anner.themummy-第52节

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chemical　that　makes　people　live　forever。　That's　insane。〃
　
　Elliott　laughed　under　his　breath。〃　Maybe　it　was　done　with　mirrors。〃
　
　〃What？〃
　
　〃The　thing　ing　out　of　the　coffin　and　trying　to　strangle　you；〃　　Elliott　said。
　
　The　contempt　in　Henry's　eyes　hardened　to　hate。
　
　〃Maybe　I　should　tell　my　cousin　that　you're　spying　on　her；　that　you　want　the　elixir。　Maybe　I　should　tell　that　thing。〃
　
　〃She　knows。　So　does　he。〃
　
　Utterly　stymied；　Henry　looked　down　into　the　empty　glass。
　
　〃Get　out　of　here；〃　　Elliott　said。〃　Go　where　you　please。〃
　
　〃If　my　father　should　contact　you；　leave　a　message　for　me　at　the　desk。〃
　
　〃Oh？　Am　I　not　supposed　to　know　that　you're　living　with　that　dancer；　Malenka？　Everyone　else　knows　it。　It's　the　scandal　of　the　moment；　Henry　in　old　Cairo　with　his　card　game　and　his　dancing　girl。〃
　
　Henry　sneered。
　
　Elliott　looked　towards　the　windows。　Soft　bright　sunshine。　He　did　not　look　back　until　he'd　heard　the　door　close。　He　waited　a　few　moments；　then　picked　up　the　telephone　and　asked　for　the　front　desk。
　
　〃You　have　an　address　for　Henry　Stratford？〃
　
　〃He　asked　that　we　not　give　it　out；　sir。〃
　
　〃Well；　this　is　the　Earl　of　Rutherford；　and　I　am　a　friend　of　the　family。　Please　do　give　it　to　me。〃
　
　He　memorized　it　quickly；　thanked　the　clerk　and　put　down　the　receiver。　He　knew　the　street　in　old　Cairo。　It　was　only　steps　from　the　Babylon；　the　French　night　club　where　the　dancing　girl；　Malenka；　worked。　He　and　Lawrence　used　to　sit　and　argue　in　that　club　by　the　hour；　when　there　had　been　dancing　boys。
　
　He　reaffirmed　his　vow：　whatever　else　happened；　he　would　find　out　what　he　could　from　Ramsey　before　they　parted　as　to　what　had　really　happened　to　Lawrence　in　that　tomb。
　
　Nothing　would　deter　him　from　that；　not　cowardice；　not　dreams　of　the　elixir。　He　had　to　know　what；　if　anything；　Henry　had　done。
　
　The　door　opened　quietly。　It　had　to　be　his　man；　Walter；　the　only　one　who　would　enter　without　a　knock。
　
　〃Nice　rooms；　my　lord？〃　　Too　solicitous。　He　had　overheard　the　argument。　He　puttered　about；　wiping　the　bedside　table；　adjusting　the　shade　of　the　lamp。
　
　〃Oh；　yes；　they're　fine；　Walter。　They'll　do。　And　my　son；　where　is　he？〃
　
　〃Downstairs；　my　lord；　and　may　I　tell　you　a　little　secret？〃
　
　Walter　leaned　over　the　bed；　hand　up　to　his　mouth　as　if　they　were　in　the　midst　of　a　crowd　rather　than　in　a　large　empty　bedroom　with　nothing　but　an　empty　sitting　room　opening　onto　it。
　
　〃He's　met　a　pretty　girl；　downstairs；　an　American。　Name's　Barrington；　my　lord。　Rich　family　from　New　York。　Father　in　the　railroads。〃
　
　Elliott　smiled。〃　Now；　how　do　you　know　all　that　already？〃
　
　Walter　laughed。　He　emptied　Elliott's　ashtray　of　the　cheroot；　which　had　gone　out　because　it　burned　Elliott's　lungs　so　badly　he　couldn't　smoke　it。
　
　〃Rita　told　me；　my　lord。　Saw　him　not　an　hour　after　we　checked　in。　And　he's　with　Miss　Barrington　now；　taking　a　little　walk　about　in　the　hotel　gardens。〃
　
　〃Well；　wouldn't　that　be　interesting；　Walter；〃　　Elliott　said；　shaking　his　head；〃　if　our　dear　Alex　married　an　American　heiress。〃
　
　〃Yes；　my　lord；　it　certainly　would　be　interesting；〃　　Walter　said。〃　As　for　the　other；　do　you　want　the　same　arrangements　as　before？〃　　Again　Walter　assumed　a　highly　confidential　air。〃　Someone　to　follow　him？〃
　
　He　meant　Ramses；　of　course。　He　referred　to　the　shameful　matter　of　the　boy　whom　Elliott　had　hired　in　Alexandria。
　
　〃If　you　can　do　it　quietly；〃　　Elliott　said。〃　They're　to　watch　him　night　and　day；　to　report　to　me　where　he　goes　and　what　he　does。〃
　
　He　gave　Walter　a　wad　of　bills；　which　Walter　tucked　in　his　pocket　immediately　and　then　went　out；　closing　the　door　behind　him。
　
　Elliott　tried　to　take　a　deep　breath；　but　the　pain　in　his　chest　wouldn't　allow　it；　very　quietly　he　took　one　shallow　breath　after　another。　He　stared　at　the　white　curtains　ballooning　over　the　open　windows。　He　could　hear　the　bustle　and　noise　of　British　Cairo　outside。　He　thought　about　the　futility　of　all　of　this…following　Ramses　in　the　hope　of　discovering　something；　anything；　about　the　elixir。
　
　Absurd；　really。　A　little　bit　of　cloak…and…dagger　that　did　no　more　than　fuel　Elliott's　obsession。　There　was　no　doubt　now　as　to　what　Ramses　was；　and　if　he　had　the　elixir　with　him；　undoubtedly　he　carried　it　on　his　person。
　
　Elliott　felt　ashamed。　But　that　was　a　small　matter。　The　larger　matter　was　the　mystery　from　which　he　was　utterly　shut　out。　Might　as　well　go　to　the　man　and　beg　for　the　gift。　He　had　a　good　mind　to　call　Walter　back；　to　tell　him　it　was　all　foolishness。　But　in　his　heart　of　hearts　he　knew　he　would　try　one　more　time　to　search　Ramses'　room；　and　the　boy　following　Ramses　might　give　him　some　clue　as　to　the　man's　habits。
　
　It　was　something　to　do；　wasn't　it；　other　than　think　about　the　pain　in　his　chest　and　in　his　hip。　He　closed　his　eyes；　he　saw　the　colossal　statues　of　Abu　Simbel　again。　It　seemed　to　him　suddenly　that　this　was　the　last　great　adventure　of　his　life；　and　he　realized　that　he　had　no　regrets；　that　this　excitement　had　been　in　itself　a　priceless　gift　to　him。
　
　And　who　knows；　he　laughed　softly　to　himself。　Perhaps　Alex　will　find　an　American　heiress。
　
　Ah；　she　was　lovely；　and　he　so　liked　her　voice　and　the　divine　sparkle　in　her　eye；　for　that's　just　what　it　was；　and　how　she'd　push　him　lightly　with　her　finger　when　she　laughed。　And　what　a　pretty　name　she　had；　Miss　Charlotte　Whitney　Banington。
　
　〃And　then　we　thought　we'd　go　to　London；　but　they　say　it's　frightfully　cold　this　time　of　year；　and　so　gloomy；　with　the　Tower　of　London　and　all；　where　they　chopped　off　Anne　Boleyn's　head。〃
　
　〃Oh；　it　wouldn't　be　if　I　showed　it　to　you！〃　　he　said。
　
　〃Well；　when　are　you　going　home？　You're　staying　for　the　opera；　aren't　you？　Seems　everybody　in　this　place　talks　of　nothing　else。　It's　very　funny；　you　know；　to　e　all　the　way　to　Egypt　to　see　an　opera。〃
　
　〃But　it's　Aida；　my　dear。〃
　
　〃I　know；　I　know。。。〃
　
　〃And　yes；　we　are　going；　as　a　matter　of　fact；　it's　all　been　arranged。　And　you'll　be　there；　of　course。　Ah；　what　about　the　ball　afterwards？〃
　
　What　an　adorable　smile。〃　Well；　I　didn't　know　about　the　ball；　you　see。　I　didn't　really　want　to　go　with　Mummy　and　Daddy　and…〃
　
　〃Well；　perhaps　you'd　go　with　me。〃
　
　Oh；　what　lovely　white　teeth。
　
　〃Why；　Lord　Rutherford；　I'd　simply　love　it。〃
　
　〃Please　call　me　Alex；　Miss　Barrington。　Lord　Rutherford's　my　father。〃
　
　〃But　you're　a　Viscount　yourself；〃　　she　said　with　stunning　American　frankness　and　the　same　ingratiating　smile。〃　That's　what　they　told　me。〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　guess　that's　true。　Viscount　Summerfield；　actually　。。。〃
　
　〃What　is　a　Viscount？〃　　she　asked。
　
　Such　lovely　eyes；　and　the　way　she　laughed　as　she　looked　at　him。　Suddenly　he　was　no　longer　angry　with　Henry　for　being　holed　up。　with　that　dancer；　Malenka。　Better　that　Henry　should　be　altogether　out　of　sight　with　his　drinking　and　gambling；　rather　than　hanging　about　the　public　rooms　of　the　hotel。
　
　Oh；　what　would　Julie　think　of　Miss　Barrington？　Well；　he　knew　what　he　thought！
　
　High　noon。　The　dining　room。　Ramses　sat　back　laughing。
　
　〃Now；　I　insist　you　do　it。　Pick　up　the　fork　and　the　knife；〃　　Julie　said。〃　Just　try。〃
　
　〃Julie；　it's　not　that　I　can't　do　it！　It's　that　it　seems　absolutely　barbaric　to　thrust　food　in　one's　mouth　with　pieces　of　silver！〃
　
　〃Your　trouble　is；　you　know　how　perfectly　handsome　you　are；　and　how　you　charm　everyone。〃
　
　〃I　learned　a　little　tact　over　the　centuries。〃　　He　picked　up　the　fork；　deliberately　gripping　the　handle　in　his　fist。
　
　〃Stop　that；〃　　she　said　under　her　breath。
　
　He　laughed。　He　laid　down　the　fork；　and　took　a　morsel　of　chicken　with　his　fingers　again。　She　grabbed　his　hand。
　
　〃Ramses；　eat　properly。〃
　
　〃Darling　dear；〃　　he　said；〃　I'm　eating　in　the　manner　of　Adam　and　Eve；　Osiris　and　Isis；　Moses；　Aristotle　and　Alexander。〃
　
　She　dissolved　with　laughter。　He　stole　a　kiss　from　her　quickly。　Then　his　face　darkened。
　
　〃What　about　your　cousin？〃　　he　whispered。
　
　It　caught　her　pletely　off　guard。〃　Must　we　speak　of　him？〃
　
　〃Are　we　to　leave　him　here　in　Cairo？　Are　we　to　leave　the　murder　of　your　father　unavenged？〃
　
　Tears　sprang　to　her　eyes。　Angrily；　she　searched　in　her　bag　for
　
　her　handkerchief。　She　had　not　seen　Henry　since　their　return；　and　she　didn't　want　to　see　him。　In　her　letter　to　Randolph　she　had　not　mentioned　him。　And　it　was　the　thought　of　her　uncle　as　much　as　anything　else　that　made　her　cry　now。
　
　〃Pass　the　burden　to　me；〃　　Ramses　whispered。〃　I　shall　bear　it　easily。　Let　justice　be　done。〃
　
　She　put　her　hand　up　suddenly　to　his　lips。
　
　〃No　more；〃　　she　said。〃　Not　now。〃
　
　He　looked　up；　over　her　shoulder。　He　gave　a　little　sigh；　and　squeezed　her　hand。〃　The　museum　party　is　here；　it　seems；〃　　he　said。〃　And　we　mustn't　keep　Elliott　standing　about。〃
　
　Alex　swooped　down　suddenly　to　give　her　a　little　peck　on　the　cheek。　How　chaste。　She　wiped　at　her　nose　quickly；　and　turned　so　that　he　wouldn't　see　the　colour　in　her　face。
　
　〃Well；　are　we　all　set？〃　　Alex　said。〃　We　have　our　private　guide　meeting　us　at　the　museum　in　fifteen　minutes。　Oh；　and　before　I　forget；　the　opera　has　been　pletely　arranged。　Box　seats　and　of　course　tickets　to　the　ball