If you are of his acquaintance ask him of his talk with her in the avenue of the Sphinxes outside the great temple at Thebes and of what it cost him in gold and tears." Hearing this I put my hand to my forehead and rubbed my eyes, thinking that I must have fallen into a dream there in the sunshine.

When I lifted it again all was the same as before.

There stood the sentry, indifferent to that which had no interest for him; the cock that had moulted its tail still scratched in the dirt; the crested hoopoe still sat spreading its wings on the head of one of the two great statues of Rameses which watched the gate; a water-seller in the distance still cried his wares, but the stranger was gone.

Then I knew that I had been dreaming and turned to go also, to find myself face to face with him.
"Man," I said, indignantly, "how in the name of Ptah and all his priests did you pass a sentry and through that gate without my seeing you ?" "Do not trouble yourself with a new problem when already you have so many to perplex you, friend Ana.

Say, have you yet solved that of how a rod like this turned itself into a snake in your hand ?" and he threw back his hood, revealing the shaved head and the glowing eyes of the Kherheb Ki.
"No, I have not," I answered, "and I thank you," for here he proffered me the staff, "but I will not try the trick again.