anner.themummy-第18节

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atience；　his　forbearance；　and　then　she　gently　removed　his　hand　from　her　wrist。　He　nodded；　let　her　go。　She　backed　away　again；　and　then　shut　the　door　and　ran　down　the　hallway　and　down　the　stairs。
　
　〃Let　me　in；　Rita！〃　　Randolph　was　shouting。
　
　Julie　almost　stumbled　on　the　bottom　step。　She　rushed　into　the　drawing　room。　The　lid　was　in　place　on　the　coffin！　Would　they　see　that　faint　trail　of　dust　on　the　floor？　But　no　one　would　believe　it！　She　wouldn't　have　believed　it！
　
　She　stopped；　closed　her　eyes；　breathed　deeply；　and　then　told　Rita　to　go　ahead　and　open　the　door。
　
　She　turned；　a　rather　prim　expression　fixed　on　her　face；　and　watched　as　her　uncle　Randolph；　dishevelled　and　barefoot；　wearing　only　his　dressing　gown；　came　into　the　room。　The　museum　guard　was　right　behind　him；　and　two　gentlemen　who　appeared　to　be　police　in　plainclothes；　though　she　did　not　know　precisely　why。
　
　〃What　hi　the　world　is　the　matter？〃　　she　asked。〃　You　woke　me　from　a　sound　sleep　on　the　sofa。　What　time　is　it？〃　　She　looked　about　in　confusion。〃　Rita；　what　is　going　on？〃
　
　〃I'm　sure　I　don't　know；　miss！〃　　Rita　almost　screamed。　Julie　gestured　for　her　to　be　quiet。
　
　〃Oh；　my　dear；　1　was　terrified；〃　　Randolph　answered。〃　Henry　said　。。。〃
　
　〃Yes？　Henry　said　what？〃
　
　The　two　gentlemen　in　greatcoats　were　looking　at　the　spilled　coffee。　One　of　them　was　staring　at　the　open　handkerchief　with　its　white　powder　spilled　out　on　the　floor。　How　very　like　sugar　it　looked　in　the　sunlight。　And　there　was　Henry；　suddenly；　hovering　at　the　hallway　door。
　
　She　stared　at　him　for　a　sullen　moment。　Killed　my　father！　But　she　could　not　allow　herself　to　feel　it　just　now。　She　could　not　allow　herself　to　believe　it　or　she　would　go　mad。　She　saw　him　again　in　her　mind's　eye；　holding　out　that　coffee　cup　for　her；　she　saw　his　wooden　expression；　his　pale　face。
　
　〃Whatever　is　the　matter　with　you；　Henry？〃　　she　asked　coldly；　suppressing　die　quaver　in　her　voice。〃　You　ran　out　of　here　half　an　hour　ago　as　if　you'd　seen　a　ghost。〃
　
　〃You　know　damned　well　what　happened；〃　　he　whispered。　He　was　blanched　and　sweating。　He　had　taken　out　his　handkerchief　and　he　wiped　his　upper　lip；　his　hand　trembling　so　badly　that　she　could　see　it。
　
　〃Get　a　grip　on　yourself；〃　　Randolph　said；　turning　to　his　son。〃　Now　what　the　devil　did　you　see？〃
　
　〃The　question　is；　miss；〃　　said　the　shorter　of　the　two　Scotland　Yard　men；〃　has　there　been　some　sort　of　intruder　in　this　house？〃
　
　A　gentleman's　voice　and　manner。　The　fear　was　leaving　her。　She　could　feel　her　conviction　returning　as　she　spoke。〃　Indeed　not；　sir。　My　cousin　saw　an　intruder？　Henry；　you　must　have　a　guilty　conscience。　You're　having　hallucinations。　I　saw　no　one　here。〃
　
　Randolph　eyed　Henry　furiously。　The　Scotland　Yard　men　appeared　confused。
　
　Henry　himself　was　in　a　silent　rage。　He　glared　at　her　as　if　he　meant　to　strangle　her　wirn　his　bare　hands。　And　she　glared　right　back　at　him；　thinking　coldly；　You　killed　my　father。　You　would　have　killed　me。
　
　We　do　not　know　how　we　shall　feel　at　such　moments。　We　cannot　know；　she　thought。　I　only　know　that　I　hate　you；　and　I　have　never　hated　another　human　being　in　my　life。
　
　〃That　mummy　case！〃　　Henry　blurted　out　suddenly。　He　clung　to　the　door　as　if　he　didn't　dare　to　e　into　the　room。〃　I　want　that　mummy　case　opened　now。〃
　
　〃You　are　really　past　all　patience。　No　one　shall　touch　that　mummy　case。　It　contains　a　priceless　relic；　which　belongs　to　the　British　Museum　and　must　not　be　exposed　to　the　air。〃
　
　〃What　the　hell　do　you　mean　saying　these　things！〃　　he　shouted。　He　was　being　hysterical。
　
　〃Be　quiet；〃　　Randolph　said　to　him。〃　I've　heard　quite　enough！〃
　
　There　was　noise　from　outside；　voices。　Someone　had　e　all　the　way　up　the　steps　and　was　peering　through　the　front　door。
　
　〃Henry；　I　won't　have　this　confusion　in　my　house；〃　　Julie　said　shortly。
　
　The　Scotland　Yard　man　studied　Henry　coldly。
　
　〃Sir；　if　the　lady　does　not　want　the　premises　searched　。。。〃
　
　〃Indeed；　I　do　not；〃　　Julie　responded。〃　I　think　quite　enough　of　your　time　has　been　wasted。　As　you　can　see；　nothing　here　has　been　disturbed。〃
　
　Of　course　die　coffee　cup　was　lying　on　its　side　on　the　plate　and　the　handkerchief　was　on　the　floor；　but　she　stood　her　ground　coldly；　eyes　moving　from　Henry　to　the　officer。　And　then　to　the　other　officer；　who　was　scrutinizing　her　just　a　little　too　carefully；　though　he　did　not　offer　a　word。
　
　None　of　them　saw　what　she　saw…the　figure　of　Ramses　ing　slowly　down　the　stairs。　They　did　not　see　him　e　across　the　front　hallway　and　silently　enter　the　room。　That　is；　until　Julie　could　not　tear　her　eyes　off　him；　and　the　others　realized　it　and　turned　to　see　the　source　of　her　fascination…the　tall　brown…haired　man　in　the　dark　burgundy　silk　bathrobe　standing　in　the　door。
　
　She　was　breathless　looking　at　him。　Majestic。　It　was　what　all　Kings　should　be。　Yet　he　looked　otherworldly　as　though　his　court　had　been　a　place　of　superhumans。　Men　of　unmon　strength　and　grand　bearing；　with　vivid　and　piercing　eyes。
　
　Even　the　robe　with　its　satin　lapels　looked　exotic　on　him。　The　slippers　were　like　those　from　an　ancient　tomb。　The　white　shirt　he　wore　was　unbuttoned；　yet　that　looked　curiously〃　normal；〃　　perhaps　because　his　skin　had　that　robust　glow　to　it；　and　because　he　thrust　his　chest　slightly　forward　and　stood　with　feet　firmly　planted　on　the　floor　at　parade　rest　as　no　modern　man　would　do。　This　was　the　posture　for　manding　subservience；　but　there　was　nothing　arrogant　in　his　expression。　He　merely　looked　at　her　and　at　Henry；　who　had　flushed　red　to　the　roots　of　his　dark　hair。
　
　Henry　stared　at　the　open　shirt。　He　stared　at　the　scarab　ring　that　Ramses　wore　on　his　right　hand。　Both　the　inspectors　were　staring　at　him。　And　Randolph　seemed　absolutely　baffled。　Did　he　recognize　the　robe　he'd　given　his　brother？　Rita　had　backed　up　against　the　wall　and　covered　her　mouth　with　her　hands。
　
　〃Uncle　Randolph；〃　　Julie　said　as　she　stepped　forward。〃　This　is　a　good　friend　of　Father's；　just　arrived　here　from　Egypt。　An　Egyptologist　whom　Father　knew　quite　well。　Ah　。。。　Mr。　Ramsey；　Reginald　Ramsey。　I　want　you　to　meet　my　uncle；　Randolph　Stratford；　and　this　is　his　son；　Henry　。。。〃
　
　Ramses　studied　Randolph；　then　locked　his　eyes　on　Henry　again。　Henry　was　staring　stupidly　back　at　Ramses。　Julie　made　a　little　gesture　to　Ramses　for　patience。
　
　〃I　think　this　is　not　the　time　for　a　social　gathering；〃　　she　said　awkwardly。〃　Really；　I　am　quite　tired；　and　caught　off　guard　by　all　this。。。〃
　
　〃Well；　Miss　Stratford；　perhaps　it　was　this　gentleman　your　cousin　saw；〃　　said　the　genial　policeman。
　
　〃Oh；　it　very　well　might　have　been；〃　　she　answered。〃　But　I　must　take　care　of　my　guest　now。　He's　had　no　breakfast。　I　must。。。〃　　Henry　knew！　She　could　see　it。　She　struggled　to　say　something　civil　and　appropriately　meaningless。　That　it　was　past　eight　o'clock。　That　she　was　hungry。　Henry　was　shrinking　into　the　er。　And　Ramses　was　staring　at　Henry　as　Ramses　moved　behind　the　two　Scotland　Yard　men；　towards　that　handkerchief；　and　now　with　a　very　graceful　and　quick　gesture；　he　gathered　it　up　from　the　floor。　No　one　saw　this　but　Julie　and　Henry。　Glaring　at　Henry；　Ramses　shoved　the　handkerchief　into　the　pocket　of　his　robe。
　
　Randolph　was　staring　at　her　in　utter　perplexity；　one　of　the　Scotland　Yard　men　was　plainly　bored。
　
　〃You're　all　right；　my　dear！〃　　said　Randolph。〃　You're　certain。〃
　
　〃Oh；　yes；　I　am　indeed。〃　　She　went　to　him　at　once；　and　taking　his　arm；　guided　him　to　the　door。　The　Scotland　Yard　men　followed。
　
　〃My　name　is　Inspector　Trent；　madam；〃　　said　the　vocal　one。〃　And　this　is　my　partner；　Sergeant　Gallon。　You　must　call　us　if　you　need　us。〃
　
　〃Yes；　of　course；〃　　she　said。　Henry　appeared　on　the　verge　of　an　outburst。　Suddenly　he　bolted；　almost　knocking　her　over；　and　rushed　out　the　open　door　and　through　the　crowd　gathered　on　the　steps。
　
　〃Was　it　the　mummy；　sir！〃　　someone　shouted。〃　Did　you　see　the　mummy　walk！〃
　
　〃Was　it　the　curse！〃
　
　〃Miss　Stratford；　are　you　unharmed！〃
　
　The　Scotland　Yard　men　exited　immediately；　Inspector　Trent　ordering　the　crowd　to　disperse　at　once。
　
　〃Well；　what　the　devil　is　the　matter　with　him！〃　　Randolph　muttered。〃　I　don't　understand　all　this。〃
　
　Julie　held　his　arm　all　the　tighter。　No；　he　couldn't　possibly　know　what　Henry　had　done。　He　would　never　have　done　anything　to　hurt　Father；　not　really。　But　how　could　she　be　sure？　On　impulse　she　kissed　him。　She　slipped　her　hand　onto　the　back　of　her　uncle's　neck；　and　kissed　his　cheek。
　
　〃Don't　worry；　Uncle　Randolph；〃　　she　said　suddenly。　And　she　felt　herself　on　the　verge　of　tears。
　
　Randolph　shook　his　head。　He　was　humiliated；　even　a　little　afraid；　and　she　felt　tragically　sorry　for　him　as　she　watched　him　go。　Sorrier　than　she　had　ever　felt　for　anyone　in　her　life。　She　did　not　realize　he　was　barefoot　until　he　was　halfway　down　the　street。
　
　The　reporters　were　following　him。　As　the　Scotland　Yard　men　drove　away；　a　pair　of　the　reporters　doubled　back；　and　she　retreated　quickly；　slamming　the　door。　She　peered　out　through　the　glass　at　the　distant　figure　of　her　uncle　rushing　up　his　own　front　steps。
　
　Then　slowly　she　turned　and　came　back　into　the　front　room。
　
　Silence。　The　faint　singing　of　the　fountain　in　the　conservator