Погребённый с фараонами
Chapter 1
Theseimaginativestimuli,magnifiedbytheexcitementofanactualeventterribleenoughinitself, undoubtedlygaverisetotheculminatinghorrorofthatgrotesquenightsolongpast.
InJanuary,1910,IhadfinishedaprofessionalengagementinEngland andsignedacontractforatourofAustraliantheatres. Aliberaltimebeingallowedforthetrip, Ideterminedtomakethemostofitinthesortoftravelwhichchieflyinterestsme; soaccompaniedbymywifeIdriftedpleasantlydowntheContinentandembarkedatMarseilles ontheP&OSteamerMalwa,boundforPortSaid. FromthatpointIproposedtovisittheprincipalhistoricallocalitiesoflowerEgyptbeforeleavingfinallyforAustralia.
Thevoyagewasanagreeableone,andenlivenedbymanyoftheamusingincidentswhichbefallamagicalperformerapartfromhiswork. Ihadintended,forthesakeofquiettravel,tokeepmynameasecret; butwasgoadedintobetrayingmyselfbyafellow-magicianwhoseanxietytoastoundthepassengerswithordinarytricks temptedmetoduplicateandexceedhisfeatsinamannerquitedestructiveofmyincognito. Imentionthisbecauseofitsultimateeffect —aneffectIshouldhaveforeseenbeforeunmaskingtoashiploadoftouristsabouttoscatterthroughouttheNilevalley. WhatitdidwastoheraldmyidentitywhereverIsubsequentlywent, anddeprivemywifeandmeofalltheplacidinconspicuousnesswehadsought.
