elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第81节

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　〃No。〃　She　shivered。　〃He　tried　to　take　me　away。　He　says　he　loves　me；　but　he　will　not　allow　me　to　do　what　I　want。　Is　that　love？〃
　〃Sometimes；〃　Nefret　said。
　The　silence　that　followed　was　broken　by　a　penetrating　shriek　from　outside　the　house。　I　could　not　make　out　all　the　words；　but　there　were　references　to　the　will　of　Allah　and　the　blessings　of　various　prophets；　up　to　and　including　the　greatest；　that　is；　Mohammed。　When　Sir　Edward　had　arrived　on　the　scene；　I　did　not　know；　but　he　must　have　seen　the　military　go　off　with　their　prisoner。　This　was　his　farewell　to　us；　and　none　of　us　doubted　that　his　chief　would　soon　be　informed　of　the　news。
　Emerson　smiled。　〃Clever　beggar；　isn't　he？〃
　Selim；　who　had　missed　all　the　excitement　and　was　still　brooding　about　it；　said　under　his　breath；　〃Beggar。　Yes。　He　is　a　clever　man。　And　so　is　…〃　He　broke　off；　with　a　glance　at　me。
　〃We　will　talk　about　it　later；　Selim；〃　I　said；　as　softly　as　he　had　done。
　〃As　you　say；　Sitt。　So　…　it　is　over？〃
　〃Yes。　It　is　over。〃
　
　　
　　
　PART　THREE
　
　　
　The　Handof　the　God
　　
　
　
　　
　
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　Sped　on　by　every　assistance　the　military　could　provide；　we　reached　Cairo　in　less　than　two　days。　Selim　left　us　off　at　Shepheard's　just　in　time　for　tea。　He　was　to　take　the　motorcar　on　to　a　prearranged　location　and　leave　it。　What　would　bee　of　it　after　that　I　did　not　know　and　did　not　ask；　I　was　only　happy　to　be　rid　of　the　thing；　for　I　had　feared　Emerson　…　and　Selim　…　would　want　to　keep　it。　They　did　want　to；　very　badly；　but　Emerson　admitted　it　might　be　a　trifle　difficult　to　explain　how　we　had　acquired　it。
　The　terrace　was　crowded；　and　our　appearance　aroused　a　certain　amount　of　ill…bred　attention；　even　from　acquaintances　who　ought　not　have　been　surprised　at　anything　we　did。　I　heard　Mrs。　Pettigrew's　trumpeting　voice　address　her　husband：　〃There　are　the　Emersons　again；　Hector；　looking　even　more　disreputable　than　usual。　It　is　positively　embarrassing　to　be　acquainted　with　them。〃　I　waved　my　parasol　at　her　in　a　conspicuous　manner。
　There　was　some　justice　in　her　description；　two　days'　motoring　on　military　roads　does　not　improve　an　individual's　appearance；　and　our　wardrobes　had　been　deficient　to　start　with。　However；　Ramses　and　Emerson　in　Arab　dress；　Nefret　and　I　in　sadly　crumpled　European　attire；　and　Esin；　enveloped　in　veils；　as　Nefret's　maidservant；　occasioned　no　ment　from　the　well…trained　staff　of　Shepheard's；　and　I　was　not　surprised　to　learn　our　old　rooms　had　been　reserved　for　us。　The　luggage　we　had　left　was　brought　to　us；　so　for　the　first　time　in　days　we　were　able　to　clean　up　and　dress　in　proper　clothing。　There　were　a　number　of　messages；　most　of　them　from　Cyrus　or　Katherine；　asking　when　we　would　return　to　Luxor。　They　had　no　news　to　report；　except　that　Jumana　was　still　sulking　（Katherine's　word）　or　grieving　（Cyrus's）。
　〃We　had　better　take　the　train　tomorrow　night；〃　I　said。
　Emerson　grunted。　He　had　not　found　the　message　he　hoped　for。
　〃What's　your　hurry；　Peabody？　I　thought　you'd　want　to　shop　and　do　your　usual　social　round。〃
　〃Replenishment　of　certain　supplies　would　be　expedient；〃　I　agreed。　〃But　I　can　acplish　that　tomorrow。　What　do　you　say；　Nefret？　Do　you　want　to　spend　some　time　at　the　hospital？〃
　Nefret　was　watching　Ramses；　who　had　taken　up　the　latest　issue　of　the　Egyptian　Gazette。　〃I　may　run　in　for　an　hour　or　so；　Mother；　but　I　would　just　as　soon　go　on　to　Luxor　at　once。　Ramses？〃
　〃I　am　ready　whenever　you　are〃　was　the　reply。
　〃Is　Ramses　concealing　something？〃　Emerson　asked；　when　he　and　I　were　alone。　〃I　expected　he　would　be　anxious　to　get　back　to　work；　but　he　sounded　almost　indifferent。〃
　〃I　am　pleased　to　find　you　more　sensitive　to　your　son's　feelings；　Emerson。　In　this　case　I　can　interpret　them　for　you。〃
　〃Pray　do；〃　said　Emerson　coldly。
　〃He　was　only　exhibiting　his　usual　consideration　for　the　opinions　of　others；　particularly　those　of　Nefret。　In　fact　I　believe　he　would　like　to　put　this　whole　business　behind　him。　You　know；〃　I　continued；　sorting　garments　that　required　washing；　〃that　when　he　is　in　the　thick　of　the　action；　he　rather　enjoys　it。　He　doesn't　have　time　to　think　about　what　he　is　doing。　Later；　when　there　is　leisure　for　introspection；　his　overly　active　conscience　reproaches　him　for　employing　and　even　enjoying　violence。　He　is　…〃
　〃I'm　sorry　I　asked；〃　Emerson　snarled。　〃I　might　have　known　you'd　start　talking　psychology。　When　are　you　going　to　deliver　the　girl？　I'm　not　sure　I　like　that　part　of　it。　How　do　we　know　those　bastards　won't　bully　or　mistreat　her？〃
　〃That　is　another　thing　that　is　bothering　Ramses；〃　I　said。　〃And　do　not　berate　me　for　talking　psychology　…　you　are　as　sentimental　about　the　girl　as　he　is。　As　for　me；　I　shall　be　glad　to　be　rid　of　the　responsibility。　You　may　rest　assured；　however；　that　I　will　not　leave　her　until　I　am　certain　she　will　be　treated　kindly。　I　will　take　her　to　Ismailiya　first　thing　tomorrow　morning。〃
　Emerson　did　not　acpany　us。　He　was　afraid　Esin　would　cry　and　plead。　I　thought　she　might　too；　so　I　did　not　attempt　to　change　his　mind。　I　could　not　dissuade　Ramses　from　ing；　however。　He　had　that　stubborn　set　to　his　mouth。
　Esin　was　wearing　one　of　Nefret's　frocks。　She　was　somewhat　stouter　than　Nefret；　but　this　dress　had　a　loose　fit　and　an　adjustable　belt。　It　did　not　bee　her。　I　had　not　told　her　what　was　in　store　for　her；　in　part　because　I　do　not　believe　in　anticipating　trouble　and　in　part　because　I　wasn't　certain　myself。　It　all　depended　on　what；　and　whom；　we　found　at　that　address　in　Ismailiya。
　It　looked　respectable；　at　any　rate　…　a　house　set　in　its　own　gardens；　built　in　the　European　style　of　the　previous　century。　Esin　let　Ramses　help　her　out　of　the　cab　and　looked　admiringly　at　the　house。
　〃It　is　very　modern。　Are　we　paying　a　visit？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。
　The　door　was　opened　by　a　manservant；　who　led　us　into　a　nicely　furnished　sitting　room。　We　were　expected；　it　seemed；　he　had　not　asked　our　names；　and　we　had　only　been　waiting　a　few　minutes　before　a　lady　entered　the　room　…　the　lady　Smith　had　introduced　as　his　sister。
　〃Mrs。　Bayes！〃　I　exclaimed。　〃So　you　are　…〃
　〃Very　pleased　to　see　you　again；〃　the　lady　cut　in　smoothly。　〃Mr。　Emerson；　a　pleasure。　And　this　is　Miss　Sahin？　Wele；　my　dear。　Did　Mrs。　Emerson　tell　you　you　are　to　stay　with　me　for　a　while？〃
　〃Am　I？　Must　I？〃　She　gave　Ramses　an　imploring　look。　〃Am　I　a　prisoner　of　war　too？〃
　〃Not　in　the　least；〃　Mrs。　Bayes　said　heartily。　〃You　are　an　honored　guest。　e　along　and　I　will　show　you　your　room。　I　think　you　will　like　it。　I　know　you　came　away　in　a　hurry；　so　perhaps　later　we　can　shop　for　some　new　clothes。　There　are　many　fine　shops　in　the　Muski。〃
　〃I　saw　them；〃　Esin　said　slowly。　She　looked　from　Mrs。　Bayes；　who　was　holding　out　her　hand　and　smiling　sweetly；　to　me　…　I　bared　my　teeth；　not　nearly　so　sweetly　…　and　then　to　Ramses。　〃I　am　to　go　with　her？　Will　I　see　you　again？〃
　He　had　known　it　would　be　easier　for　her；　and　for　me；　if　he　was　there　to　reassure　her。　I　saw　him　brace　himself　for　a　round　of　forting　clichés。
　〃You　must　have　known　you　could　not　stay　with　us；　Esin。　Mrs。　Bayes　will　take　good　care　of　you；　and　one　day　。　。　。　one　day　。　。　。　uh　。　。　。〃
　〃We　will　meet　again？　You　will　not　forget　me？〃
　〃Never；〃　Ramses　assured　her。
　〃I　will　never　forget　you。〃　She　extended　her　hand　at　an　awkward　angle。　Resignedly；　Ramses　kissed　it。　〃One　never　knows　what　the　future　will　bring；　Esin；〃　he　said。　〃We　will　think　of　you　often；　and　if　you　ever　need　our　help；　you　have　only　to　ask。〃
　Her　black　eyes　took　on　a　dreamy　look。　〃I　read　a　book；　an　English　book；　where　the　lady　sent　a　red　rose　to　the　man　she　loved；　the　man　she　had　given　up　for　duty。　If　I　send　you　a　rose；　will　you　e？〃
　Ramses　gathered　himself　for　a　final；　valiant　effort。　〃From　the　ends　of　the　earth；　Esin。〃
　Mrs。　Bayes　had　followed　the　exchange　with　poorly　concealed　amusement。　〃Well　done；〃　she　murmured；　and　put　a　friendly　arm　round　Esin。　〃Do　not　prolong　the　pain　of　farewell；　my　dear。　Will　you　two　wait　here；　please？　Someone　wishes　to　speak　with　you。〃
　She　led　the　girl　out。　Ramses　blew　out　his　breath。　〃Is　it　all　right；　do　you　think？　Mrs。　Bayes　seems　kind。〃
　〃And　she　has　a　sense　of　humor。　That　is　a　good　sign。　You　did　splendidly；　Ramses。〃
　The　servant　entered　with　a　tray　and　poured　coffee。　〃Very　conventional；〃　I　said；　accepting　the　cup　he　handed　me。　〃Do　you　want　to　guess　the　identity　of　the　person　who　wishes　to　speak　to　us？〃
　〃No　need　to　guess；〃　Ramses　said。　〃He's　been　behind　this　all　along。〃
　It　was　indeed　the　Honorable　Algernon　Bracegirdle…Boisdragon　whom　the　servant　ushered　in。　He　came　straight　to　me；　his　hands　extended；　his　thin　lips　stretched　in　a　smile。　〃Mrs。　Emerson。　What　can　I　say？〃
　〃A　great　deal；　I　trust。　I　do　not　know　that　I　care　to　take　your　hand。〃
　〃I　cannot　say　I　blame　you。〃　He　turned　to　Ramses；　who　had　risen；　and　his　smile　faded。　〃Sit　down；　please。　I　heard　of　your　injury。　You　may　not　want　to　take　my　hand　either；　but　I　must　express　my　thanks　and　admiration。　You　acplished　everything　we　hoped；　and　more。〃
　〃It　wasn't　I；　as　you　are　well　aware；〃　Ramses　said。　〃You　knew　when　you　sent　me　after　Ismail　Pasha　that　he　was　no　traitor。　He　was　acting　with　your　knowledge　and　under　your　orders。〃
　〃The　danger　to　him　was　real；〃　the　other　man　said　soberly。　〃Military　intelligence　knew　nothing　of　our　plans。　Call　it　inters