such folk were supposed to haunt this very desert of which I was writing。
Imagine； therefore； my astonishment when； in a copy of his “Notes de Voyage” for 1909 which Sir Gaston Maspero kindly sent me — “The Way of the Spirit” was written in 1905 — I found the following passage：
Ces quatre…la sont…ils allies aux quatre afrites musiciens； deux joueurs de flute et deux joueurs de tambourin ou de darabouka； qui hantent le desert dans les memes parages？ Ils jouent sur le passage des voyageurs et c’est toujours un mauvais presage que de les rencontrer： si on s’eloigne vite sans leur adresser la parole et； autant que possible； sans les regarder； on a quelque chance d’echapper au mauvais sort； sinon l’on est perdu。
It will be observed that here everything is the same； mise en scene； misfortune； all。 There is but one difference。 Of Sir Gaston’s afrites； or musical ghosts； there were four； of my wandering players； five。 I have added a third flutist by way of interest on the capital of the true legend。
Perhaps these examples of literary coincidence in my own books may suffice； though I think there are more。 Indeed I recall two in connection with “Heart of the World” and “Ayesha” respectively； which are curious enough in their way。 Also as I write it es back to me that there are yet two others which； as I am on the subject； I may as well state quite briefly。
The first of these is to be found in “Montezuma’s Daughter。” Here the hero； a certain Thomas Wingfield； is stated to have lived near Bungay in the reign of Elizabeth； and to have been a doctor by trade； having learned his business from another leech in this immediate neighbourhood。 After many adventures he dies here a rich man and leaves charities to the poor。 Certainly I did think it stra