"I discovered his death for myself, you know," observed Helwyse. "But it could not have been more than eighteen years since my father, then on the point of departure for Europe, saw Hiero Glyphic alive!"
"Yes, yes! Did he ever tell you what passed in that interview?" demanded Manetho, eagerly.
"Little more than a farewell, I think. There was some talk about the estate. At my uncle's death, the house was to come to you, the property to my father or his heirs. But neither expected at that time that it was to be their last meeting."
"Was no one mentioned beside Thor's children and myself?" asked the priest, looking askant at Balder as he spoke.
"No my uncle neither had nor expected children, as far as I know!"
"Thor did not see her,—Gnulemah?"
"Gnulemah?—how should he have seen her?" exclaimed Balder, in surprise.
"Then her mystery remains!" said Manetho, looking up.
He had perhaps doubted whether any suspicion of who Gnulemah really was had found its way to the young man's mind. The latter's reception of his question reassured him. There could be no risk in catering to his aroused curiosity. The account Manetho now gave was true, though falsehood lurked in the pauses.
"That day Thor came, I left the house early in the morning. It was night when I returned; and Thor was gone. The house was dark, and at first there was no sound. But presently I heard the voice of a child, murmuring and babbling baby words. I passed through the outer hall and the conservatory, and came to where we now are. The lamp was burning as it has burned ever since.