The Case of Professor Engelbach. By DEREK VANE. All Eights Reserved.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 129, 27 November 1909, Page 10

The Case of Professor Engelbach. By DEREK VANE. All Eights Reserved.

When Doctor Dubois received a brietf Hoik from Professor Engelbach saying he -wished to consult him professional^ that eveniug, he was moved to a little •.voiuk'r ;md speculation. He was i;ot easily surprised, but it certainly seem- ■ ed” furious tha.t the Professor should ' thibk it necessary to consult anybody ; I ; ho was in the habit of giving advice and" assistance, not receiving it. The doctor knew Professor Engelbach very well by • repute as a distinguished Egyptologist and man of science, though, as it happened, they had never met before. "This is an unexpected rjleasure," he said, speaking with marked courtesy, as the Professor was shown into the library, punctual to the minute. "I am 'honoured by your visit, but I can hardly'imagine that you are really in need of« my services." "But I am," the Professor answered Bharply in the tone of a man whose nerves" have suffered a strain. "I must consult somebody — somebody who has an" 1 open mind, who is accustomed to looking under the surface of* things. So I thought of you."- The doctor bowed and waited. "I daresay you know," the Professor continued abruptly, "that some of my colleagues — the men who move in a groove and will not acknowledge anything they cannot understand — look on me a little askance (as I have heard," with a grim smile, "some in your own profession do on you), because I am interested in supernormal phenomena, and the world outside our senses. And yet — to quote a celebrated occulist : 'There are two' emanations and two atmospheres, the one physical, and the other hyper-physical. The former acts upou our bodies, the latter on our souls. And why should not one influence receive as much attention as the other?" "Why not?" the doctor replied. "It .would certainly appear that the spiritual side of us is at least as important, as the material." "And now we come to the ' point," paid Professor Engelbach. "I will acknowledge that it is a strange story and not easy of credence, but it is true all the same. Of course you .know the Egyptian Rooms at the British Museum?" The doctor nodded. "In thtt first room is exhibited a series of mummies and mummy-cases dating as far back as B.C. 4400. In one of the standard, cases that line the room, left and right, is the mummy of /Katebet, a . priestess in the temple of Amen-Ra at r Thebes. Do you remember it?" "No. I have not given any particular attention to the Egyptian Rooms." "I do not know whether it has ever occurred to anybody else, but the first time I saw "the face I was struck by the look of life in it; so different from the expressionless faces around her. I have looked again and again almost fancying I could see her breathe. It states in the British Museum catalogue that the system of swathing employed with this mummy is unusual, and when I went to look at the painted wooden coffin of Katebet in one of the wallcases I Tsaw that the style of ornamentation of the coffin was different from that of any other coffin of the same period ' in-- the'-collection:™- So, judging even from its outward appearance only, - this mummy differs from its companions." "Were you.attracted. attracted by it or the" reverse?" "Distinctl£~ilttracted. The face <t the mummy itself I find most pleasing; the picture on the coffin, which" is evidently intended for a likeness, does not do her justice in my opinion. When you look at this woman it seems impossible to realise that she can have livid so many hundreds of years ago; the date is given as about B.C. 800. You might think she had died but yesterday—except for her breastplate, scarab, and ushabti figure, which belongs to a> bygone age." 5'WelL.I suppose that is not all? Doctor- Dubois- said,, as the Professor stopped and seemed- lost in thought. -'No," rousing himself, "it is only a -^mall part, the introduction, so to speak. I don't know exactly how it happened, but having once noticed this figure I went again and again to see it, and each time ' the attraction grew .stronger,, until.' now," and he gave, an e#sbarrassetl laugh;, "I think a day lest' when Ido not look on her face. "Don't rnlsfake me," emphatically, "this influence has; no thing "to do with what we c^*» l° ve 5 it appeals to the spnilual, eh the. physical Side of my nature — to s .ll that is best in me. I could swtar that this piiestess had lived a beautiful liie and died a saintly death — if she indeed J.?q .dead. 1 ' "lon do not doubt it?" th.i doctor exclaimed in aslouii;hmeut. I hardly .know what to say. The Egyptians not only believed in a future liie, but the doctrine of eternal existence was* the clifef feature 'of their religion.' They also believed that the/ possessed" an "abstract personality or 'double,'" which rfisenibled the human being closely in'its attributes, but had an absolutely independent existence. I have wondered sometimes whether "ibis ''double' may nof be another word for what the modern occulist calls an astral, the invisible replica.. If so," and he psuse'd,' "that might . explain n .good deal. I have heard some eiU-ions felories of those msimiuv-Fooms,' 4 tlie Professor exclained abrupljy "which go io prove that the dead havo not al.vjiys done with life as completely :s we think."' "Bui in whrt vjy can I, be of service toyou ?" the doctor asked. "You know move or" Uns matter than I do." -TI want your opinio*.;. The ancient EgyTpaujs held the belief that this invisible 'double,' on whose existence time, w«"in?v presume, would ha\'o no effect, might inhabit a statue of the deceased. Wej-mpy pcoff at the notion, but it is really no move improbable than the powers ascribed by many to astrals and gtojgts in tire present day. Now, I want to get a statue of- Katebet." 'I'JJonsense !" the doctor exclaimed, starling' out of his self -possession. "It m'jVt wild idea." And he looked at th*- professor with searching eyes, wondering whether he wight not have gone tot> 'far into that world whei'e every step nrust be hiken with caution. .?*! am. sorry you look, at it like that," his • visitor answered calmly. "I had hoped I should have found in you a sympathetic helper and adviser. But perhaps I ato putting you to rather a severe test. However, I am determined to. 'have a copy made somehow of -the uiummy of Katebef, and when it is installed in my rooms I hoDe you will come artd gee it." "Certainly I will," the doctor replied. "But may I enquire what use you intend to make of the statue when you have it?" <C I hope that it may bring mo into closer connection with the nriestess, and s6" 'I may come at much hidden knowledge. I 'lf this should be possible, think of the wonderful future that opens out before me," and the Professor's eyes flamed with excitement. "Think of the wisdom and secrets of that mar/ellous land being at my disposal' Why, ye arebufc children in muchTrf the lore of the ancient Egyptians. Their wise men ..worked -«uch miracles as we could never v bring4<r"paßß.''- r ■-• ■ ■ : - • •

"And you believe the spirit of Katebet will be at yo<ir service?" "Yea, or why should she have attracted and held me with such persistence? I an? always under her influence, though never so strongly as when I look in her face. Then the centuries slip away, and I seem to know how she must, ha.ye thought and felt. I do not wish to excite suspicion -or curiosity by going too often to the Museum, and I should prefer, if possible, to have her closer at hand. That is why I thought of the statue." A month or two passed, and lioctor Dubois had almost iorgotten the strange incident when it was brought to Ms mind by a. letter from the Professor, asking him to call g,t his tioase. Rs had succeeded in obtaining a copy of the Mummy of Kate bet, he wrote, &nd he would like tho doctor to see it. The doctor's interest was so keenly excited that he arranged io go that same night. , "Is he the victim of some hallucination?" he debated, as he made his way to the old house in Storey's Ga.te where the Professor, lryed. "I do not think I am narrow-minded, but he goes too far for me." Then ho turned down the quiet street and left the roar of London behind him. He was admitted by the Professor himself, who took him up to his room. As soon as the doctor entered, his attention was arrested Tby the statue, which was the life-size representation of a mummy of a woman. It was placed in a little alcove from which the curtain had been drawn back. Without a word Doctor Dubois went up and stood before it. "Well?" the Professor asked briefly, when some minutes had elapsed in silence. The doctor 'gave a slight start, as though he had forgotten where he was. "The work has been well done," he said, "very well done, indeed. It ia most lifelike," looking the Professor full in the face. "I understand what you meant when you said she almost gave the impression of breathing." There was no reply, and for -another minute both men stood gazing into the strangely magnetic face with its dreamy eyes. Then the doctor sat down. "Are you satisfied?" he asked. "Completely, as far as I have gone. I feel her influence more strongly day by day, until now," slowly, "I am beginning to put voiceless questions and to receive silent answers. I find that I know things which I never knew before. Who can tell .how long her spirit may have been seeking a. kindred soul? She may be as eager to speak as I to hear." "I wish you would give it. up," Doctor Dubois said v earnestly. "Somehow Ido not like, it." The 'Professor laughed. "Give up the chance of a lifetime," he cried ; "of not one but ten thousand lives ! I should be mad. Such a thing may not happen again for centuries." "Have you any particular purpose in view, or is your interest in the land of the Pharaohs of a general character?" The Professor hesitated. "I have a great object," he said slowly, "but I am still doubtful whether 1 can attain to it. There is reason to believe," he continued deliberately, "Chat a very important papyrus ought to be in existence, written by Penpeti, a learned -priest of high rank in the temple of the god Ainen-Ra. Search has' been' made for this papyrus — to which the priest himself m3kes reference in other places — over and over again, but so' far without -result. Think what honour and glory would be mine i f I should succeed where so many others have failed." "But" what reason have you to hope that you can compass such an achievement?" the doctor asked in surprise. "This priest lived about the same time as she did," pointing to the statue, "and they served in the same temple at Thebes, As you doubtless know, most of the ancient Egyptian papyri have been found beside or upon the bodies of mummies, so that if I could discover the sarcophagus of Penpeti, I should have good hope of finding the missing papyrus. Up to the present, his burial place has remained a mystery." "And you think this priestess may have known it?" "It seems more than possible. I intend to devote all my time and thoughts to this one object, to use my will solely to attain this purpose, until — if there be really any sypmpathy between me and the past through the medium of this woman— l may some day .receive some help or suggestion. It has been proved that what the mind constantly dwells on more often than not comes to pass." "It appears to me that you are playing a dangerous game," the doctor said gravely. "Who can reckon on the unseen forces of Nature? You think you can ben them to your will, but — it may be the other way. You know how more than one expert, grown too daring, has been arrested by an unseen hand, and' paid the consequences of his rashness. "1 am ready to do the same,'\ the Professor said calmly. "All pioneers, along every untrodden way, have taken their life "in their hand. 1 am willing to sacrifice mine, if need be, in the pursuit of knowledge." And the doctor saw that it would be useless to say any more. If Professor Engelbach laboured under a delusion, it was a delusion too strong to oe removed. Though he might be half crazed on this one point, he was sane enoneh in other matters, and Doctor Dubois did not think he had the right t6 interfere. If he tried and failed in ohis wild scheme — as the doctor had no doubt he would — it might be the best thing that could happen to him. So the Professor was left alone with his statue. It was some weeKs before Doctor Dubois paid him a second visit, and then he was filled with pity and amazement at the terrible change that had taken place. The Professor had always had the wan look of the student who takes little thought for his body, but now he seemed to have aged by a dozen years. His clothes hung loose and neglected on his wasted figure, he moved mechanically like one in a dream, and he spoke as though speech were strange to him. Only the dark sunken eyes blazed with a life that was startlingly fierce and vivid in contrast with the white, ghastly face. "What is the matter. You look more dead than alive," the doctor cried angrily "This is madness— lt cannot go on ! I must interfere if you won't give it up." But the Professor scarcely seemed to hear him. "I have something to show you,"^ he said in that curious measured voice. "Look !" and he pointed to some papers on a table. Doctor Dubois glanced at them impatiently ; then he gave a startled exclamation and looked closer. He saw an unfinished drawing of an imposing tomb, which appeared to be hewn out of a rock, and had a narrow opening in the floor. "I have got so far, and I cannot get any farther," the Professor said. "I want to look down that shaft — to see what lies below, and I try in vain. That aperture is fonhd in mony of the Egyptian tombs, and communicates with the underground chamber of the dead, so you enn understand how much I have accomplished. T can see the whole scene quite dearly, I am convinced I should recognise the (Surroundings, but -before

I start on my quest I must know that it is indeed the body of Penpeti which lies buried below. 1 earoiot risk a mistake." As Doctor Dubois ! looked up, his glanco fell on the silent figure of Katebet in the background, and for a minute he did not spe?tk. He looked into th.c half averted face, which in the dim light, more than ever suggested a gentle breathing, and for an instant he involuntarily wondered how much she had to do with all this; what share she took in the Professor's visions or hallucinations. "I say again, give it up," he said almost solemnly." '"See what it has. cost you to get even so far. Accept the warning; do net try to penetrate farther. You know what a. horror tho Egyptians had of any 'thief of the graves,' and this priest evidently determined to keep his last resting-place a secret. 1 ' . "I cannot turn back now," the Professor replied. "Tt ft too late; I am too near to success.." "Will you promise me that if you discover nothing mpje within the next month you will givi3 up this mad idea," the doctor persists d. "If not, I shal) really feel it my kluty to interfere, i am the only person in whom you have confided, and I do not care for that, responsibility." "Very well," Professor Engelbach agreed reluctantly, when he found that ail remonstrances -\vexe useless. "Come again in, a month, and I will tell you the result." But when Doctor Dubois went the next time to the httusH in Storey's Gate its master had notl ling to say to him ; but also there was tittle need v f or speech or explanation. Thp silent~Hgure, lying prone on the floor, with* the white hor-ror-stricken face upturned, as though it had fallen back before some sudden blow, told its own tale without a word. The doctor shuddered aa he dropped a handkerchief gently over the twisted features. Professor Engelbach's drawings, lay on the table just as he had left them ; apparently he had been working on them almost to the end, for a pencil had fallen to the ground, and. the chair was overturned. Doctor Ddbois drew his breath hard as he loofced on the last sketch. It was more vague aiad indistinct than the others ; the lines wavered uncertainly, as though drawn by a child's hand, but there was enough done to give tlie idea of a magnificent rrtone sarcophagus carved with the likesner.s of a man. There was something grand, yet terrible and threatening in the sculptured face ; something that seemed more than human. After a moment's hesitation, the doctor gathered up all the papers iand set light to them. When only a little heap of ashes remained, he looked tip, and for the first tfcme since he entered the room, 'his eyes fell on the figure of Katebet. He started, and looked again. Surely the statue had changed ! There was no suggestion of life now in the cold stony face. He sought in vain for the charm and veiled mystery that had held him against his will. "1 shall begin to fancy things if I stay here any lonsrer." Doctor Dubois said to himself. "It is not a wholesome atmosphere." And he went out, closing the door gently behind him.