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When she had finished her repast she put aside the tray and, opening the shabby handbag, asked: "Do you take any interest in Egyptian history? We are as mad as hatters on the subject It seems to be a family complaint"

"I don't know rossing and don't leave "

"Naturally," she said "You can't specialise in everything But if you would care to see how the business of a literary jackal is conducted, I will show you erly (not, I fear, froht forth fro with one of the four dynasties froh the neat and orderly extracts hich they were filled we discussed the intricacies of the peculiarly difficult and confused period that they covered, gradually lowering our voices as Mr Bellinghaainst the back of his chair We had just reached the critical reign of Apepa II when a resounding snore broke in upon the studious quiet of the roohter

"Your conversation has done its work," she whispered as I stealthily picked up ether we stole on tiptoe to the door, which she opened without a sound Once outside, she suddenly dropped her bantering manner and said quite earnestly: "How kind it was of you to coood, and I aht!"

She shook hands withstairs in a whirl of happiness that I was quite at a loss to account for