Then the Prince went to a large panel picture fixed to the wall on the left-hand side of the fireplace, touched it with his finger, and it swung aside, disclosing the door of a small safe built into the wall.

He unlocked this, placed the stone in an inner drawer, closed the safe, and put the picture back in its place.
When he sat down again, he said: "My good friend, I know that it is useless for me to thank you, for even if you wanted thanks I could not do justice to the occasion, as they say in speeches: but I want to ask you just one more question, and then I won't keep you any longer from that delightful Oriental Club of yours which I suppose you are bound to.

Now that I have got the stone I am, as you may well believe, more than anxious to find the lady to whom it shall belong--again, as I suppose you would say.

To my great disgust, the Professor and his daughter have disappeared from the sphere of London society for a holiday _a deux_, and have, apparently with intent, left all their friends in ignorance of their destination.

Have you any idea of it?
I know that that Coptic woman whom you employ has been ordered to keep a sharp watch on the movements of Miss Nitocris." "Yes, Highness," replied Phadrig, "and she has obeyed her orders.