attendants saluted him. In that national institution he was awell-known figure, for during the greater part of his lifetime he hadstudied there, especially in the Department of Manuscripts.
It was to that he at once made his way. The Keeper of the Departmentwas absent, but a man of Professor Griffin's reputation has the "run ofthe place;" therefore after wishing good-day to one of theassistant-keepers he began searching the catalogue of manuscripts forthe Hebrew ones which he wished to consult, writing their numbers upon aslip. This he handed to the assistant-keeper who, having glanced at thenumbers and recognised to which they referred, regarded him with aglance of quick curiosity.
"One of the earliest originals of the Book of Ezekiel--eh, Professor?"remarked the man. "And the other is the Muratori Manuscript."
"Exactly," was Griffin's reply, and when the man had left the littleroom in which he was standing, he drew from his pocket a small book inwhich overnight he had made pencilled memoranda from the half-confusedfragments which Frank had placed before him. Then he waited inundisguised anxiety.
Presently the assistant-keeper returned with two of the most importantBiblical manuscripts the Museum possessed, and placed them before theman whose opinion upon Hebrew originals of Holy Writ was alwaysdecisive.
The first manuscript, one of the earliest originals of the Book ofEzekiel and one used by the revisers of the Bible a few years ago, wasupon yellow and discoloured parchment of great age, bound in old calf ofthe early sixteenth century. The binding had practically perished, butthe writing within was still plain and quite decipherable to an expert.
Originally written upon a long roll, it had in later times been cut intofolios and bound, as being readier of access, and easier to consult. Ofits early history from the time of being written until A.D. 1421,practically nothing was known. In the year in question it was broughtto Constantinople from Palestine, and in 1627 was given by the Patriarchto Charles the First.
The Professor removed his hat and overcoat seated himself, and withreverent fingers turned the time-dimmed pages from which a portion ofour Holy Bible had been translated.
To the person unacquainted with early Hebrew script the pages werecovered by meaningless hieroglyphics; but to him they were as clear asany printed column in the _Times_ newspaper.
He searched through until he discovered a certain passage. Then,eagerly consulting his notebook, he began translating it, word for word,writing down the English equivalent upon the paper that had been placedbefore him.
He did not hurry, but alone in the little room, he worked on, slowly anddeliberately. For fully two hours he continued but the result was,judging from the expression upon his face, by no means gratifying.
The assistant-keeper came and went, for the Professor, being such agreat authority, was always allowed to work in the keeper's privateroom. Indeed only a man of Griffin's rare attainments and knowledgewould have been able to translate from the original Hebrew of thatancient character, so often indistinct and involved in meaning and insense.
At times, with a rapid hand, he made an exact reproduction of theoriginal, especially that of chapter xli, verse 23 to the end which, aswill be recollected, was given in the dead man's manuscript as anillustration.
Heedless of the fact that he had had no luncheon, he continued copyingthe original very carefully and with a sure and expert touch until hehad made a complete copy of the original of chapters xl, xli, xlii,xliv, and xlvii, a work which occupied him till nearly four o'clock.
He took no count of time, so wholly engrossed was he in his work. Theassistant-keeper entered prior to his departure at four o'clock when thedepartment closed, and began bustling about, hoping that the"dry-as-dust" old fellow, being disturbed, might abandon his work forthat day.
But nothing interrupted him in making his rapid copying of those Hebrewcharacters that had been written before the birth of Christ.
Presently, in sheer despair, the assistant-keeper remarked:
"That's rather heavy work for you, Professor, isn't it?"
"No. Not exactly," was the old man's quick reply without looking up, "Iam about to make a most interesting investigation; therefore, I dare notemploy any copyist. He might so easily make mistakes."
"An investigation!" echoed the younger man. "Why, curiously enough forthe past three days we've had a man here copying that same book for somemysterious purpose. He finished only yesterday afternoon. But herefused to tell me the reason he was making the copy other than that he,like yourself, was making some investigations. He used the sameexpression as yourself, curiously enough."
"Another searcher!" gasped the Professor, laying down his pen, andstaring at the speaker. "Another investigator of the original of theBook of Ezekiel! Who was he? What was he like?" demanded the old manquickly, his face blanched in an instant.
"I don't know who he was, for we've never seen him here before. He wasan old gentleman, a foreigner evidently--and a scholar, for he wrote theHebrew characters almost as quickly and accurately as you yourself."
Professor Arminger Griffin sat back in his chair, his mouth open,staring into space.
Was it possible that some one else besides himself had obtainedknowledge of the great secret, and was actively engaged uponinvestigations!
And the stranger who had copied that very manuscript which he wascopying, was an unknown foreigner and a scholar into the bargain!
Was it possible that the secret was already out?
CHAPTER NINE.
CONCERNS "THE OTHER MAN."
"What was the stranger like?" asked the Professor eagerly, his thin handresting upon the ancient parchment he had been so carefully copying.
"A short, stout, elderly man with white pointed beard," was theassistant-keeper's reply. "Four days ago he came here, carrying withhim a number of references which he turned up in various early Hebrewmanuscripts. But it was the one you have there before you whichattracted him most. He worked three days upon it, and made a completeand most accurate copy."
"He didn't tell you whence he came, or for what purpose he was makingthe researches?"
"No, for, as you well know, Professor, students seldom do. They are notvery communicative, unless they be young," laughed the official. "Buthe was a foreigner."
"Undoubtedly. From the north of Europe, I should say--Norwegian orperhaps Russian, not German, I think. But he spoke most excellentEnglish."
"A scholar?"
"Without a doubt. He went about his work in that careful methodicalmanner that at once betrayed the specialist. He concluded his work onlyyesterday."
"How was he dressed?"
"Fairly well. He wore a dark-grey suit and a black bow cravat."
"His searches were confined to Ezekiel?"
"No, not exactly. He copied some references from our earliestmanuscript of Deuteronomy--you examined it a few months ago, I remember.The thirty-second chapter seemed to attract him, as he copied it in itsentirety."
"Ah, that's the Song of Moses," remarked the Professor. "`Give ear O yeheavens, and I will speak; and hear O earth, the words of my mouth.' Iwonder what can be his object," he added thoughtfully.
"He merely told me that he was making an investigation in order to put aremarkable theory to the test."
Griffin started. A remarkable theory was being put to the test by thisstranger! Was it possible that another scholar was in possession of thedead man's secret, besides himself!
He held his breath. Then, when a few moments later he had recoveredhimself, he began to make many inquiries concerning the unknownforeigner. But it was already past four o'clock, and theassistant-keeper had his train to catch to his home at Epping.Therefore he declared that he knew no more, and taking the preciousmanuscript, replaced it with the others and hastily bade the Professor"Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon," was the old man's reply. "I am sorry you are in sucha hurry. I'll return to-morrow."
Then he struggled into his overcoat, and left the Museum full of vaguemisgivings.
Already dark outside, the street-lamps were lit, and the steady downpourwas unceasing. But he trudged across to the photographer's, and thereobtained the scraps of half-destroyed manuscript, which only a fewmoments before had been brought back from the studio at Acton.
"We shall have prints ready for you to-morrow evening," said themanager. "I'll send them to you, shall I?"
"No, don't do that," Griffin said quickly. "I would rather call forthem. I'll be in about this time to-morrow."
Then placing the packet in his pocket, he walked along Oxford Street inthe direction of Tottenham Court Road.
His mind was full of the alarming discovery that another person wasinvestigating the same problem as
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