elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第95节

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　He　came　straight　to　me　and　removed　his　hat。　〃Good　morning；　Amelia。　At　your　rubbish　again；　I　see。〃
　He　looked　well。　I　observed　that　first：　the　healthy　color　in　his　face；　the　upright　frame　and　easy　pose。　A　neatly　wound　turban　concealed　his　hair；　and　a　magnificent　coal…black　beard　hid　the　lower　part　of　his　face。　The　tweed　suit　was　not　the　one　he　had　borrowed　from　Ramses；　it　was　new　and　very　well　cut。　In　short；　he　was　the　picture　of　a　distinguished　Oriental　gentleman；　possibly　an　official　of　high　rank　who　had；　as　his　accent　indicated；　been　educated　at　an　English　university。　Cyrus　might　be　able　to　identify　him　as　the　surly；　silent　individual　who　had　been　his　guest　the　year　before；　but　I　doubted　any　of　the　others　who　had　known　him　so　briefly　would　be　able　to　do　so。
　〃A　fondness　for　beards　must　run　in　the　family；〃　I　remarked。
　〃You　could　hardly　expect　me　to　appear　in　Luxor　without　one；　my　dear。　Some　sharp…eyed　person　might　notice　I　bear　a　resemblance　to　a　certain　well…known　Egyptologist。〃
　〃How　am　I　to　introduce　you？〃
　〃Cousin　Ismail；　of　course。　I　rather　like　the　name。〃
　He　turned　and　offered　his　hand　as　Emerson　came　hurrying　toward　us。
　The　cordial　reception　he　received　seemed　to　surprise　him　a　little。　Nefret　gave　him　a　kiss；　and　Cyrus　a　hearty　handshake；　a　knowing　smile；　and　an　invitation　to　visit　the　tomb。　Sethos　had　to　hear　all　about　its　discovery　first；　he　congratulated　Bertie　and　Jumana；　who　didn't　know　quite　what　to　make　of　him；　but　who　were　flattered　by　his　interest。　After　luncheon　we　all　went　up　to　the　platform　outside　the　tomb。　Sethos　crawled　in　and　out　of　the　passage；　and　then　brushed　himself　off　and　remarked；　〃You've　quite　a　job　ahead　of　you；　Vandergelt。　I　would　be　happy　to　remend　a　good　restorer。　I　suspect　you　may　need　one；　some　of　the　organic　materials　appear　to　be　in　a　delicate　condition。〃
　〃Are　you　an　archaeologist；　sir？〃　Jumana　asked。
　〃I　have　had　a　good　deal　of　experience　in　the　field；〃　said　Sethos　smoothly。　He　glanced　casually　at　the　rock　face　above　the　entrance。　It　was　the　first　time　I　had　noticed　the　symbol　…　a　roughly　carved　circle　divided　by　a　curving　line。
　Ramses　waited　until　Bertie　and　Jumana　and　Cyrus　had　started　down　the　ladder　before　he　spoke。　〃I　hope　you　don't　mind；　sir。　I　took　the　liberty　…〃
　Sethos　grinned。　〃I　was　about　to　suggest　it　myself。　The　Master's　mark　may　not　deter　every　thief　in　Gurneh；　but　it　still　carries　some　weight。　By　the　by；　are　you　acquainted　with　that　lot？〃
　From　the　height　where　we　stood；　the　Albions's　carriage　was　clearly　visible。　It　had　been　there　for　several　hours。
　〃We　know　them　slightly；〃　I　said。　〃Do　you？〃
　〃Albion　was　one　of　my　best　customers。　I　stopped　dealing　with　him　a　few　years　ago；　after　he　tried　to　cheat　me。〃
　〃Cheat　you？〃　Emerson　repeated。　〃I　wouldn't　have　thought　anyone　could。〃
　〃Dear　me；　Radcliffe；　was　that　meant　to　be　sarcastic？　He　didn't　succeed。　Watch　out　for　him；　that's　all　I'm　saying。〃
　When　we　parted　for　the　day；　Cyrus　apologized　for　not　inviting　〃Cousin　Ismail〃　to　dinner。　〃Got　to　stand　guard　tonight；〃　he　explained。　〃But　we're　expecting　the　door　to　arrive　in　a　day　or　two；　once　that　is　up　and　secured；　we　hope；　sir；　to　see　a　great　deal　of　you。　I　would　very　much　enjoy　a　private　chat。〃
　〃Thank　you；〃　said　my　brother…in…law。
　I　had　assumed　he　would　stay　with　us。　He　said　he　had　made　other　arrangements；　but　would　be　delighted　to　join　us　for　tea　and　an　early　supper。　Jumana's　presence　prevented　conversation　of　a　personal　nature；　and　when　we　got　to　the　house　Sennia　was　waiting　on　the　veranda。
　〃So　this　is　Sennia；〃　said　Sethos；　offering　his　hand。　〃I　have　heard　a　great　deal　about　you　…　all　to　your　credit；　and　all　well　deserved；　I　see。〃
　He　had　a　way　with　women　of　all　ages；　and　Sennia　was　no　exception。　Immensely　flattered　at　the　grown…up　speech　and　gesture；　she　gravely　shook　hands　with　him。　〃Thank　you；　sir。　I　have　not　heard　about　you；　though。　Are　you　a　friend　of　ours？〃
　〃A　very　old　friend〃　was　the　smiling　reply。　〃Isn't　that　so；　Radcliffe？〃
　〃You　call　him　Radcliffe？〃　Sennia　spread　her　skirts　in　a　ladylike　manner　and　took　the　chair　he　held　for　her。　〃He　doesn't　like　to　be　called　that；　you　know。〃
　〃I　had　no　idea；〃　Sethos　exclaimed。　〃What　shall　I　call　him；　then？〃
　〃Well；　I　call　him　Professor；〃　Sennia　explained。　〃Aunt　Amelia　calls　him　Emerson；　or　'my　dear；'　and　Nefret　calls　him　Father；　which　he　is；　and　Ramses　calls　him　'sir；'　and　some　people　call　him　'Father　of　Curses。'　〃
　〃Perhaps　'sir'　would　be　best；〃　said　Sethos；　wrinkling　his　brow。　〃What　do　you　think；　Sennia？〃
　I　decided　it　was　time　to　intervene。　Emerson　was　biting　his　lip　and　muttering。　〃Speaking　of　names；〃　I　said；　〃perhaps　you　would　allow　us　…　your　old　friends　…　to　use　your　given　name。〃
　〃Call　me　anything　you　like；　Amelia　dear〃　was　the　smiling　and　uninformative　response。
　At　least　it　got　us　off　the　subject　of　names；　though　Sethos　continued　to　address　his　brother　deferentially　as　'sir；'　which　made　Emerson　swear　under　his　breath。
　〃Do　you　know　Mr。　Vandergelt　too？〃　Sennia　asked。
　〃Oh；　yes。　One　might　say　I　know　him　as　well　as　he　knows　himself。〃　He　left　Sennia　to　puzzle　over　this　enigmatic　remark；　which　the　rest　of　us　understood　quite　well。　〃I　have　not　met　Mrs。　Vandergelt；　though；　or　her　son。〃
　〃Can　we　have　a　party？〃　Sennia　asked　eagerly。
　〃We　must　certainly　arrange　something；〃　I　remarked。　〃But　it　will　have　to　wait　until　the　tomb　is　locked　up。〃
　〃A　wise　precaution；〃　Sethos　agreed　gravely。　〃One　never　knows；　does　one？〃
　〃We　are　glad　to　have　you　here；　sir；〃　Nefret　said。　〃You　will　stay；　we　hope；　for　Cyrus's　celebration。〃
　〃He　has　good　reason　to　celebrate；〃　Sethos　said。　〃And　I　understand　you　and　your　husband　have　another　cause　for　rejoicing。〃
　〃How　did　you　…　how　do　you　…　？〃　Nefret　gasped。
　〃I　have　my　sources；〃　said　Sethos。　He　held　out　his　hand；　and　when　he　spoke　the　mockery　was　gone　from　his　face　and　voice。　〃I　wish　you　joy；　Nefret。　And　you；　Ramses。　I　suppose　you'll　be　returning　to　England　before　long？〃
　〃Our　child　will　be　born　in　Egypt；　as　is　fitting；〃　Nefret　said。　〃Do　you　suppose　I'd　allow　a　pompous　male　English　physician　to　take　care　of　me；　when　there　are　two　trained　women　obstetricians　on　the　staff　of　my　hospital？〃
　〃What　about　you？〃　Emerson　demanded　of　Sethos。
　〃I'm　in　no　hurry　to　leave。　England　hasn't　much　to　offer　me。〃　He　smiled　wickedly　at　his　brother。
　Emerson's　face　reddened。　〃Neither　has　Luxor。〃
　〃My　dear　fellow；　I　wouldn't　dream　of　interfering　with　your　activities。　In　fact；　I　would　be　delighted　to　assist　in　any　possible　manner。〃
　〃Ha；〃　said　Emerson。
　Nefret　turned　her　chuckle　into　a　cough。
　After　dinner　the　men　went　off　to　stand　guard。　Emerson　declined；　with　thanks；　Sethos's　offer　to　join　them。
　〃Do　you　suppose　he　will　ever　get　over　suspecting　my　intentions？〃　inquired　my　brother…in…law；　after　we　had　retired　to　the　sitting　room。
　〃Perhaps；〃　Nefret　suggested；　〃if　you　would　get　over　teasing　him　。　。　。〃
　〃I　can't　resist；　Nefret。　He's　such　an　easy　mark。　I　was　teasing；　though；　when　I　implied　I　would　stay　on　here。　I　must　leave　tomorrow。〃
　〃So　soon？〃　Nefret　exclaimed。　Impulsively　she　placed　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。　〃You　will　miss　Cyrus's　party。　We　want　to　keep　you　with　us　a　while　longer。〃
　〃You　really　mean　it；　don't　you？〃　The　strange　gray…green　eyes　were；　for　once；　very　kind。　〃I'd　like　to；　Nefret；　but　I　can't。〃
　〃You　are　going　back　to　the　war；　aren't　you？〃　I　asked　posedly。　〃I　thought　you　had　promised　Margaret　this　would　be　your　last　assignment。〃
　〃The　job's　not　finished　yet；　Amelia　dear。　I　made　a　quick　trip　here　because　…　well；　for　two　reasons。　I　must　be　getting　old；　I　did　want　to　see　all　of　you。　The　other　reason　is　more　。　。　。　difficult。〃
　〃Would　you　like　me　to　leave？〃　Nefret　asked。
　〃No。　Please　stay。　Did　Amelia　tell　you　about　a　conversation　we　had　recently　concerning　my　daughter？〃
　Nefret's　eyes　widened；　and　I　said；　〃I　considered　it　a　private　confidence。　I　have　not　even　told　Emerson。〃
　〃Thank　you；　Amelia。　I　wasn't　quite　myself　at　the　time；　what　precisely　did　I　say？〃
　〃You　said　she　held　you　accountable　for　her　mother's　death；　and　that　she　had　run　away　from　home。　You　attempted　to　find　her　at　that　time；　I　presume。　A　girl　of　fifteen　or　sixteen　should　not　have　been　able　to　elude　a　determined　search。〃
　〃She　was　sixteen。　But　very　precocious　in　a　number　of　ways。　Like　her　mother。　I　did　search；　long　and　hard；　without　result。　I　believe　she　had　help；　from　one　of　Bertha's　former　friends　…　the　same　one　who　told　Maryam　…　Molly　…　about　her　mother's　death。　Recently　I　heard　that　she　had　found　a　…　a　protector；　and　was　in　Egypt。　I've　been　playing　with　the　Turks　ever　since；　haven't　had　time　to　look　for　her　here。〃
　〃I　am　very　sorry；〃　Nefret　said　gently。　〃Can　nothing　be　done　to　save　her？〃
　〃She　doesn't　want　to　be　saved。　Especially　by　me。〃
　He　had　not　given　way；　nor　would　he；　but　I　knew　he　cared　more　for　the　girl　than　he　would　admit　and　that　guilt　as　well　as　affection　motivated　his　search。　I　began；　〃There　is　a　chance　that　we　might　…〃
　〃You　may　encounter　her；　our　Egypt　is　a　small　world；　in　a　sense。　That　is　why　I　brought　the　subject　up。　But；　Amelia　dear；　don't　assume　that　because　you　managed　to　reform　me　…　up　to　a　point　…　you　can　redeem　the　entire　damned　universe。　If　Maryam　blames　me　for　her　mother's　death；　how　do　you　suppose　she　feels　about　you