elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第88节

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　〃A　nice　long　letter　from　Evelyn；　and　one　for　Nefret　from　Lia；　and　one　for　Ramses　from　David　。　。　。〃　I　distributed　the　missives　as　I　spoke。
　〃What　about　me？〃　Sennia　demanded。
　〃Three　for　you。〃　They　were　from　the　family。　They　knew　she　loved　getting　mail。
　〃Nothing　else？〃
　I　handed　Emerson　the　rest　of　his　letters。　〃Two　telegrams　from　Cairo。　I　took　the　liberty　…〃
　〃Yes；　of　course　you　did；〃　Emerson　muttered。　〃Well；　what　do　you　think　of　that？　Wingate　and　General　Murray　request　my　presence　at　my　earliest　convenience。〃
　〃I　presume　it　will　not　be　convenient　early　or　late；〃　I　said。
　Emerson　emitted　a　wicked　chuckle。　〃Why　do　you　suppose　I　made　a　quick　departure　from　Cairo？　We　reported　to　General　Chetwode；　handed　over　our　prisoner；　and　assured　him　and　his　intelligence　staff　that　they'd　seen　the　last　of　Ismail　Pasha　…　which　is　true；　since　Sethos　won't　use　that　disguise　again。　If　they　have　any　further　questions　they　can　e　to　us；　but　they　will　get　damned　few　answers。　Nothing　from　Carter　or　…　er　…〃
　I　shook　my　head。　〃Here　is　an　interesting　invitation；　however。　The　Albions　are　giving　a　dinner　party　and　dance　on　Friday。　The　honor　of　our　presence　is　requested。　There　is　a　little　note　penned　by　Mrs。　Albion　herself；　hoping　that　Jumana　will　also　honor　her。〃
　〃Me？〃　Jumana's　eyes　opened　very　wide。
　〃Her？〃　Emerson　exclaimed。　〃What　the　devil　for？〃
　〃She　is　one　of　the　family；〃　Nefret　said。　〃I　expect　they　are　trying　to　make　up　for　。　。　。　for　any　inadvertent　rudeness　in　the　past。〃
　〃They　have　not　been　rude；〃　Jumana　said。　〃They　sent　me　flowers；　when　I　was　sick。〃
　〃They　did？　You　didn't　tell　me。〃
　〃Many　people　sent　me　presents；〃　Jumana　said　proudly。　〃Bertie；　and　Mr。　Vandergelt；　and　Daoud；　and　an　American　gentleman　I　met　at　Mr。　Vandergelt's　party。　Will　we　go？　There　will　be　dancing。　I　like　to　dance。〃
　〃I　believe　not；〃　I　said。
　〃Why　not？〃　Emerson　inquired。　〃It　should　be　a　…　er　…　enjoyable　outing。〃
　〃Emerson！〃　I　exclaimed。　〃What　are　you　up　to　now？〃
　Emerson's　sapphirine…blue　eyes　met　my　own　with　a　wholly　unconvincing　look　of　candor。　〃I　only　wish　to　give　you　pleasure；　my　dear。　You　like　such　things。　It　is　the　least　a　fellow　can　do。〃
　　
　FROM　MANUSCRIPT　H
　　
　Ramses　knew　perfectly　well　what　his　father　was　〃up　to。〃　Deny　it　as　he　might；　he　was　as　obsessed　as　Cyrus　with　Jamil's　tomb。　In　a　way；　Ramses　couldn't　blame　him。　The　words　ran　through　his　own　head　like　a　litany：　The　hand　of　the　god。　What　god？　Where？　It　was　beginning　to　interfere　with　his　personal　life。　Nefret　shook　him　awake　that　night；　plaining　that　he　had　been　muttering　the　words　in　his　sleep。　〃If　you　must　talk　in　your　sleep；　you　might　at　least　mumble　about　me！〃
　After　he　had　apologized　by　reciting　the　epithets　of　Hathor　…　〃Golden　One；　Lady　of　Fragrance；　Mistress　of　All　the　Gods〃　…　and　acted　upon　them　…　she　settled　down　with　her　head　on　his　shoulder　and　admitted　she　couldn't　get　that　enigmatic　clue　out　of　her　head　either。
　〃I've　been　wondering　whether　we　ought　not　question　Jumana　again；〃　she　said。　〃She　has　a　fantastic　memory　and　almost　total　recall；　even　for　accents。　Wasn't　it　enchanting　to　hear　her　imitate　Cyrus？〃
　〃It　was　rather　uncanny　hearing　her　imitate　Jamil　the　day　we　found　Mother　and　Father；〃　Ramses　said。　〃Are　you　suggesting　that　if　we　asked　the　right　questions　she　might　remember　something　Jamil　said　about　the　tomb？〃
　〃That's　how　her　memory　seems　to　operate。〃
　〃It's　worth　a　try；　I　suppose。　We　might　even　be　able　to　talk　Father　out　of　breaking　into　the　Albions'　suite。〃
　〃You're　joking。　No；　damn　it；　you　aren't！〃
　He　had　told　her　of　his　conversation　with　Emerson。　She　had　scoffed　at　the　time；　but　now　。　。　。
　〃That's　why　he　agreed　to　go　to　their　party！〃　she　groaned。　〃What　are　we　going　to　do？〃
　〃Make　sure　they　don't　catch　him　in　the　act。　He's　dead　set　on　this；　Nefret。　I've　been　thinking　about　it　and　I　don't　believe　it　will　do　any　harm。〃
　She　relaxed　against　him　and　let　out　a　breath　of　laughter。　〃Well；　maybe　not。　Even　if　the　worst　happened　…　if　someone　found　him　in　their　rooms　…　he'd　talk　his　way　out　of　it。〃
　〃Shout；　not　talk；〃　Ramses　corrected。　〃What　could　they　do　to　him；　after　all？　There　isn't　a　man　in　Luxor　who　would　dare　interfere　with　him。〃
　All　the　same；　he　was　a　little　on　edge　the　night　of　the　party。　His　father　had　readily　admitted　he　meant　to　search　the　Albions'　rooms；　he　had　raised　the　subject　himself；　overruling　Ramses's　half…hearted　protests　and　requesting　his　assistance。
　〃I　will　signal　you　when　I'm　ready　to　act。　Keep　an　eye　on　the　Albions。　If　one　of　them　starts　to　leave　the　ballroom　…　well；　you　will　know　what　to　do。〃
　〃Start　a　fight　with　Sebastian；　for　example？　All　right；　Father；　I'll　think　of　something。　I　hope。　You　will　be　in　disguise；　I　suppose。〃
　His　father　grinned　happily。　〃Just　the　usual；　my　boy；　just　the　usual。　Er　…　might　I　borrow　a　beard？　Your　mother　must　have　done　something　with　mine；　I　can't　find　it。　Oh；　and　if　she　asks　where　I　am；　put　her　off　somehow。〃
　It　wouldn't　be　easy；　keeping　tabs　on　three　people　and　fending　his　mother　off；　but　Ramses　thought　he　could　manage　it　with　Nefret's　assistance。　He　only　hoped　his　mother　didn't　have　ideas　of　her　own。　She　looked　very　handsome　that　evening；　in　a　gown　of　her　favorite　crimson；　the　diamonds　in　her　ears　sparkling。　Nefret　was　radiant　in　amber　satin；　and　Jumana　looked　like　any　young　girl　on　her　way　to　a　dance　…　eyes　shining；　cheeks　flushed。
　The　Albions　had　hired　the　entire　hotel；　or　at　least　the　public　rooms；　including　the　dining　saloon。　That　presented　no　problem　to　the　management；　since　the　convalescent　officers　who　occupied　part　of　the　hotel　had　all　been　invited。　Everyone　in　Luxor　seemed　to　be　there；　including　the　Vandergelts。　Mr。　Albion's　money　and　his　wife's　good　taste　made　it　quite　a　splendid　affair；　the　wine　flowed　freely　and　the　food　was　excellent。　After　dinner；　when　the　dancing　was　about　to　begin；　Ramses　edged　up　to　his　father。
　〃Is　there　any　way　I　can　persuade　you　not　to　do　this？〃
　〃Now；　now；　my　boy；　it　will　be　all　right；　you'll　see。〃　Emerson　plucked　irritably　at　his　tie。　It　looked　wilted。　〃I　am　going　to　dance　with　your　mother　and　Katherine；　and　then　give　our　hostess　a　whirl；　and　after　that　I　will　quietly　steal　away。〃
　〃Have　you　asked　Mrs。　Albion？　The　ladies　have　dance　cards。　You're　supposed　to　put　your　name　down　for　a　particular　dance。〃
　〃Absurd。　Dancing　should　be　spontaneous。　Joie　de　vivre　and　that　sort　of　thing。〃
　He　strolled　away；　his　hands　in　his　pockets。
　Ramses　also　approved　of　joie　de　vivre；　but　he　had　been　lectured　by　his　mother　and　his　wife　about　proper　procedure。　He'd　never　been　able　to　see　the　point　of　the　little　cards　…　appointment　slips；　one　might　call　them　…　unless　it　was　to　give　popular　ladies　a　sense　of　power；　and　make　unpopular　ladies　squirm　when　they　saw　all　the　blank　spaces。
　Jumana　was　loving　every　moment　of　it　…　the　flowers；　the　fancy　dresses；　the　little　booklet　and　pencil　attached　to　her　slim　wrist　by　a　golden　cord。　When　Ramses　asked　for　a　dance　she　presented　the　booklet　with　an　air　of　great　importance　and　an　irrepressible　giggle。　He　needn't　have　worried　about　her　being　neglected；　Bertie　and　Cyrus　had　signed　on；　and　so　had　both　the　Albions。　There　were　several　other　names　Ramses　didn't　know。　She　had　attracted　quite　a　lot　of　attention；　with　her　exotic　looks　and　exquisite　little　figure。
　He　had　allowed　himself　the　pleasure　of　engaging　his　wife　for　the　second　dance；　as　they　circled　the　floor；　he　warned　her　of　his　father's　intentions。　Emerson　was　waltzing　with　Katherine；　looking　as　if　butter　wouldn't　melt　in　his　mouth。
　〃How　are　we　supposed　to　watch　three　people　at　once？〃　Nefret　grumbled。　〃With　everything　else　that's　going　on？　I　promised　Mother　I'd　make　sure　Jumana　is　enjoying　herself。〃
　〃Obviously　she　is。〃　White　skirts　flaring；　Jumana　was　light　as　thistledown　in　the　respectful　grasp　of　a　tall　American　Ramses　remembered　having　met　at　Cyrus's　soiree。
　〃Mr。　Lubancic；〃　Nefret　said；　following　his　gaze。　〃He's　very　nice。　I've　got　Mr。　Albion　for　the　third　dance　and　you　for　the　fourth；　suppose　I　corner　Sebastian　for　that　one　instead；　and　you　ask　Mrs。　Albion。〃
　〃I　suppose　I　can't　very　well　dance　with　Mr。　Albion。　We'll　just　have　to　be　prepared　for　emergency　action。　Be　ready　to　faint　or　pretend　you've　seen　a　mouse　if　I　give　a　distress　signal。〃
　She　laughed　and　nestled　closer。
　The　third　dance　ended　only　too　soon。　As　he　had　promised；　Emerson　had　got　hold　of　his　hostess；　whose　frozen　features　kept　cracking　in　pain　as　he　spun　her　vigorously　round　in　waltz　time。　（The　tune　was　a　fox…trot。）　When　the　music　ended　he　led　her；　limping；　to　a　chair　and　then　turned　to　give　Ramses　an　exaggerated　wink　and　nod。
　Mrs。　Albion　declined　Ramses's　invitation　to　dance。　She　looked　as　if　she　did　not　intend　to　move　for　some　time。　Nefret　had　worked　her　wiles　on　Sebastian；　so　Ramses　went　in　search　of　Albion　senior。
　He　found　him　in　one　of　the　alcoves　talking　to　Jumana。　〃Don't　ask　her　to　dance；　this　one　is　mine；〃　Albion　said；　with　one　of　his　jolly　laughs。　〃I　can't　prance　around　with　the　young　folks；　but　we're　having　a　nice　time　talking　Egyptology。　She's　a　clever　girl。〃
　〃She　is；〃　Ramses　agreed；　glancing　at　the　glass　she　held。　〃That　isn't　champagne；　is　it？〃
　〃Soda　water；〃　Albion　said。　〃You　don't　think　I'd　ply　a　young　lady　with　alcohol；　do　you？〃
　The　answer　to　t