The Gospel of Sheba Read Online Free PDF

exactly, but it gets the point across.
    At the Savile Club earlier, after I’d completed a cursory examination, I closed the book and glanced over my shoulder. Hunger must have burned in my gaze, for Mr. Scovil behind me winked a single genteel eye and gestured at the book, tilting a shoulder in question to Mr. Pyatt. Mr. Pyatt, his black head cocked at me like a magpie’s, grinned suddenly and called out to the small assembly.
    â€œMr. Huggins, it seems your fears will soon be tested against the facts,” he announced, proffering Mr. Scovil a flute from a waiter’s champagne tray and taking another for himself. “Our visiting scholar is having a turn with the blasted thing. You’ll see for yourself, as I promised you, Mr. Jenkins—there is an otherworldly presence in this book, and Mr. Lomax will prove it to you. Is not electricity a real, if unseen, force? Is not magnetism, is not gravity? Does not the earth travel round the sun despite our inability to sense the fact, and are these not universally acknowledged to be ancient and wholesome laws of nature?”
    â€œI think Galileo would have words with you on that subject, were he here,” I observed, earning a few appreciative grunts.
    â€œJust so!” Mr. Pyatt nodded sagely, his inky hair gleaming. “We men of mettle cannot allow ourselves to be hampered by outdated morals and petty superstitions. It seems this book has chosen a master for itself, and if that is the case, well, we must have Mr. Scovil upon our side in the future. That’s all I can say upon the subject. In fact, let none of us argue any further and come to regret it before our impartial judge has returned with an assessment.”
    Understanding I was definitely allowed to take The Gospel of Sheba home for study, I wrapped the gloves within the covering and placed all in a leather satchel I’d carried thither in hopes of just such an event. Mr. Grange hobbled on unsteady legs towards me, breathing heavily.
    â€œI am most grateful,” he whispered as the others turned to more usual talk of business and of ritual. “You’ll save us yet, sir, deliver us the hard facts , and we’ll make a judgment accordingly. All this political bickering will be a thing of the past.”
    â€œBickering can be ruinous to any club, I quite under—wait, did you say political ?” I questioned, a bit bemused. But Mr. Grange had already teetered off to herald the cold pheasant’s arrival.
    â€œBickering aplenty. He means the role of the book and its potential spiritual dangers, obviously, but he also refers to my possible election as president of the club.” Mr. Scovil appeared at my elbow, passing me a frothing glass of champagne. “There are whispers. We’ve never had one previous, you see. I don’t want any such thing, I’ll tell them no outright if they force me, but it would be rather piggish of me to decline a position I haven’t been offered yet.”
    Taking the drink, I nodded. I don’t have to employ many words for men of his type to peg me. Old money, bit of a poet, younger son, has to make his own way . They can read it all in my manner and clothing, likely spy reflections of silver spoons in my disordered hair follicles even as my mended kerchief screams penury.
    â€œFrankly, it’s a rotten situation to be placed in.” He took a discreet pull of sparkling liquid, his eyes dancing—an aristocrat, yes, but one who exuded affability. “I can’t explain why the book doesn’t hurt me, no more than I can explain why Mr. Grange has been so pallid since he studied it. Nor why Mr. Huggins developed severe heart palpitations, nor why Mr. Pyatt fell so dreadfully ill. It wasn’t even my idea to lend the book out after I’d presented it to the company. Oh, you’ll take every care with it, won’t you? If nothing else, it’s an antique curiosity as well as an esoteric wonder.