"Invariably. How it came into your possession, and you still alive, is more than I can make out."
"The explanation is very simple," replied Darrel.
"This image was found beside the body of Grent."
Blake opened his eyes and whistled. "So that explains the mystery of his death," he said under his breath. "The society killed him."
"But why--why?"
"Oh, I don't know the reason," replied Blake. "How can you expect me to? But if he hadn't been killed by that society the Blue Mummy would not have been left by his corpse as a symbol of its vengeance."
"But what is this society which kills people in this barbarous way?"
"I'll tell you all I know," said Roderick gravely, "and you can judge for yourself. One moment."
He looked into Frank's bedroom, glanced out of the sitting-room windows, and opened the outside door to assure himself that no one was on the stairs. Then he returned to his seat, and found Frank's eyes fixed on him with an expression of amused contempt.
"Why are you making all this theatrical display?" said he sarcastically. "You are quite safe here, I assure you. I suspect this society of yours is only a bogey to scare weak-minded people."