Excerpt from His Hour

The Sphinx was smiling its eternal smile. It was two o'clock in the morning The tourists had returned to Cairo, and only an Arab or two lingered near the boy who held Tamara's camel, and then gradually slunk away, thus, but for Hafis, she was alone - alone with her thoughts and the Sphinx.

The strange, mystical face looked straight at her from the elevation where she sat. Its sensual mocking calm penetrated her brain. The creature seemed to be laughing at all humanity - and saying - "There is no beyond - live and enjoy the things of the present - Eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow you die, and I - I who sit here and know, tell you there is no beyond. The things you can touch and hold to your bodies are the only ones worth grasping."

"No, no!" said Tamara, half aloud, I will not - I will not believe it."

"Fool, " said the Sphinx. "What is your soul? And if you have one, what have you done with it hitherto? Are you any light in the world?

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