“Why，Iperceiveadeplorableconditionofignorance！WellIcannotenterintodetailsjustnow：butitisnecessarytoexplainthattoembalmproperlyspeaking，inEgypt，wastoarrestindefinitelyalltheanimalfunctionssubjectedtotheprocess。Iusetheword’animal’initswidestsense，asincludingthephysicalnotmorethanthemoralandvitalbeing。
Irepeatthattheleadingprincipleofembalmmentconsisted，withus，intheimmediatelyarresting，andholdinginperpetualabeyance，alltheanimalfunctionssubjectedtotheprocess。Tobebrief，inwhateverconditiontheindividualwas，attheperiodofembalmment，inthatconditionheremained。Now，asitismygoodfortunetobeofthebloodoftheScarabaeus，Iwasembalmedalive，asyouseemeatpresent。”
“ThebloodoftheScarabaeus！”exclaimedDoctorPonnonner。
“Yes。TheScarabaeuswastheinsigniumorthe’arms，’ofaverydistinguishedandveryrarepatricianfamily。Tobe’ofthebloodoftheScarabaeus，’ismerelytobeoneofthatfamilyofwhichtheScarabaeusistheinsignium。Ispeakfiguratively。”
“Butwhathasthistodowithyoubeingalive？”