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Chapter 12
Sotheconvictiongrewonmethattherewerespeciallampsmadeforthepurpose.Ifwecouldfindthem,astepontheroadtosolvingthemysteryshouldbegained.
"’Butwhataboutthelamps?’Iasked.’Wherearethey?Whenarewetodiscoverthem?Howarewetoknowthemifwedofindthem?What—"
"Hestoppedmeatonce:
"’Onethingatatime!’hesaidquietly.’Yourfirstquestioncontainsalltherest.Wherearetheselamps?Ishalltellyou:Inthetomb!’
"’Inthetomb!’Irepeatedinsurprise.’WhyyouandIsearchedtheplaceourselvesfromendtoend;andtherewasnotasignofalamp.Notasignofanythingremainingwhenwecameawaythefirsttime;oronthesecond,exceptthebodiesoftheArabs.’
"WhilstIwasspeaking,hehaduncoiledsomelargesheetsofpaperwhichhehadbroughtinhishandfromhisownroom.Thesehespreadoutonthegreattable,keepingtheiredgesdownwithbooksandweights.Iknewthemataglance;theywerethecarefulcopieswhichhehadmadeofourfirsttranscriptsfromthewritinginthetomb.Whenhehadallready,heturnedtomeandsaidslowly:
"’Doyourememberwondering,whenweexaminedthetomb,atthelackofonethingwhichisusuallyfoundinsuchatomb?’
"’Yes!Therewasnoserdab.’
"Theserdab,Imayperhapsexplain,"saidMr.Corbecktome,"isasortofnichebuiltorhewninthewallofatomb.