elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第78节

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　〃He　wouldn't　be　such　a　fool；〃　Emerson　muttered。
　〃He　would　if　he　believed　Sir　Edward　had　gone　there　to　look　for　him。〃
　〃He　wouldn't　be　such　a　fool；〃　Emerson　declared。
　〃He　would　if　he　believed　his　leader　was　in　danger。　They　have　been　friends　for　a　long　time。　I　am　going　to　talk　to　Mustafa；　perhaps　Sir　Edward　said　something　to　him。　And　I　promised　to　treat　his　sore　。　。　。　Ah；　there　you　are；　Esin。　You　had　a　good　long　rest。〃
　〃Yes。〃　Rubbing　sleepy　eyes；　she　took　a　seat　on　the　divan　next　to　Ramses。　〃What　has　happened？　Has　my　father　…〃
　〃Nothing　has　happened。　You　are　perfectly　safe。　Are　you　hungry？　There　must　be　something　left　on　that　tray。　Excuse　me。　I　won't　be　long。〃
　Ramses　acpanied　me。　I　had　expected　he　or　his　father　would　do　so；　and　on　the　whole　I　preferred　Ramses　to　Emerson。　His　questions　were　not　likely　to　be　so　provocative。
　〃I　thought　I'd　better　e　along　in　case　Mustafa's　sore　is　located　in　a　place　Father　would　prefer　you　didn't　examine；〃　he　explained。
　〃That　is　highly　unlikely。〃
　〃I　was　joking；　Mother。〃
　〃I　know；　my　dear。〃
　The　skies　were　still　overcast　but　the　rain　had　stopped。　It　dripped　in　mournful　cadence　from　the　eaves　of　the　arcades　around　the　courtyard。　I　allowed　Ramses　to　take　my　arm。
　〃I　am　of　the　opinion　that　you　are　right　about　Sethos's　intentions；〃　I　said。　〃It　was　clever　of　you　to　reason　it　out。〃
　〃Too　clever；　perhaps？　I'd　hate　to　think　my　mind　works　along　the　same　lines　as　his。〃
　〃Whatever　his　original　intentions；　they　have　almost　certainly　had　the　effect　you　described。　Goodness；　but　this　is　a　dreary　place。　There　doesn't　seem　to　be　a　soul　about。　Mustafa？〃
　〃He's　probably　with　the　horses；〃　Ramses　said。
　Mustafa　heard　our　voices　and　emerged　from　the　shed。　〃I　was　talking　to　the　horses；〃　he　said。　〃They　are　fine　animals。　Is　there　something　you　lack；　Sitt　Hakim？〃
　〃Not　at　the　moment。　I　want　to　talk　to　you；　Mustafa。　And　treat　your　sore　。　。　。　Where　is　it？〃
　Mustafa　sat　down　on　a　bench　and　held　out　his　foot。　It　was　bare　and　callused　and　very　dirty。
　〃You　will　have　to　wash　it　first；〃　I　said。
　〃Wash？〃　Mustafa　repeated　in　astonishment。
　Ramses；　who　appeared　to　be　enjoying　himself　very　much；　fetched　a　bucket　of　water　and　we　persuaded　Mustafa　to　put　his　foot　into　it。　I　had　brought　a　bar　of　Pear's　soap　with　me；　since　I　knew　that　modity　is　not　mon　in　houses　of　the　region。　After　a　vigorous　scrubbing　the　sore　was　apparent　…　an　infected　big　toe；　which　he　must　have　stubbed　and　then　neglected。　The　alcohol　made　Mustafa's　eyes　pop。
　〃I　am　going　to　bandage　your　foot；〃　I　said；　applying　gauze　and　sticking　plaster　liberally。　〃But　you　must　keep　it　clean。　Change　the　bandage　every　day　and　wash　it。〃
　〃Is　that　all？〃　Mustafa　asked。
　〃That　should　…〃
　Ramses　coughed　loudly。　〃Will　you　say　the　proper　words；　Mother；　or　shall　I？〃
　〃Incantations　are　more　in　your　line　than　mine；〃　I　replied　in　English。　〃Proceed。〃
　Once　that　essential　part　of　the　treatment　was　pleted；　Mustafa　was　satisfied；　and　I　got　down　to　business。
　〃Did　Sir　Edward　tell　you　where　he　was　going？〃
　〃No。〃　Mustafa　held　up　his　foot　and　studied　the　bandage。　〃He　took　the　mule。〃
　〃You　have　a　mule？〃
　〃Two。　He　took　one。〃
　〃Did　he　say　when　he　would　be　back？〃
　〃No。〃　Mustafa　cogitated；　his　brow　furrowing。　〃He　said　。　。　。　what　was　it？　Something　about　whiskey。　That　he　would　bring　it　to　the　Father　of　Curses。〃
　〃He's　gone　to　Khan　Yunus；〃　Ramses　said；　as　we　left　Mustafa　admiring　his　bandaged　foot。
　〃Not　to　Gaza？〃
　〃Father　is　right；　he　wouldn't　be　such　a　fool。　Not　unless　he　had　proof　that　Sethos　was　still　there。〃　He　took　hold　of　my　arm　and　stopped　me。　〃I　don't　believe　we　want　to　discuss　Sahin　Pasha　in　front　of　the　girl；　do　we？〃
　〃It　would　be　wiser　not　to；　I　believe。　The　feelings　of　young　persons　are　notoriously　changeable。　She　is　angry　with　him　now；　but　if　she　believed　he　was　in　danger　…〃
　〃Yes；　Mother；　that　is　precisely　what　I　had　in　mind。〃
　When　we　returned　to　the　saloon　Nefret　looked　up　from　the　paper　on　which　she　was　drawing。　〃Esin　wanted　to　know　about　the　latest　fashions；〃　she　explained。　〃How　is　Mustafa's　sore　。　。　。　whatever？〃
　〃His　toe；〃　I　replied。　〃A　slight　infection。　Where　is　Emerson？〃
　〃He　said　he　was　going　to　sit　with　Sethos。〃　She　chuckled。　〃I　think　he's　looking　for　tobacco。　He's　run　out。〃
　Emerson　did　not　find　any　tobacco。　He　came　back　looking　even　more　perturbed　than　deprivation　of　that　unhealthy　substance　could　explain。
　〃Is　he　still　sleeping？〃　I　asked。
　〃Yes。　He　…　er　…　doesn't　look　well。〃
　〃He　isn't　well。〃
　〃Is　someone　sick？〃　Esin　asked。
　I　realized　she　was　unaware　of　the　latest　arrival。　〃A　…　er　…　friend　of　ours。　You　know　him　as　Ismail　Pasha。〃
　〃He　is　here？〃　She　jumped　up　and　clapped　her　hands　to　her　cheeks。　〃Why？　Did　my　father　send　him？　Has　he　e　to　take　me　back？〃
　〃Goodness；　but　you　have　a　one…track　mind；〃　I　said。　〃He　is　a　fugitive　too。　Your　father　became　suspicious　of　him　and　he　ran　away。〃
　〃Oh。〃　She　thought　it　over　and　her　face　brightened。　〃Then　I　must　thank　him。　He　risked　himself　for　me！〃
　〃He　is；　after　all；　a　gallant　Englishman；〃　Ramses　drawled。　〃Much　braver　and　more　chivalrous　than　I。〃
　〃But　you　are　younger　and　more　beautiful；〃　said　Esin。
　That　took　care　of　Ramses。　He　said　no　more。
　The　rest　of　us　kept　up　a　desultory　conversation　and　the　minutes　dragged　slowly　by。　There　was　much　we　could　not　say　in　Esin's　presence；　and　I　couldn't　think　of　a　reasonable　excuse　for　getting　rid　of　her。　Sending　her　off　to　bed　wouldn't　work；　she　had　slept　most　of　the　day。
　Except　for　Selim；　the　rest　of　us　had　not。　I　persuaded　Nefret　to　lie　down　and　took　Esin　off　into　a　corner　so　our　voices　would　not　disturb　her。　We　found　a　mon　interest　in　women's　rights；　and　I　told　her　all　about　the　suffrage　movement　and　how　I　had　marched　with　the　suffragists　and　been　seized　by　a　large　constable。　She　declared　that　she　would　have　done　the　same；　and　kicked　the　constable　as　well。
　Emerson　sat　in　brooding　silence；　smoking　Ramses's　cigarettes　and　slipping　out　of　the　room　periodically　to　look　in　on　his　brother。　Ramses　brooded　too；　over　Nefret；　sitting　quietly　beside　her　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　her　face。　After　a　while　I　took　Esin　with　me　to　the　kitchen　and　showed　her　how　to　make　tea。　It　was　the　first　time　she　had　ever　performed　such　a　menial　chore；　I　believe。　She　was　certainly　clumsy　enough。　However；　we　got　the　tray　upstairs　without　disaster。
　Late　in　the　afternoon　the　sun　made　its　appearance；　and　shortly　afterward　Sethos　made　his。　He　was　in　a　vile　mood；　which　I　had　expected；　and　he　had　shaved　his　beard；　which　I　had　not　expected。　The　strange　gray…green　eyes　swept　the　room　in　a　contemptuous　and　prehensive　survey。　〃Everybody　here？〃　he　inquired　in　his　most　offensive　tone。　〃How　nice。〃
　I　knew　what　concerned　him　most　and　I　hastened　to　give　him　the　news　that　would　relieve　his　mind。　〃We　believe　Sir　Edward　has　not　gone　to　Gaza　but　to　Khan　Yunus。〃
　〃Oh？〃　He　rubbed　his　chin。　〃Let　us　hope　you　are　right。〃
　〃I　am　certain　of　it；〃　I　said。　〃Tea？〃
　〃No。〃　He　flung　himself　down　on　the　divan。
　〃You　had　better　have　some。　Take　it　to　him；　Esin。〃　I　handed　her　the　cup。　〃Lemon；　no　sugar；　isn't　that　right？〃
　His　eyes　met　mine　and　his　tight　mouth　turned　up　at　this　reminder　of　the　last　time　we　had　taken　tea　together。　Unfortunately　it　reminded　Emerson　too。　He　knew　what　had　happened　at　that　meeting；　for　of　course　I　had　confided　fully　in　him。　However；　he　confined　his　ments　to　a　wordless　grumble。
　〃Are　you　really　Ismail　Pasha？〃　the　girl　asked　doubtfully。　She　stood　beside　him；　the　cup　held　carefully　in　both　hands。
　Sethos　rose　and　took　it　from　her。　A　smile　transformed　his　haggard　face；　and　the　cultivated　charm　slipped　onto　him　like　a　cloak。　〃Is　it　the　absence　of　the　beard　that　confused　you？　I　am　indeed　the　same　man；　and　I　am　relieved　to　find　you　well　and　safe。　My　friends　have　looked　after　you？〃
　The　charm　was　a　little　tattered；　but　it　was　good　enough　for　Esin。　〃Oh；　yes；　but　I　was　frightened　for　a　while；　there　was　fighting　and　we　had　to　run　away。〃
　〃Tell　me　about　it；〃　Sethos　murmured。
　Her　account　was　accurate；　on　the　whole；　though　she　made　a　thrilling　tale　of　it。　Sethos　listened　attentively；　his　mobile　countenance　expressing　admiration；　astonishment；　and　distress　at　appropriate　intervals；　but　I　could　tell　she　had　not　his　plete　attention。　He　was　listening　and　waiting　…　as　were　we　all。
　The　sunlight　deepened　to　amber　and　then　faded　into　gray；　and　there　was　still　no　sign　of　Sir　Edward。　Ramses　lighted　the　lamps。　I　was　about　to　suggest　we　do　something　about　supper　when　the　long…awaited　sound　of　footsteps　was　heard　and　Sir　Edward　came　into　the　room。　In　that　first　moment　he　had　eyes　only　for　his　chief。　Had　I　doubted　the　warmth　of　their　friendship；　the　looks　of　relief　on　both　faces　would　have　proved　it。　Being　English；　they　did　not　express　their　feelings。
　〃It's　good　to　see　you；　sir；〃　Sir　Edward　said　coolly。　〃Mustafa　told　me　you　were　here。〃
　〃You　ought　to　have　been　here〃　was　the　equally　cool　reply。　〃Sit　down　and　have　a　cup　of　tea。〃
　〃It's　cold；〃　I　said；　inspecting　the　sad　dregs。
　〃I'll　take　it　anyhow。〃　Sir　Edward　dropped　heavily　onto　the　divan　next　to　Emerson。　〃Sorry；　Professor；　I　wasn't　able　to　get　your　whiskey。　The　house　…〃
　〃Then　we　will　have　to　settle　for　claret；〃　said　Sethos；　going　to　the　wine　cabinet。　〃My　supplies　have　bee　somewhat