Sax Rohmer

“ With his imperfect knowledge of the practical side of native life in the East, I did not envy him; but I was fully alive to his danger, isolated as he was from the European community, indeed from modernity; for out of the boulevards of modern Cairo into the streets of the Arabian Nights is but a step, yet a step that bridges the gulf of centuries.
As I entered his studio on the following morning, I discovered him at work upon the extraordinary picture "Danse Funébre." Shejeret ed-Durr was posing in the dress of an ancient priestess of Isis. ”

“ Coming to the centre of the stage, she threw off her veil with a swift movement, and confronted the audience, a slim, barbaric figure. I glanced at Felix Bréton. His eyes were glittering with excitement. Here at last was the ghazîyeh of romance, the ghazîyeh of the Egyptian monuments; a true daughter of that mysterious tribe who, in the remote past of the Nile-land, wove spells of subtle moon-magic before the golden Pharaoh. ”

“ Abû Tabâh assured me, his gentle, musical voice expressing real concern. "Ahmad es-Kebîr is the lover of the dancer called Shejeret ed-Durr, although she who is of the ghawâzi of Keneh does not return his affections."
"Ahmad es-Kebîr?—do you refer to a malignant looking person in a black turban?" I inquired.
Abû Tabâh gravely inclined his head.
"He is one of the Rifa'îyeh, the Black Darwîshes. They practise strange rites and are by some accredited with supernatural powers. For you the danger is not so great as for your friend, who seemed to be speaking words of love to the ghazîyeh." ”

“ There was nothing abnormal in the appearance of the place, but I examined the mummy and the mummy case with a new curiosity; for if Felix Bréton was not mad (and this was a point upon which I recognized my incompetence to decide) the phantom voice was clearly the product of some trick. However, I was unable to discover anything to account for it. The sarcophagus stood against the outer wall of the studio and near to a large lattice window before which was draped a heavy tapestry curtain for the purpose of excluding undesirable light upon that side of the model's throne. ”

“ I said, "it would seem distinctly to have produced the latter and less agreeable symptoms."
"Let your friend step warily," advised Abû Tabâh; "for some who have aroused the enmity of the Black Darwîshes have met with strange ends, nor has it been possible to fix responsibility upon any member of the order."
"You think my poor friend, Felix Bréton, may be discovered some morning in an unpleasantly messy condition?"
"The Black Darwîshes do not employ the knife," answered Abû Tabâh; "they employ strange and more subtle weapons." ”

“ Studying her, from my seat on the dîwan, as she posed in that gauzy raiment depicted upon the lid of the sarcophagus, it seemed indeed that the ancient priestess was reborn in the form of Shejeret ed-Durr the ghazîyeh. Bréton had evidently tabooed make-up, with the exception of the characteristic black bordering to the eyes (which appeared in the presentment of the servant of Isis) ; and seen now in its natural coloring the face of the dancing-girl had undoubted beauty.
Presently, whilst the model rested, I informed Bréton of my conversation with Abû Tabâh ”

“ Therefore he still lives, and his anger will be not the less but the greater. Depart from Cairo, M. Bréton: it is my counsel to you."
"But," cried Felix Bréton, glaring wildly at the big canvas on the easel, "I must finish my picture. As Yâsmîna is alive, she must return, and I must finish my picture!"
"Yâsmîna cannot return," replied Abû Tabâh, fixing his weird eyes upon the speaker. "I have caused her to be banished from Cairo." He raised his hand, checking Bréton's hot words ere they were uttered. "Recriminations are unavailing. ”

“ If the mummy were my personal property I should unwrap it——"
"Do you seriously desire me to believe that you regard Yâsmîna as a reincarnation of the elder lady?"
"That or a lineal descendant," he answered. "The tribe of the Ghawâzi is of unknown antiquity and may very well be descended from those temple dancers of the days of the Pharaohs. If you have studied the ancient wall paintings, you cannot have failed to observe that the dancing girls represented have entirely different forms from those of any other women depicted and from those of the ordinary Egyptian women of to-day." ”

“ His enthusiasm was tremendous; he was one of those uncomfortable fanatics who will ride a theory to the death.
"I cannot say that I have noticed it," I replied. "Your knowledge of the female form divine is doubtless more extensive than mine." ”

“ I thought I knew my Cairo, but this sounded unpleasantly mysterious. However—
"I am indebted to you, Abû Tabâh," I said, "for your timely warning. As you know, I always personally avoid any possibility of misunderstanding in regard to my relations with Egyptian womenfolk."
"With some rare exceptions," agreed Abû Tabâh, "particulars of which escape my memory at the moment, you have always been a model of discretion, Kernaby Pasha."
"I will warn my friend," I said hastily, "of the view of his conduct mistakenly taken by the gentleman in the black turban."
"It is well," replied Abû Tabâh ”

“ But although the Black Darwîshes may be both malignant and clever, that uncanny whispering is beyond the control of natural forces."
"Such is not my opinion," replied Abû Tabâh. "A spirit does not mistake one person for another ”