elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第91节

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extent；　except　for　Emerson；　who　never　feels　the　heat　and　who　can　sleep　through　an　earthquake。　Never　would　I　relinquish　the　fort　of　my　husband's　presence；　but　I　must　say　that　lying　next　to　him　was　rather　like　being　in　close　proximity　to　an　oven。　After　several　restless　nights；　I　had　just　got　to　sleep　…　or　so　it　felt　…　when　he　mumbled　loudly　in　my　ear。　It　was　the　too…familiar　refrain：　〃Hand　of　the　god　。　。　。　what　。　。　。　where？〃
　I　gave　him　a　rather　sharp　poke。　He　rolled　over；　shoving　me　to　the　edge　of　the　bed。
　Wide　awake　and　somewhat　vexed；　I　abandoned　any　hope　of　repose。　I　went　to　the　window　and　leaned　out。　The　room　was　still　dark　but　there　was　a　freshness　in　the　air　that　betokened　the　ing　of　dawn。　It　cooled　my　warm　cheeks；　and　my　temper。　I　had　been　standing　there　for　several　minutes　when　I　heard　the　creak　of　an　opening　door。　It　was　the　door　at　the　far　end　of　the　courtyard。　I　had　been　meaning　to　have　Ali　oil　the　hinges。
　It　was　light　enough　by　now　for　me　to　see　dim　shapes。　There　were　two　of　them　in　the　doorway；　huddled　close　together。　A　whisper　reached　my　ears；　one　form　vanished；　the　other　moved　slyly　and　quietly　toward　the　house。
　I　saw　no　need　to　wake　Emerson；　it　is　a　laborious　process　at　best；　and　I　preferred　to　deal　with　this　myself。　I　waited　until　she　had　almost　reached　her　window　before　I　climbed　out　of　mine。　She　let　out　a　stifled　shriek　and　turned　to　flee；　but　I　was　too　quick　for　her。
　〃Where　have　you　been？〃　I　demanded；　seizing　her　in　a　firm　grip。
　〃I　…　I　…〃　Invention　failed；　she　gasped；　〃Oh；　Sitt　Hakim；　you　frightened　me！〃
　〃Where　have　you　been；　Jumana？〃
　〃Only　for　a　walk。　It　was　hot。　I　could　not　sleep。〃
　〃You　were　with　a　man。　Don't　lie；　I　saw　him。〃
　〃I　did　nothing　wrong。　Please　believe　me！〃
　〃So　you　have　said　before。　What　precisely　did　you　do？〃
　〃I　…　I　promised　I　would　not　tell。　I　gave　my　word！〃
　Exasperation　had　caused　me　to　raise　my　voice；　and　defiance；　as　I　thought　it；　had　caused　her　to　raise　hers。　A　grumble　and　a　thrashing　of　bedclothes　told　me　that　we　had　wakened　Emerson。　These　sounds　were　followed　by　a　shout：　〃Peabody！〃　He　always　shouts　when　he　reaches　out　and　finds　I　am　not　beside　him。
　〃Here；〃　I　called。
　Emerson　stumbled　to　the　window　and　looked　out。　〃Is　that　。　。　。　Oh；　good　Gad！〃
　Only　the　upper　half　of　his　body　was　visible；　but　Emerson　is　a　modest　man；　he　retreated；　cursing；　and　began　looking　for　his　clothes。　I　knew　it　would　take　him　a　while；　so　I　pushed　Jumana　toward　her　window。
　〃Go　in。　You　are　to　remain　in　your　room。　If　you　leave　the　house　without　my　permission；　you　need　never　e　back。〃
　She　obeyed　without　resistance；　verbal　or　physical。　I　thought　I　heard　a　little　sob。　It　did　not　soften　my　heart。
　When　I　climbed　back　in　my　own　window；　Emerson　was　still　searching　for　his　trousers。　〃Never　mind　that；　Emerson；〃　I　said。　〃You　may　as　well　bathe　and　dress　properly；　it　is　almost　morning。　We　have　a　serious　problem　on　our　hands。　Jumana　has　been　creeping　out　at　night　…　possibly　for　several　nights　…　and　she　was　with　a　man。　I　am　afraid　it　was　Sebastian　Albion。〃
　〃Damnation；〃　Emerson　murmured。　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　disheveled　hair；　pushing　it　back　from　his　face。　〃Are　you　sure？〃
　〃Who　else　would　it　be？　Unless；〃　I　added　bitterly；　〃she　has　a　whole　string　of　them。　How　could　I　have　been　so　deceived　in　her　character？　I　am　sadly　disappointed；　Emerson。〃
　〃Now；　Peabody；　don't　jump　to　conclusions。〃　He　sat　on　the　side　of　the　bed　and　pulled　me　down　next　to　him。　〃There　may　be　an　innocent　explanation。　Have　you　given　her　a　chance　to　explain？〃
　〃She　refused　to　answer　my　questions。　She　said　she　had　given　her　word。　Her　word！　To　a　vile　deceiver　like　that！〃
　〃Give　her　another　chance。〃　A　horrible　idea　struck　him。　In　quavering　tones　he　asked；　〃You　don't　want　me　to　question　her；　do　you？〃
　〃No；　Emerson；　you　are　hopeless　about　such　matters。　I　will　give　her　another　chance　to　confess；　naturally。　I　will　leave　her　locked　in　her　room　today　and　speak　to　her　again　this　evening；　after　she　has　had　time　to　repent。〃
　〃And　you　have　had　time　to　cool　off；〃　said　Emerson；　putting　an　arm　round　my　shoulders。　〃My　dear；　I　don't　blame　you　for　being　hurt　and　disappointed；　but　…　er　…　you　aren't　going　to　starve　her；　I　hope？〃
　〃Certainly　not。　I　will　take　her　breakfast　to　her　myself。　Later。〃
　I　felt　calmer　after　a　nice　long　bath；　but　I　was　not　ready　to　face　Jumana。　I　would　be　the　first　to　admit　that　my　maternal　instincts　are　not　well　developed　…　they　had　been　stunted；　I　believe；　by　the　raising　of　Ramses　…　but　I　had　bee　rather　attached　to　Jumana。　I　had　had　such　high　hopes　for　her。　To　find　that　she　was　a　sneak　and　a　liar　and　…　and　worse；　perhaps　…　had　left　me　not　only　disappointed；　but　hurt。　Yes；　Emerson　was　right　about　that。　I　had　believed　she　had　bee　equally　attached　to　us。
　When　I　went　to　breakfast；　the　Great　Cat　of　Re　was　sitting　on　my　chair；　its　chin　on　the　table；　its　large　green　eyes　fixed　on　the　platter　of　bacon。　〃This　is　beginning　to　be　like　the　house　of　the　Three　Bears；〃　I　said。　〃It　sits　on　our　chairs；　it　sleeps　on　our　beds；　and　now　it　is　about　to　eat　my　porridge。〃
　Sennia　found　this　very　witty；　but　nobody　else　did；　including　the　cat。　Ramses's　keen　black　eyes　detected　the　perturbation　behind　my　attempt　at　normalcy；　brow　furrowing；　he　started　to　speak；　glanced　at　Sennia；　and　remained　silent。　It　was　Sennia　who　asked　about　Jumana。　I　explained　that　she　was　not　feeling　well　and　would　spend　the　day　in　bed。　〃You　are　not　to　go　in　her　room；〃　I　added。　〃She　needs　to　rest。　Do　you　understand？〃
　〃Shall　I　take　her　a　tray？〃　Fatima　asked。
　〃I　will　see　to　that；〃　I　replied。　〃Later。　Thank　you；　Fatima。　Where　is　Gargery？　It　is　time　Sennia　left　for　her　lessons。〃
　Gargery　entered　at　that　moment　to　announce　we　had　guests。　〃Mr。　Bertie　and　Mr。　Cyrus。　You　didn't　tell　us　they　were　expected　for　breakfast；　madam。〃
　〃Stop　trying　to　put　me　in　the　wrong；　Gargery；〃　I　said　somewhat　snappishly。　〃They　were　not　expected。〃
　〃But　we　are　always　glad　to　see　them；〃　Fatima　said；　adding　plates　and　cups　and　silverware　to　the　table；　and　bustling　out　for　more　food。
　〃Sorry　to　disturb　you　folks；〃　Cyrus　said。　He　did　not　look　at　all　sorry。　Bliss　…　delight　…　happiness　。　。　。　The　words　are　too　weak　for　the　emotion　that　transformed　his　face。　The　only　other　time　I　had　seen　that　glow　was　on　the　day　he　and　Katherine　were　wed。
　〃What　is　it；　Cyrus？〃　I　cried；　jumping　to　my　feet。
　〃It's　for　Bertie　to　make　the　announcement；〃　Cyrus　replied。　He　was　puffed　with　pride。
　Bertie　looked　round　the　table。　〃Where's　Jumana？　She　should　be　here。〃
　〃Oh　my　goodness；〃　I　gasped。　〃You　aren't　。　。　。　you　two　aren't　engaged？〃
　Bertie's　boyish　laugh　rang　out。　〃Better　than　that；　Mrs。　Emerson。　We've　found　it；　Jumana　and　I。　Jamil's　tomb。〃
　　
　Pandemonium　ensued。　Even　Gargery；　who　had　only　the　vaguest　notion　of　what　Bertie　meant；　clapped　his　hands　and　joined　in　the　cries　of　excitement　and　congratulation。　As　the　others　gathered　round　Bertie；　all　talking　at　once；　I　slipped　out　of　the　room。
　Jumana　was　sitting　on　her　bed；　her　hands　folded　and　her　face　smeared　with　dried　tears。　Now　that　I　got　a　good　look　at　her；　I　realized　she　was　not　dressed　for　a　romantic　rendezvous。　Her　shirt　and　trousers　were　torn　and　dusty；　her　boots　were　scuffed；　and　her　hair　straggled　over　her　face。
　〃Bertie　is　here；〃　I　said。
　She　jumped　up。　〃Then　it's　all　right？　He　told　you？　I　promised　I　would　not；　it　was　to　be　a　surprise；　his　surprise。　May　I　go　now？〃　She　let　out　a　peal　of　laughter。　〃I　am　very　hungry！〃
　Ah；　the　resilience　of　youth！　From　despair　to　delight　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye！　I　could　have　let　her　go　without　further　delay；　I　was　tempted　to　do　so；　but　justice　pelled　me　to　make　what　amends　I　could。
　〃First；　I　must　apologize；〃　I　said。
　〃Apologize？　To　me？　Why？〃
　〃For　misjudging　you。　I　was　wrong；　and　you　were　right　to　keep　your　promise　to　Bertie。　I　deeply　regret　the　injustice　I　did　you　and　I　hope　you　will　forgive　me。〃　I　held　out　my　hand。　She　would　have　fainted　with　sheer　surprise　if　I　had　attempted　to　embrace　her；　and　anyhow；　she　was　very　grubby。
　〃Forgive？　You？〃　She　stared　wide…eyed　at　my　offered　hand。
　〃I　did　you　an　injustice；〃　I　repeated。　〃Shake　hands；　if　you　will；　and　then　go　to　the　others。〃
　She　did　not　shake　my　hand。　She　kissed　it；　fervently　and　damply；　gave　me　a　radiant　smile；　and　ran　out　of　the　room。
　I　would　not　have　blamed　her　for　taking　advantage　of　her　role　as　heroine　…　misjudged；　falsely　accused　heroine　at　that！　Instead　she　insisted　that　all　the　credit　belonged　to　Bertie。　It　was　he　and　he　alone　who　had　deduced　where　the　tomb　must　be。
　〃But　where　is　it？〃　Emerson　shouted；　tugging　at　his　hair。　〃Bertie　won't　say。　Jumana；　where　…〃
　〃We　want　to　show　you；〃　Bertie　explained。　〃You'll　never　believe　it　otherwise。〃
　〃They're　entitled；〃　Ramses　said；　smiling　in　sympathy。　〃Lead　the　way；　Bertie。〃
　He　led　us　to　Deir　el　Medina。
　Our　men　were　there；　waiting　to　begin　the　day's　work。　Ramses　called　them　to　gather　round；　explaining　that　Bertie　had　an　important　announcement　to　make。　The　truth　had　begun　to　dawn　on　Emerson　by　then。　〃It　can't　be；〃　he　mumbled。　〃I　don't　believe　it。　Damnation！〃
　〃Father；　if　you　please；〃　Ramses　said。　〃Bertie；　you　have　the　floor。〃　He　added；　with　a　grin；　〃Make　the　most　of　it。〃
　〃Oh；　well；〃　Bertie　said；　blushing。　〃It　was　an　accident；　really；　you　know。　I　sa