The tinkle of a telephone in an adjoining office interrupted her tentative move of departure and Professor Carmody returned from it rubbing his withered hands in obvious relief.
"That was our young friend, Ross," he announced in high feather. "He will be here directly and he begs that you will wait. In the meantime, I have here a genuine papyrus of rare antiquity, presented to me by Professor Mallory himself. It dates from the pre-dynastic period and some of the symbols, as you see, are Sammarian in form."
"But it has been restored!" Betty cried protestingly, resentment of the sacrilege overruling her caution. "What a pity! The word 'suten' or king, has been inserted here where the text would clearly indicate 'priest' and the whole tenor of the theme is changed. Surely Professor Mallory did not sanction such a desecration!"
"Then you have seen the papyrus before?" Professor Carmody spoke in quiet satisfaction as if a mooted question had been settled in his own mind. "I was under the impression that I had met you in Cairo, but your name had escaped me. You know the great man himself?"
"No. I studied with an associate of his, in this country," Betty stammered desperately. "I have never been in Cairo and I do not know Professor Mallory, but I have seen a copy of the papyrus before this attempt was made to restore it."
"I myself presented it to the museum here, and the restoration was done at another's suggestion, overruling my objection." The professor returned the ancient scroll to its glass case as he added, dryly: "I was not aware that a copy was in existence."
Betty writhed, but resolutely turned the conversation to some newly-discovered monoliths which had created a mild sensation in archeological circles, and the arrival of Ross on the heels of his message shortly brought the disquieting interview to a close.
The young man ushered Betty into his private office, but she declined the chair he indicated and stood before him with her grave eyes fastened upon his in cold disdain.
"There really was no need of my waiting to see you, Mr. Ross," she observed. "The translation is finished and approved by Professor Carmody and the matter is closed."
"I don't understand!" he exclaimed in haste, adding lamely: "I have other work for you, you know. There is more translating to be done—"