Let me show it to you." He linked his arm in mine and, walking me back into the room, halted opposite the fire-place.
"There," said he, "look at that.

It is a most remarkable object." [Illustration: THE INVERTED INSCRIPTION.] I followed the direction of his gaze and saw an oblong frame enclosing a large photograph of an inscription in the weird and cabalistic arrow-head character.

I looked at it in silence for some seconds and then, somewhat disappointed, remarked: "I don't see anything very remarkable in it, under the circumstances.

In any ordinary room it would be, I admit; but Stephen has just told us that his uncle was something of an expert in cuneiform writing." "Exactly," said Thorndyke.

"That is my point.