“You have heard, of course, of Ras-Ameses,” replied Phalos.
“Surely,” replied the professor, with quickened interest. “The richest and most powerful ruler of one of the oldest dynasties who extended his reign over all of Libya and Ethiopia. The one who is supposed first to have worked the mines of Ophir.”
“Yes,” assented Phalos, “the one whose palace was filled with gold and silver ornaments, whose bed was of solid gold and whose barbaric splendor has never had a parallel among the rulers of the East.”
“Gee,” murmured Don, while Teddy’s lips puckered for a whistle which he did not emit.
“And you will remember, too, that his tomb has never been discovered,” continued Zeta Phalos.
“That is so,” agreed the professor. “It has been the dream of archæologists to find it, but all of them have been forced to give it up in despair.”
“That,” pronounced Phalos, with a tincture of pride in the solemnity of his tone, “is the tomb that I expect to find.”
The Americans looked at him, startled, and, despite themselves, were a little incredulous.
“It will be one of the greatest triumphs of modern discovery if you do,” replied the professor, after a moment.
“What makes you think you have a clue to its whereabouts?” asked Don, in deep interest.