anner.themummy-第15节

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his　great　house。　Of　timbers　and　plaster　in　the　warmth　of　the　morning。　She　closed　her　eyes　for　a　moment。　And　then　Rita's　step　sounded　in　the　hall。　Of　course；　it　had　been　Rita　all　along　。。。　the　sound　of　another　very　near…heartbeat；　breath；　the　subtle　shift　of　garments　in　motion。
　
　〃Well；　miss；　I　tell　you　I　don't　like　that　thing　in　the　house；〃　　Rita　said。　Was　that　her　feather　duster　softly　brushing　the　living　room　furniture？
　
　Julie　didn't　turn　around　to　look。　She　looked　at　the　mummy。　She　approached　it　now　and　looked　up　into　its　face。　Good　Lord；　she　had　not　really　seen　it　last　night。　Not　as　she　was　seeing　it　now　in　this　great　warm　glare。　It　had　been　a　living　breathing　man；　this　thing；　locked　forever　in　its　cerements。
　
　〃I　do　declare；　miss；　it　gives　me　the　shivers。〃
　
　〃Don't　be　absurd；　Rita。　Bring　me　some　coffee；　like　a　good　girl。〃　　She　drew　even　closer　to　the　thing。　After　all；　there　was　no　one　here　to　stop　her。　She　could　touch　it　if　she　wished。　She　listened　for　Rita's　retreat。　Heard　the　kitchen　door　open　and　close。　Then　she　did　reach　out　and　touch　the　linen　bandages　that　covered　the　right　arm。　Too　soft；　too　fragile。　And　hot　from　the　sun！
　
　〃No；　this　is　not　good　for　you；　is　it？〃　　she　asked；　glancing　up　at　the　thing's　eyes　as　if　it　were　rude　to　do　otherwise。〃　But　I　don't　want　them　to　take　you　away。　I　'11　miss　you　when　you're　no　longer　here。　But　I　won't　let　them　cut　you　open。　That　much；　I　promise　you。〃
　
　Was　that　dark　brown　hair　she　saw　beneath　the　bandages　that　surrounded　the　skull？　It　seemed　there　was　a　great　thickness　of　it　there；　bound　painfully　tight　to　the　bones；　giving　a　horrid　effect　of　baldness。　But　it　was　the　overall　spectacle　that　really　caught　her　and　carried　her　away　now　from　the　details。　The　thing　had　a　distinct　personality；　rather　like　a　fine　sculpture　would　have。　Tall；　broad…shouldered　Ramses　with　his　head　bowed；　and　his　hands　in　that　attitude　of　resignation。
　
　The　words　in　the　diary　came　back　to　her　with　painful　clarity。〃　You　are　immortal；　my　love；〃　　she　said。〃　My　father's　seen　to　it。　You　may　curse　us　for　opening　your　tomb；　but　thousands　will　e　to　see　you；　thousands　will　eventually　speak　your　name。　You　will　live　forever。　。。。〃
　
　So　strange　that　she　was　on　the　verge　of　tears。　Father　dead。　And　this　which　had　meant　so　much　to　him。　Father　in　an　unmarked　grave　in　Cairo　as　he　had　wanted　it　to　be；　and　Ramses　the　Damned　the　toast　of　London。
　
　Suddenly　she　was　startled　by　Henry's　voice。
　
　〃You're　talking　to　that　damned　thing；　just　the　way　your　father　did。〃
　
　〃Good　Lord；　I　didn't　know　you　were　here！　Where　did　you　e　from？〃
　
　He　stood　in　the　archway　between　the　two　drawing　rooms；　his　long　serge　cape　hanging　loosely　from　one　shoulder。　Unshaven；　very　likely　drunk。　And　that　smile　of　his。　It　was　chilling。
　
　〃I'm　supposed　to　be　looking　out　for　you；〃　　he　said；〃　remember？〃
　
　〃Yes；　of　course。　I'm　sure　you　are　absolutely　delighted。〃
　
　〃Where's　the　key　to　the　drinks　cupboard？　It's　locked；　you　know。　Why　the　devil　does　Oscar　do　that？〃
　
　〃Oscar's　gone　till　tomorrow。　Perhaps　you　should　have　coffee；　besides。　That　would　do　you　the　most　good。〃
　
　〃Would　it　now；　my　dear？〃　　He　removed　the　cape　as　he　walked　arrogantly　towards　her；　his　eyes　sweeping　the　Egyptian　room　as　if　he　did　not　entirely　approve　of　it。〃　You　never　let　me　down；　do　you？〃　　he　asked；　and　flashed　that　bitter　smile　again。〃　My　childhood　playmate；　my　cousin；　my　little　sister！　I　loathe　coffee。　I　want　some　port　or　sherry。〃
　
　〃Well；　I　have　none；〃　　she　said。〃　Go　on　upstairs　and　sleep　it　off；　why　don't　you？〃
　
　Rita　had　e　to　the　door；　was　waiting　as　if　for　instructions。
　
　〃Coffee　for　Mr。　Stratford；　too；　please；　Rita；〃　　Julie　said；　because　he　hadn't　moved。　It　was　perfectly　clear　he　wasn't　going　anywhere。　He　was　staring　at　the　mummy；　in　fact；　as　if　it　had　startled　him。〃　Did　Father　really　speak　to　him　like　that？〃　　she　asked。〃　The　way　I　was　doing？〃
　
　He　didn't　immediately　answer。　He　turned　away；　and　moved　to　inspect　the　alabaster　jars；　even　his　posture　slouching　and　arrogant。
　
　〃Yes；　talked　to　it　as　if　it　could　talk　back。　And　Latin　of　all　things。　If　you　ask　me；　your　father　had　been　sick　for　some　time。
　
　Too　many　years　in　the　desert　heat　squandering　money　on　corpses　and　statues　and　trinkets　and　trash。〃
　
　How　his　words　stung　her。　So　careless；　yet　so　hateful。　He　paused　before　one　of　the　jars；　with　his　back　to　her。　In　the　mirror　she　saw　him　scowling　down　at　it。
　
　〃It　was　his　money；　wasn't　it？〃　　she　asked。〃　He　made　enough　for　all　of　us；　or　so　he　thought。〃
　
　He　turned　around　sharply。
　
　〃What's　that　supposed　to　mean？〃
　
　〃Well；　you　haven't　managed　yours　very　well；　have　you？〃
　
　〃I've　done　the　best　I　can。　Who　are　you　to　judge　me？〃　　he　asked。　Suddenly；　with　the　sunlight　harshly　illuminating　his　face；　he　looked　frighteningly　vicious。
　
　〃And　what　about　the　shareholders　of　Stratford　Shipping？　Have　you　done　your　best　for　them？　Or　is　that　quite　beyond　my　judgment　also？〃
　
　〃Be　careful；　my　girl；〃　　he　said。　He　drew　close　to　her。　He　gave　one　arrogant　glance　to　the　mummy　on　his　left　almost　as　if　it　were　another　presence；　another　full　person；　and　then　he　turned　his　shoulder　to　it　a　little；　and　narrowed　his　eyes　as　he　looked　at　her。〃　Father　and　I　are　the　only　family　you　have　left　now。　You　need　us　more　than　you　think；　perhaps。　After　all；　what　do　you　really　know　about　trade　or　shipping？〃
　
　How　curious。　He　had　made　a　good　point　and　then　ruined　it。　She　needed　them　both；　but　it　had　nothing　to　do　with　trade　and　shipping。　She　needed　them　because　they　were　her　blood；　and　to　hell　with　trade　and　shipping。
　
　She　didn't　want　him　to　see　the　hurt　in　her。　She　turned　away　and　looked　down　the　length　of　the　double　drawing　rooms；　towards　the　pale　northern　windows　on　the　front　of　the　house；　where　the　morning　seemed　scarcely　to　be　happening。
　
　〃I　know　how　to　add　two　and　two；　my　dear　cousin；〃　　she　said。〃　And　that　has　put　me　in　a　very　awkward　and　painful　position。〃
　
　With　relief；　she　watched　Rita　enter　from　the　hall；　her　back　bent　unfortably　as　she　carried　the　heavy　silver　coffee　service。　On　the　center　table　of　the　rear　drawing　room　she　set　it　down；　only　a　few　feet　from　where　Julie　stood。
　
　〃Thank　you；　dear。　That's　all　for　now。〃
　
　With　a　pointed　glance　at　the　thing　in　the　coffin；　Rita　was　gone。　And　once　again　Julie　was　alone　with　this　exquisitely　painful　moment。　Slowly　she　turned　and　saw　that　her　cousin　was　standing　directly　in　front　of　Ramses。〃　Then　I　should　e　right　to　the　point；〃　　he　said；　and　he　turned　around　to　face　her。　He　reached　up　and　loosened　his　silk　tie；　and　then　pulled　it　off　and　stuffed　it　in　his　pocket。　His　gait　was　almost　shambling　as　he　approached　her。
　
　〃I　know　what　you　want；〃　　she　said。〃　I　know　what　you　and　Uncle　Randolph　both　want。　And　more　important；　I　know　what　you　both　need。　What　Father　left　you　won't　begin　to　cover　your　debts。　Lord；　but　you've　made　a　mess　of　things。〃
　
　〃So　sanctimonious；〃　　Henry　said。　He　stood　only　a　foot　from　her　now；　his　back　to　the　brightening　sun　and　the　mummy。〃　The　suffragette；　the　little　archaeologist。　And　now　you'll　try　your　hand　at　business；　will　you？〃
　
　〃I'll　try；〃　　she　said　coldly。　His　anger　was　igniting　hers。〃　What　else　can　I　do？〃　　she　asked。〃　Let　it　all　slip　through　your　father's　hands！　Lord；　but　I　pity　you！〃
　
　〃What　are　you　trying　to　tell　me？〃　　he　asked。　His　breath　stank　of　liquor；　and　his　face　was　shadowed　with　coarse　unshaven　hair。〃　That　you'll　ask　for　our　resignations？　Is　that　it？〃
　
　〃I　don't　know　yet。〃　　She　turned　her　back　on　him。　She　walked　into　the　front　drawing　room　and　opened　the　small　secretaire。　She　sat　down　before　it；　and　removed　her　book　of　bank　drafts。　And　uncapped　the　inkwell。
　
　She　could　hear　him　pacing　behind　her　as　she　wrote　the　cheque。
　
　〃Tell　me；　cousin；　does　it　feel　good　to　have　more　than　you　can　ever　spend；　more　than　you　can　ever　count？　And　to　have　done　nothing　to　get　it？〃
　
　She　turned；　her　eyes　down；　and　she　gave　him　the　cheque。　She　rose　and　went　to　the　front　window。　She　lifted　the　lace　curtain　and　looked　out　at　the　street。　Please　go　away；　Henry；　she　thought　dully；　disconsolately。　She　didn't　want　to　hurt　her　uncle。　She　didn't　want　to　hurt　anyone。　But　what　could　she　do？　She'd　known　for　years　about　Randolph's　embezzling。　She　and　her　father　had　discussed　it　last　time　she　was　in　Cairo。　Of　course　he　had　meant　to　take　the　situation　in　hand；　always　meant。　And　now　it　fell　to　her。
　
　She　turned　suddenly。　The　silence　made　her　uneasy。　She　saw　her　cousin　standing　in　the　Egyptian　room。　He　was　staring　at　her；　his　eyes　cold　and　seemingly　lifeless。
　
　〃And　when　you　marry　Alex；　will　you　disinherit　us　as　well？〃
　
　〃For　the　love　of　heaven；　Henry。　Go　away　and　leave　me　alone。〃
　
　There　was　something　stunning　about　his　expression；　about　the　sheer　hardness　of　his　face。　He　wasn't　young　anymore；　was　he？　He　looked　ancient　in　his　habits　and　in　his　guilt　and　in　his　self…deception。　Have　pity；　she　thought。　What　can　you　do　to　help　him？　Give　him　a　fortune　and　it　will　be　gone　within　a　fortnight。　She　turned　round　again　and　looked　out　into　the　wintry　London　street。
　
　Early　passersby。　The　nurse　from　across　the　way　with　the　twins　in　their　wicker　carriage。　An　old　man　hurrying