elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第3章

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　She　smiled　at　David；　whose　candid　countenance　betrayed　his　relief　at　her　intervention。　He　had　difficulty　in　refusing　Emerson　anything；　and　he　had　not　known　how　to　break　the　news。
　I；　of　course；　had　known　the　moment　I　set　eyes　on　Lia。
　Emerson's　jaw　dropped。　〃Oh；　good　Gad！〃　he　shouted。　〃Not　again！　Just　like　her　mother！　It　must　be　a　hereditary　…〃
　〃Emerson！〃　I　exclaimed。
　The　reminder　was　sufficient；　for　Emerson　is　really　the　kindest　of　men。　He　managed　to　choke　out　a　few　words　of　congratulatory　import；　but　everyone　had　heard　his　bellow　and　most　of　them　knew　what　had　occasioned　it。　Even　Evelyn；　who　had　not　laughed　a　great　deal　since　Johnny's　death；　had　to　retreat　behind　the　Christmas　tree　to　conceal　her　mirth。　She　was　well　aware　that　Emerson　had　never　entirely　forgiven　her　for　abandoning　a　promising　career　as　a　copier　of　Egyptian　scenes　in　favor　of　motherhood。
　We　would　miss　David　and　Lia；　and　not　only　for　their　affectionate　panionship；　David　was　one　of　the　best　artists　and　epigraphers　in　the　field　and　Lia　had　learned　enough　about　Egyptology　to　have　bee　a　valued　assistant。　Their　absence　would　leave　us　somewhat　shorthanded　that　season。　I　did　not　allow　that　to　worry　me。　We　would　manage　somehow。　As　I　stood　on　the　dock　at　Alexandria；　the　old　joy　of　being　back　in　Egypt　pervaded　every　atom　of　my　being。　We　got　ourselves　and　our　baggage　onto　the　train　for　Cairo　with　only　the　usual　confusion；　which　was　pounded　by　the　presence　of　the　cat。　Horus　had　to　sit　between　Sennia　and　Nefret；　since　he　refused　to　tolerate　anyone　else。
　Other　members　of　our　Egyptian　family　awaited　us　at　the　station　in　Cairo。　We　were　soon　the　center　of　a　shouting；　cheering　mob；　which　included　not　only　our　friends　but　practically　every　Egyptian　who　happened　to　be　there；　all　greeting　us　by　our　Egyptian　names。　Emerson　disliked　formal　titles　and　would　not　allow　our　workers　to　address　him　as　Effendi；　but　he　rather　reveled　in　his　well…deserved　sobriquet　of　the　Father　of　Curses。　Many　Egyptians　still　called　me　Sitt　Hakim；　though　a　lady　doctor　I　was　not；　however；　in　my　early　days　in　Egypt；　when　medical　services　for　the　fellahin　were　practically　nonexistent；　even　my　limited　medical　skills　were　appreciated。　The　title　should　have　been　Nefret's；　but　she　had　long　been　known　as　Nur　Misur；　〃Light　of　Egypt〃；　and　Ramses　was　Brother　of　Demons　…　a　tribute　to　his　supposedly　supernatural　powers。
　Emerson　was　soon　so　enveloped　by　well…wishers　that　only　his　head　（hatless；　as　usual）　showed　above　the　crowd；　some　of　whom　attempted　to　embrace　him　while　others　knelt　for　his　blessing　（and　baksheesh）。
　All　at　once　Emerson's　voice　rose　in　a　vehement　swearword。　〃Stop　him！〃　he　shouted；　spinning　round　in　a　circle　and　swatting　his　admirers　away　with　wide　sweeps　of　his　arms。　〃Where　did　he　go？〃
　〃Why；　Emerson；　what　is　the　matter？〃　I　demanded；　hastening　to　his　side。
　Red…faced　and　shaking　with　rage；　Emerson　invoked　the　Creator　in　a　manner　of　which　I　thoroughly　disapprove。　〃He　was　here　a　second　ago。　Dressed　in　rags；　smelling　like　a　camel；　squatting　at　my　feet　。　。　。　Where　is　he？〃
　〃Vanished；〃　I　said；　as　the　crowd　again　closed　in。　〃Did　he　speak　to　you？〃
　〃Oh；　yes；　he　spoke。　'Wele　back；　brother！　And　thank　you。'　〃　Said　Emerson；　between　clenched　teeth；　〃I　had　just　given　him　fifty　piastres。〃
　　
　Emerson's　other　brother。　Strictly　speaking；　he　was　a　half　brother；　the　son　of　Emerson's　father　and　a　lady　who　had　had　the　misfortune　not　to　be　married　to　that　gentleman。　Only　recently　had　we　discovered　the　true　identity　of　the　man　who　had　been　for　many　years　our　most　formidable　opponent；　a　master　of　disguise　and　the　head　of　a　ring　of　criminals　that　specialized　in　tomb　robbing　and　antiquities　fraud；　and　the　additional；　equally　astonishing　fact　that　Sethos；　as　he　chose　to　be　called；　was　one　of　Britain's　most　valued　secret　agents。　These　revelations　had　forced　us　to　reevaluate　a　relationship　that　had　been　marked　by　considerable　acrimony。　As　I　pointed　out　to　Emerson；　one　cannot　wholly　despise　a　man　who　has　risked　his　life　for　us　and　for　his　country。
　I　made　the　point　again　as　my　seething　spouse　spun　round　and　round　in　a　vain　attempt　to　locate　the　insolent　beggar。　Ramses　and　Nefret　hastened　to　us；　demanding　to　know　what　had　happened。　A　few　brief　sentences　of　explanation　sufficed；　they　were　only　too　well　acquainted　with　Sethos's　skill　at　disguise　and　bizarre　sense　of　humor。　Ramses's　enigmatic　countenance　remained　unmoved　except　for　a　faint　line　between　his　brows；　but　Nefret's　dimples　were　very　much　in　evidence。　She　had　a　certain　weakness　for　the　man。　Most　women　did；　and　Sethos　was　not　above　exploiting　it　for　his　own　advantage。
　There　was　nothing　to　be　done　about　locating　him　in　that　mob；　so；　with　the　assistance　of　the　children；　I　forced　Emerson　into　a　carriage　and　persuaded　him　to　delay　discussion　of　the　matter　until　we　had　got　ourselves　settled　into　the　hotel。
　Although　he　was　anxious　to　get　on　to　Luxor；　Emerson　had　agreed　to　spend　a　few　days　in　Cairo　catching　up　on　the　news。　Press　censorship　was　so　strict；　we　had　only　the　faintest　idea　of　what　had　been　going　on　in　our　part　of　the　world。　We　were　staying　at　Shepheard's；　and　it　was　with　a　sense　of　agreeable　nostalgia　that　I　found　myself　once　again　in　the　ambience　that　had　provided　the　prelude　to　so　many　remarkable　experiences。　The　villain　Vincey　（and　his　cat）　searching　our　luggage　in　the　bedroom；　the　Master　Criminal；　aka　Sethos；　aka　（had　I　but　known）　my　brother…in…law；　slipping　a　sleeping　potion　into　my　wine　in　the　dining　saloon　。　。　。
　〃What's　he　up　to　now？〃　Emerson　demanded；　as　the　servants　carried　in　our　bags　and　the　manager　advanced　to　wele　us。
　〃Do　stop　shouting；　Emerson；〃　I　implored。　〃Wait　until　we　are　in　private。〃
　We　had　been　given　our　old　rooms　on　the　third　floor。　By　the　time　we　had　got　everyone　settled　in　and　I　had　convinced　Sennia　that　she　must　have　an　early　supper　with　Basima　instead　of　joining　us　for　dinner；　the　sky　was　darkening　and　the　lights　of　Cairo　were　twinkling　through　the　dusk。　The　private　discussion　I　had　promised　Emerson　would　have　to　wait　a　little　longer；　Gargery　was　not　to　be　got　rid　of。　Fully　recovered　and　officious　as　usual；　he　was　determined　to　carry　out　the　duties　of　a　valet。　Emerson　did　not　employ　a　valet；　nor　should　the　Reader　suppose　that　under　ordinary　circumstances　we　would　have　taken　a　servant　as　useless　as　a　butler　with　us　to　an　archaeological　dig。　Gargery　was　something　more　and　perhaps　something　less　than　a　butler；　however；　he　had　taken　part　in　several　of　our　criminal　investigations　and　had　proved　himself　ready　and　willing　to　employ　any　methods　he　deemed　necessary　to　protect　us　…　and　most　particularly；　Sennia。
　I　pleted　my　toilette　and　retired　to　the　sitting　room；　where　I　found　that　the　sufragi　had　delivered　a　number　of　messages　and　letters。　I　glanced　through　them；　entertained　by　the　growls　and　curses　ing　from　the　dressing　room。　Finally　Emerson　emerged；　looking　sullen　but　very　handsome　in　black　tie；　and　after　admiring　his　handiwork　and　requesting　my　approval；　Gargery　retired。
　Emerson　said；　〃Now；　Peabody；　curse　it　…〃
　〃No；　my　dear；　not　now。　We　will　want　to　hear　what　the　children　have　to　say　about　this。〃
　Nefret　and　Ramses　were　late　in　joining　us　in　the　dining　saloon；　so　I　took　advantage　of　the　interlude　to　see　if　there　was　anyone　present　from　whom　I　could　extract　useful　information。　Pickings；　as　Emerson　remarked；　appeared　to　be　slim。　Many　of　our　fellow　archaeologists　had　left　Egypt　for　war　duties。　I　had　hoped　to　see　Howard　Carter；　who　led　a　peripatetic　existence；　running　back　and　forth　between　Luxor；　where　he　excavated　in　a　rather　random　manner；　and　Cairo；　where　he　carried　out　certain　mysterious　activities　on　behalf　of　the　War　Office。　However；　he　was　not　there。
　There　was　one　familiar　face　among　those　present　…　one　I　would　rather　not　have　seen。　He　was　looking　directly　at　me；　and　I　was　not　quick　enough　to　avoid　meeting　his　eyes；　the　thin　lips　pressed　between　a　pointed　nose　and　chin　parted　in　a　smile　and　he　rose　to　his　feet。
　〃Curse　it！〃　said　Emerson。　〃It's　that　bastard　Smith。〃
　〃That　is　only　his　nom　d'espionnage；　Emerson。〃
　〃His　what？〃
　〃You　know　what　I　mean。　I　thought　it　a　rather　clever　term。〃
　Emerson's　expression　indicated　that　he　did　not　agree。　〃His　name　is　Boisgirdle…Bracedragon；〃　I　added。　〃Or　is　it　Bracegirdle…Boisdragon？　The　reason　I　have　difficulty　in　remembering　is；　of　course；　because　I　dislike　the　fellow　so　thoroughly。　It　is　a　well…known　psychological　…〃
　〃Don't　talk　psychology　to　me；　Peabody。　It　is　a　damned　ridiculous　name　in　any　case。　If　we　must　refer　to　him　at　all；　Smith　is　good　enough。　He　isn't　going　to　have　the　infernal　gall　to　speak　to　us；　is　he？〃
　If　Smith　had　intended　to　do　so；　Emerson's　concentrated　scowl　made　him　think　better　of　it。　He　sank　back　into　his　chair。　I　kept　an　unobtrusive　eye　on　him；　though；　and　when　Ramses　and　Nefret　joined　us　a　few　minutes　later；　he　again　rose；　and　this　time；　he　bowed　in　our　direction。
　Ramses　misses　very　little；　and　this　overture　would　have　been　difficult　to　overlook。　His　bland　expression　did　not　change；　but　Nefret　let　out　a　muffled　swearword。　She　looked　very　beautiful　in　her　favorite　cornflower　blue；　with　pearls　and　sapphires　as　her　ornaments　and　her　gold…red　hair　coiled　into　a　coronet　around　her　head；　but　her　pretty　face　had　assumed　a　scowl　almost　as　forbidding　as　that　of　Emerson。
　〃What's　he　doing　here？〃　she　demanded。
　〃One　must　suppose　he　is　dining；〃　said　Ramses　coolly。
　〃Here？〃
　Nefret　had　a　point。　Shepheard's　was　no　longer　the　hotel　favored　by　the　smart　set　of　Cairo。　〃Smith〃　was　a　member　of　that　group　of　silly　women　and　pompous　officials；　the　majority　of　whom　were　probably　unaware　of　his　intelligence　activities；　believing　him　to　be　an　official　of　the　Department　of　Public　Works。　He　was　dining　alone　that　evening。
　It　would　not　have　been　difficult　for　interested　parties　to　learn　the　date　of　our　arrival　and　the　name　of　the　hotel　where　we　had　booked　rooms。　Some　of　those　interested　parties　were　in　London；　and　I　did　not　doubt　that　their　particular　interest　was　in　my　son。　At　the　behest　of　his　superiors；　Smith　had　tried　once　before　to　recruit　Ramses　for　a　dangerous　mission。　Would　he　try　again？　Or　…　the　idea　had　just　occurred　to　me　…　did　his　presence　have　something　to　do　with　the　reappearance　of　Emerson's　brother？　Sethos　had　been　connected　in　some　way　with　the　group　Smith　directed；　whatever　it　may　have　been。　Secretiveness　is　second　nature　to　such　persons；　they　may　and　do　claim　it　is　necessary；　but　in　my　opinion　they　revel　in　being　mysterious。
　I　did　not　mention　this　conjecture　to　Emerson；　for　that　would　have　inflamed　his　temper　even　more。
　〃The　devil　with　Smith；〃　he　declared。　〃What　I　want　to　know　is　…　confound　it；　young　man；　what　are　you　doing？〃
　〃Serving　the　next　course；〃　I　said；　as　the　youth　fumbled　with　the　plates。　〃That　is　his　job；　Emerson。　Stop　terrorizing　him。〃
　〃Oh。　Well。　Sorry；　my　boy；〃　he　added；　addressing　the　waiter；　who　went　pale　with　horror。
　I　groaned。　〃And　don't　apologize　to　him！〃
　It　has　proved　impossible　to　train　Emerson　in　the　proper　ways　of　dealing　with　servants。　He　treats　prince　and　peasant；　basket　carrier　and　archaeologist　the　same　…　that　is；　he　shouts　at　them　when　he　is　out　of　temper　and　begs　their　pardon　when　he　has　been　unjust。　The　waiter　ought　to　have　been　trained　in　the　proper　way　of　dealing　with　Emerson；　wh