"You are in haste, monsieur," said Hamdi Bey's smooth voice. "If you will permit us to see what is within—"
He approached the first sarcophagus.
The sheik, who appeared to have committed the restoration of his daughter into the other's hands, remained imperturbably beside the entrance while the head of the police came forward to assist Hamdi in raising the painted lid.
"I protest," said Ryder very sharply. He stood upon the other side of the case, eying them combatively. "It is useless to disturb this lid—I tell you that the Persians have been considerably before you."
And indeed the case was empty. Hamdi moved to the next and again Ryder took up his post opposite.
"Again I protest," he insisted. "The least jar or injury—"
But the men raised the lid, and after the briefest look, moved on.
"And now," Ryder spoke very clearly and authoritatively, addressing the head of the police, "I must ask you to stop. Even the dust that you are disturbing is precious. This thing has gone beyond all reason."
The police official looked as if he agreed with him, but Hamdi Bey had moved determinedly to the third sarcophagus. The official hesitated, evidenced discomfort, but moved finally after the bey.
"If there is nothing here," he murmured, "surely you cannot object—"