anner.themummy-第9节

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hich　he　ordered　the　workmen　about。
　
　Alex　stared　at　the　workmen　and　their　relics　with　the　strangest　expression。　What　was　it？　These　things　meant　nothing　to　him；　they　had　to　do　with　some　other　world。　But　did　he　not　find　them　beautiful？　Ah；　it　was　so　difficult　for　her　to　understand。〃　I　wonder　if　there　is　a　curse；〃　　he　whispered　softly。〃　Oh；　please；　don't　be　ridiculous；〃　　Julie　answered。〃　Now；　they're　going　to　be　working　for　some　time。　Why　don't　we　go　on　？　back　into　the　conservatory　and　have　tea？〃
　
　〃Yes；　we　should　do　that；〃　　he　said。　It　was　dislike　in　his　face；　wasn't　it？　Not　confusion。　He　felt　nothing　for　these　treasures。　They　were　alien　to　him；　they　did　not　matter　one　way　or　the　other。　She　might　have　felt　the　same　way　gazing　at　a　modern　machine　she　did　not　understand。
　
　It　saddened　her。　But　everything　saddened　her　now…and　most　of　all　the　fact　that　her　father　had　had　so　little　time　with　these　many　treasures；　that　he　had　died　on　the　very　day　of　his　greatest　discovery。　And　that　she　was　the　one　who　must　savour　each　and　every　article　that　he　had　uncovered　in　this　mysterious　and　controversial　grave。
　
　Perhaps　after　tea；　Alex　would　understand　that　she　wanted　to　be　alone。　She　led　him　down　the　hall　now；　past　the　double　doors　of　me　drawing　rooms；　past　the　doors　of　the　library　and　out　through　the　marble　alcove　into　the　glass　room　of　ferns　and　flowers　that　ran　across　the　entire　back　of　the　house。
　
　This　had　been　Father's　favourite　place　when　he　was　not　in　the　library。　No　accident　that　his　desk　and　his　books　were　only　a　few　feet　away；　through　those　glass　doors。
　
　They　sat　down　at　the　wicker　table　together；　the　sun　playing　beautifully　on　the　silver　tea　service　before　them。
　
　〃You　pour；　dearest；〃　　she　said　to　Alex。　She　laid　out　the　cakes　on　the　plates。　Now　that　gave　him　something　to　do　which　he
　
　understood。
　
　Had　she　ever　known　a　human　being　who　could　do　all　the　little　things　so　well？　Alex　could　ride；　dance；　shoot；　pour　tea；　mix　delicious　American　cocktails；　slip　into　the　protocol　of　Buckingham　Palace　without　batting　an　eyelash。　He　could　read　an　occasional　poem　with　such　a　simulation　of　feeling　that　it　made　her　weep。　He　could　kiss　very　well；　too；　and　there　was　no　doubt　that　marriage　with　him　would　have　its　deeply　sensuous　moments。　No　doubt　whatsoever。　But　what　else　would　it　have？
　
　She　felt　selfish　suddenly。　Wasn't　all　that　enough？　It　hadn't　been　for　her　father；　a　merchant　prince　whose　manners　were　indistinguishable　from　those　of　aristocratic　friends。　It　had　meant　nothing　at　all。
　
　〃Drink　it；　darling；　you　need　it；〃　　Alex　said　to　her；　offering　her　the　cup　the　way　she　liked　it。　No　milk；　no　sugar。　Only　a　thin　slice　of　lemon。
　
　Imagine　anyone　really　needing　tea。
　
　It　seemed　the　light　changed　around　her；　a　shadow。　She　looked　up　to　see　that　Samir　had　e　silently　into　the　room。
　
　〃Samir。　Sit　down。　Join　us。〃
　
　He　motioned　for　her　to　remain　where　she　was。　He　was　holding　a　leather…bound　book　in　his　hands。
　
　〃Julie；〃　　he　said　with　a　slow　and　deliberate　glance　in　the　direction　of　the　Egyptian　room；〃　I　brought　your　father's　notebook　to　you。　I　didn't　want　to　give　it　to　the　people　at　the　museum。〃
　
　〃Oh；　I'm　so　glad。　Do　join　us；　please。〃
　
　〃No；　I　must　return　to　work　immediately。　I　want　to　make　sure　things　are　done　as　they　should　be。　And　you　must　read　this　notebook；　Julie。　The　newspapers；　they　published　only　the　bare　bones　of　this　story。　There　is　more　here。　。。。〃
　
　〃e；　sit　down；〃　　she　pressed　again。〃　We'll　take　care　of　that　together；　later。〃
　
　After　a　moment's　hesitation；　he　gave　in。　He　took　the　chair　beside　her；　giving　a　little　polite　nod　to　Alex；　to　whom　he'd　been　introduced　before。
　
　〃Julie；　your　father　had　only　begun　his　translations。　You　know　his　mand　of　the　ancient　tongues。。。〃
　
　〃Yes；　I'm　eager　to　read　it。　But　what　is　really　troubling　you？〃　　she　said　earnestly。〃　What　is　wrong？〃
　
　Samir　pondered；　then：〃　Julie；　I　am　uneasy　about　this　discovery。　I　am　uneasy　about　the　mummy　and　the　poisons　contained　in　the　tomb。〃
　
　〃Were　they　really　Cleopatra's　poisons？〃　　Alex　said　quickly。〃　Or　is　that　something　the　reporters　dreamed　up？〃
　
　〃No　one　can　say；〃　　Samir　answered　politely。
　
　〃Samir；　everything　is　carefully　labelled；〃　　Julie　said。〃　The　servants　had　been　told。〃
　
　〃You　don't　believe　in　the　curse　now；　do　you？〃　　Alex　asked。
　
　Samir　made　a　little　polite　smile。〃　No。　Nevertheless；〃　　he　said；　turning　back　to　Julie。〃　Promise　me　that　if　you　see　anything　strange；　even　if　you　suffer　a　presentiment；　you　will　call　me　at　the　museum　at　once。〃
　
　〃But；　Samir；　I　never　expected　you　to　believe…〃
　
　〃Julie；　curses　are　rare　in　Egypt；〃　　he　said　quickly。〃　And　the　admonitions　written　on　this　mummy　case　are　most　severe。　The　story　of　the　creature's　immortality；　there　are　more　details　in　this　little　book；〃
　
　〃But　you　don't　think　Father　really　succumbed　to　a　curse；　Samir。〃
　
　〃No。　But　the　things　found　in　the　tomb　defy　explanation。　Except　if　one　believes　。。。　But　then　that　is　absurd。　I　ask　only　that　you　take　nothing　for　granted。　That　you　call　me　if　you　need　me　at　once。〃　　He　took　his　leave　of　her　abruptly；　and　went　back　into　the　library。　She　could　hear　him　speaking　Arabic　to　one　of　the　workmen。　She　watched　them　uneasily　through　the　open　doors。
　
　Grief；　she　thought。　It's　a　strange　and　a　misunderstood　emotion。　He　grieves　for　Father　as　I　do；　and　so　the　whole　discovery　is　ruined　for　him。　How　difficult　all　this　must　be。
　
　And　he　would　have　so　enjoyed　all　of　it　if　only　。。。　Well；　she　understood。　It　was　not　so　with　her。　She　wanted　nothing　so　much　as　to　be　alone　with　Ramses　the　Great　and　his　Cleopatra。　But　she　understood。　And　the　pain　of　Father's　loss　would　be　there　forever。　She　didn't　really　want　it　to　go　away。　She　looked　at　Alex；　poor　lost　boy　staring　at　her　with　such　concern。
　
　〃I　love　you；〃　　he　whispered　suddenly。
　
　〃Why；　what　on　earth　has　e　over　you！〃　　She　laughed　softly。
　
　He　looked　baffled；　childlike。　Her　handsome　fiancé　was　really　suffering　suddenly。　She　couldn't　bear　it。
　
　〃I　don't　know；〃　　he　said。〃　Maybe　I'm　having　a　presentiment。　Is　that　what　he　called　it？　I　only　know　I　want　to　remind　you…I　love　you。〃
　
　〃Oh；　Alex；　dear　Alex。〃　　She　bent　forward　and　kissed　him；　and　felt　his　sudden　desperate　clasp　of　her　hand。
　
　The　gaudy　little　clock　on　Daisy's　dressing　table　rang　six。
　
　Henry　sat　back；　stretched；　then　reached　for　the　champagne　again；　filling　his　glass；　then　hers。
　
　She　looked　drowsy　still；　the　thin　satin　strap　of　her　nightgown　fallen　down　over　one　rounded　arm。
　
　〃Drink；　darling；〃　　he　said。
　
　〃Not　me；　lovey。　Singing　tonight；〃　　she　said　with　an　arrogant　lift　of　her　chin。〃　I　can't　drink　all　day　like　some　I　know。〃　　She　tore　off　a　bit　of　meat　from　the　roasted　fowl　on　her　plate；　and　put　it　in　her　mouth　crudely。　Beautiful　mouth。〃　But　this　cousin　of　yours！　She's　not　afraid　of　the　bloody　mummy！　Putting　it　right　there　in　her　own　house！〃
　
　Big　stupid　blue　eyes　fixed　on　him；　just　the　kind　he　liked。　Though　he　missed　Malenka；　his　Egyptian　beauty；　he　really　did。　The　thing　about　an　Eastern　woman　was　she　didn't　have　to　be　stupid；　she　could　be　clever；　and　just　as　easy　to　manage。　With　a　girl　like　Daisy；　the　stupidity　was　essential；　and　then　you　had　to　talk　to　her…and　talk　to　her　and　talk　to　her。
　
　〃Why　the　hell　should　she　be　afraid　of　the　damned　mummy！〃　　he　said　irritably。〃　The　daft　part　is　giving　the　whole　treasure　to
　
　a　museum。　She　doesn't　know　what　money　is；　my　cousin。　She　has　too　much　of　it　to　know。　He　increased　my　trust　fund　by　a　pittance　and　he　leaves　her　a　shipping　empire。　He's　the　one　who　was　。。。〃
　
　He　stopped。　The　little　chamber；　the　sunlight　falling　in　shafts　on　that　thing。　He　saw　it　again。　Saw　what　he　had　done！　No。　Not　right。　Died　of　a　heart　attack　or　a　stroke；　he　did…the　man　lying　sprawled　on　the　sandy　floor；　I　didn't　do　it。　And　that　thing；　it　hadn't　been　staring　through　the　wrappings；　that　was　absurd！
　
　He　drank　the　champagne　too　quickly。　Ah；　but　it　was　good；　He　filled　his　glass　again。
　
　〃But　a　bleeding　mummy　in　the　very　house　with　her；〃　　Daisy　said。
　
　And　suddenly；　violently；　he　saw　those　eyes　again；　beneath　rotted　bandages；　staring　at　him。　Yes；　staring。　Stop　it；　you　fool；　you　did　what　you　had　to　do！　Stop　it　or　you　will　go　mad。
　
　He　rose　from　the　table　a　bit　clumsily　and　put　on　his　jacket；　and　straightened　his　silk　tie。
　
　〃But　where　are　you　going？〃　　Daisy　asked。〃　You're　a　bit　too　drunk　to　be　going　out　now；　if　you　ask　me。〃
　
　〃But　I　didn't；〃　　he　answered。　She　knew　where　he　was　going。　He　had　the　hundred　pounds　he'd　managed　to　squeeze　out　of　Randolph；　and　the　casino　was　open。　It　had　opened　at　dark。
　
　He　wanted　to　be　there　alone　now；　so　that　he　could　truly　concentrate。　Merely　thinking　of　it；　of　the　green　baize　under　the　lamps　and　the　sound　of　the　dice　and　roulette　wheel；　engendered　a　deep　excitement　in　him。　One　good　win；　and　he'd　quit；　he　promised　himself。　And　with　a　hundred　pounds　to　start。　No；　he　couldn't　wait。。。
　
　Of　course　he'd　run　into　Sharpies；　and　he　owed　Sharpies　too　much　money；　but　how　the　hell　was　he　supposed　to　pay　it　back　if　he　didn't　get　to　the　tables；　and　though　he　didn't　feel　lucky…no；　not　lucky　at　all　tonight…well；　he　had　to　gi