btful whether I shall ever be able to winter again。 On this occasion my daughter Angela and I examined the mummy of the Pharaoh Meneptah； which Sir Gaston Maspero kindly caused to be removed to a private room for our inspection。 It was a strange thing to look upon the tall form and the withered countenance of the man who is generally believed to have been the Pharaoh of the Exodus； that majesty before whom； perhaps； Moses stood； and to think that that frozen countenance — it is a very impressive countenance still — may have trembled and sunk in at the announcement of the judgments of the great God of the Israelites。 One thing is clear； however： he was not drowned。 Meneptah died in old age from ossification of the arteries； there still lies the lime about the heart of Pharaoh — which it pleased God to harden！
Many question the whole Exodus story because there is no mention of it in the contemporary Egyptian records。 Personally； however； I believe it to be true in its main outlines； and that a large body of Semites did break away from Egypt about this period； although it did not suit the official scribes to make any mention of the event with its very unpleasant happenings。 One day I hope to write a romance of the time； hence my particular interest in Meneptah and in his son and heir； Seti II。
On my return to England I set to work to write a romance in the neain series。 The first of these books； “Marie；” which is dedicated to my old chief； Sir Henry Bulwer； has； I am glad to say； been much liked by its readers and； up to the present； proved successful。 Of course； however； when I speak of success； I mean on the moderate scale to which I can hope to attain。
No doubt； however； by degrees as a writer I shall be put upon the shelf； for that is the lot o