing along on his
stomach like a snake； and then； in order to go
sufficiently slowly； either I had to keep my leg some
seconds in the air at every step； or else to advance
with a full stop between each stride； like Mary Queen
of Scots going to execution in a play。 Billali was not
good at crawling； I suppose his years stood in the
way； and our progress up that apartment was a very
long affair。 I was immediately behind him； and several
times I was sorely tempted to help him on with a good
kick。 It is so absurd to advance into the presence of
savage royalty after the fashion of an Irishman
driving a pig to market； for that is what we looked
like； and the idea nearly made me burst out laughing
then and there。 I had to work off my dangerous
tendency to unseemly merriment by blowing my nose； a
proceeding which filled old Billali with horror； for
he looked over his shoulder and made a ghastly face at
me； and I heard him murmur； 〃Oh； my poor Baboon！〃
At last we reached the curtains； and here Billali
collapsed flat on to his stomach； with his hands
stretched out before him as though he were dead； and
I； not knowing what to do； began to stare about the
place。 But presently I dearly felt that somebody was
looking at me from behind the curtains。 I could not
see the person； but I could distinctly feel his or her
gaze； and； what is more； it produced a very odd effect
upon my nerves。 I was frightened； I do not know why。
The place was a strange one； it is true； and looked
lonely； notwithstanding its rich hangings and the soft
glow of the lampsindeed； these accessories added to；
rather than detracted from its loneliness； just as a
lighted street at night has always a more solitary
appearance than a dark one。 It was so silent in the
place； and there lay Billali like one dead before the
heavy curtains； through which the odor of perfume
seemed to float up towards the gloom of the arched
roof above。 Minute grew into minute； and still there
was no sign of life； nor did the curtain move； but I
felt the gaze of the unknown being sinking through and
through me； and filling me with a nameless terror；
till the perspiration stood in beads upon my brow。
At length the curtain began to move。 Who could be
behind it？some naked savage queen； a languishing
Oriental beauty； or a nineteenth…century young lady；
drinking afternoon tea。 I had not the slightest idea；
and should not have been astonished at seeing any of
the three。 I was getting beyond astonishment。 The
curtain agitated itself a little； then suddenly
between its folds there appeared a most beautiful
white hand （white as snow）； and with long； tapering
fingers； ending in the pinkest nails。 The hand grasped
the curtain and drew it aside； and as it did so I
heard a voice； I think the softest and yet most
silvery voice I ever heard。 It reminded me of the
murmur of a brook。
〃Stranger；〃 said the voice in Arabic； but much purer
and more classical Arabic than the Amahagger talk
〃stranger； wherefore art thou so much afraid？〃
Now I flattered myself that in spite of my inward
terrors I had kept a very fair command of my
countenance； and was； therefore； a little astonished
at this question。 Before I had made up my mind how to
answer it； however； the curtain was drawn； and a tall
figure stood before us。 I say a figure； for not only
the body； but also the face was wrapped up in soft；
white； gauzy material in such a way as at first sight
to remind me most forcibly of a corpse in its grave…
clothes。 And yet I do not know why it should have
given me that idea； seeing that the wrappings were so
thin that one could distinctly see the gleam of the
pink flesh beneath them。 I suppose it was owing to the
way in which they were arranged； either accidentally；
or more probably by design。 Anyhow； I felt more
frightened than ever at this ghostlike apparition； and
my hair began to rise upon my head as the feeling
crept over me that I was in the presence of something
that was not canny。 I could； however； clearly
distinguish that the swathed； mummy…like form before
me was that of a tall and lovely woman； instinct with
beauty in every part； and also with a certain
snakelike grace which I had never seen anything to
equal before。 When she moved a hand or foot her entire
frame seemed to undulate； and the neck did not bend；
it curved。
〃Why art thou so frightened； stranger？〃 asked the
sweet voice againa voice which seemed to draw the
heart out of me； like the strains of softest music。
〃Is there that about me that should affright a man？
Then surely are men changed from what they used to
be！〃 And with a little coquettish movement she turned
herself； and held up one arm； so as to show all her
loveliness and the rich hair of raven blackness that
streamed in soft ripples down her snowy robes； almost
to her sandalled feet。
〃It is。 thy beauty that makes me fear； oh； queen；〃 I
answered； humbly； scarcely knowing what to say； and I
thought that as I did so I heard old Billali； who was
still lying prostrate on the floor； mutter； 〃Good； my
Baboon； good。〃
〃I see that men still know how to beguile us women
with false words。 Ah； stranger；〃 she answered； with a
laugh that sounded like distant silver bells； 〃thou
wast afraid because mine eyes were searching out thine
heart； therefore wast thou afraid。 But； being but a
woman； I forgive thee for the lie； for it was
courteously said。 And now tell me； how came ye hither
to this land of the dwellers among cavesa land of
swamps and evil things and dead old shadows of the
dead？ What came ye for to see？ How is it that ye hold
your lives so cheap as to place them in the hollow of
the hand of _i_ Hiya； _i_ into the hand of ' _i_ She…
who…must…be obeyed _i_ '？ Tell me also how come ye to
know the tongue I talk。 It is an ancient tongue； that
sweet child of the old Syriac。 Liveth it yet in the
world？ Thou seest I dwell among the caves and the
dead； and nought know I of the affairs of men； nor
have I cared to know。 I have lived； O stranger； with
my memories； and my memories are in a grave that mine
own hands hollowed； for truly hath it been said that
the child of man maketh his own path evil〃； and her
beautiful voice quivered； and broke in a note as soft
as any wood…bird's。 Suddenly her eye fell upon the
sprawling frame of Billali； and she seemed to
recollect herself。
〃Ah！ thou art there； old man。 Tell me how it is that
things have gone wrong in thy household。 Forsooth； it
seems that these my guests were set upon。 Ay； and one
was nigh to being slain by the hot pot to be eaten of
those brutes； thy children； and had not the others
fought gallantly they too had been slain； and not even
I could have called back the life which had been
loosed from the body。 What means it； old man？ What
hast thou to say that I should not give thee over to
those who execute my vengeance？〃
Her voice had risen in her anger； and it rang clear
and cold against the rocky walls。 Also I thought I
could see her eyes flash through the gau