"Why do you look so at me? I am listening."
"That night I learned the secret of the Sphinx."
"At last!"
"I learned it indeed."
"Yes. Well, what is it?"
"A difficult matter. You must listen most carefully, so subtle is its sense; yet in its comprehension lies hid the whole secret of man's possible happiness."
"I am listening."
There was a great stillness in the chamber. Es-siddeeh closed his eyes to concentrate his thought. Then, opening them, he began:
"I learned the secret—that smile is the secret."
"So I supposed."