"Smith and the Pharoahs"
Thisshort story is a fictional account which follows on from the sentiments expressed in "The Trade in the Dead". James Ebenezer Smith is a very private man, for whom an early misfortune rendered close society painful. He worked in a modest position as clerk to a bank, but was also possessed of a private fortune, which enabled him to be very much independent. One day he saw the broken head of a statuette in the British Museum, and was struck by its beauty. Upon inquiry the curator told him that it was a copy of the original in the Cairo Museum, and that it was of an unknown Queen of Egypt. At this time Smith was wholly ignoirant of Egypt, but he soon mastered the basics of the history of the country, including picking up knowledge of some hieroglyphics. Pleading the need for a trip to Egypt for his health, Smith obtained leave from his bank. There he did some digging, and returned in the next two years - for the second digging in his own right. He found what became known as Smith's Tomb.
The began digging in a site in the Valley of the Queens, away from the usual diggings, and where the foreman thought that is ws virgin stone. However, he found the entrance to a tomb - though one which had been opened at some time. It was too late at night to enter the tomb, and he didn't like to leave it unguarded, so stayed by the entrance overnight - his Arab workmen not being willing to join him, for fear of ghosts. But excitement proved too much for Smith, so he entered the tomb that night. As he cleared the entrance he saw a small statue. It was the (unbroken) twin of that in the museum, and it identified the Queen as Ma-Mee, Great Royal Lady. He entered the tomb, and found the remains of a burnt mummy. Obviously the tomb has been robbed and the remains of the inmate destroyed. However, on leaving the tomb - which requires Smith to cross the mud wwhich largely blocks the outer passage - he finds a basket (evidently left by the robber as he left the tomb. This contains a hand with two rings, and collection of jewellery. The burnt remains he secretly buried in the tomb before his workmen arrived.
Smith returns to the Cairo Museum with his finds - he kept the basket and its contents secret from his workers - which comprised the usual range of artefacts. The Director welcomes Smith as an honest and discreet man, and praises his caution when he sees the value of the finds. He agrees that Smith may keep the hand and the Bes (cat goddess) guard ring. The more valuable and historically important signet ring is put in the museum director's safe, along with the jewels. He also receives a promise that he may keep the statuette, though the director regrets this promise when he sees it. Not only is it the original of that in the museum, it is entire, and made of gold-washed bronze. Although it is valuable, the director knows that Smith is thinking not of the value, but of the person it presents. His attraction to the previously unknown Queen had not passed unnoticed.
Smith returned to the main gallery of the museum, where he stood and admired the original of the statue he had seen in the British Museum, and which he now knew represented Queen Ma-Mee. The shadows lengthened, and he realised that the museum was shut and he had been locked in - he had been ensconced behind an altar. Although he was well-accustomed to the dead remains of Egyptian royalty, Smith felt some reluctance at joining them for the night, so he lay down to sleep under the funeral boat in the lower hall. Something awoke him. A strange light illuminated the gallery. He knew at once not only that he wasn't sleeping but that the light wasn't natural or man-made. He peeked out, to see a large concourse of ghosts, bowing to Osiris and Isis, then Hathor. It was the night of the feast of Osiris, during which the spirits of the dead awoke and "in darkness and silence talked of secrets" (in the worlds of Menes, the elder Pharaoh, when he address the gathering).
Smith remain hidden, but was spotted by Khaemuas, son of Rameses the Great. He is summoned to come out of hiding. Just as he could understand the speech of the Egyptians so they could understand him. He is identified by Ma-Mee as the reincarnation of the artist/sculptor Horu, son of a king's son, who made the statue of Ma-Mee.
Smith is tried for desecration by Menes as judge, and the Pharaohs and their Queens and children as jury. The only royal present who appears to have any sympathy for him is a little princess, she whose body Smith had seen in the museum and pitied. He is treated as a type, modern man charged with disturbing the ancient dead. Menes condemned the violator. Ma-Mee however pleaded for him, since he was Horu, and she had loved him. She gave him the signet ring and took back the Bes ring. The ghosts departed to Egypt for their annual convention.
Next morning Smith escapes from the Museum, frightening a watchman in the process. His experiences of the past night might have been a drea, except for one thing. He then discovered that the ring which he has is the signet ring, and not that of Bes. The director cannot recall which he allowed Smith to keep, so the matter is allowed to rest.
This story is interesting because of its theme of reincarnation, for the ghosts' convention, and the trial of the one man for the acts of generations of men. Again, although Smith is wrong in entering the tomb of Ma-Mee, he does so for love of the Queen - though he knew her not in this lifetime. But as ever the Egyptians are merciful in the face of extenuating circumstances.