elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第49章

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er。　The　basic　plan　was　fortable　if　somewhat　old…fashioned；　with　a　bath　chamber　and　a　number　of　small　cubicles　surrounding　a　handsome　saloon；　or　ka'ah；　a　lofty　chamber　with　an　arched　ceiling　and　tiled　floor。　One　end　was　raised；　with　rugs　covering　the　floor；　and　two　divans。　I　cannot　describe　to　persons　of　fastidious　tastes　（as　my　Readers　certainly　are）　the　condition　of　the　place。　It　was　all　I　could　do　to　refrain　from　rolling　up　my　sleeves　and　seizing　a　broom。　Since　this　was　impossible；　I　threw　myself　into　my　role　as　elderly　harridan　and　began　shouting　out　directions。　I　doubt　the　flustered　females　had　ever　moved　so　fast。　The　rugs　and　cushions　were　removed　to　be　beaten　and　fumigated；　the　floor　was　swept　and　scrubbed；　the　dust　and　cobwebs　covering　all　the　flat　surfaces　were　removed。　When　the　room　was　habitable；　and　we　had　been　supplied　with　a　jug　of　warm　water；　I　sent　the　whole　lot　of　them　off　to　the　bath　chamber；　assuring　them　I　would　e　soon　to　make　certain　they　had　cleaned　it　thoroughly。
　Nefret　had　remained　modestly　silent；　her　Arabic　was　less　fluent　than　mine。　I　wondered　what　Ramses　would　think　of　the　transformation　in　her　appearance。　She　had　darkened　her　skin　a　shade　or　two；　and　her　hair　was　now　a　pretty　shade　of　russet　brown。　The　cornflower…blue　eyes　could　not　be　concealed；　but　they　could　be　explained　by　the　assumption　that　she　was　of　light…skinned　Circassian　or　Berber　ancestry。　There　were　a　good　many　girls　of　that　plexion　in　Turkish　harems。
　〃You　certainly　look　like　an　old　man's　darling；〃　I　remarked　in　French。　We　had　decided　it　was　safer　to　use　that　language；　even　in　private　conversation；　in　case　we　were　overheard。
　Nefret　made　a　face　and　plucked　at　the　embroidered　gibbeh　that　covered　several　other　layers　of　garments。　〃I　don't　smell　like　one。　I'd　give　anything　for　a　bath　and　a　change　of　clothing。〃
　〃So　would　I。　It　will　have　to　wait。　But　you　may　as　well　remove　the　gibbeh　and　freshen　up　a　bit。　Curse　it；　here　are　some　of　the　women　e　back。〃
　They　had　brought　our　luggage；　including　the　mats　on　which　I　intended　we　should　sit　and　sleep。　Emerson　had　howled　at　the　amount　of　baggage　I　had　considered　necessary　…　he　would　have　gone　off　to　Timbuktu　with　only　the　clothes　on　his　back　…　but　I　absolutely　refused　to　share　my　bed　with　the　interesting　variety　of　insect　life　that　I　had　good　reason　to　expect。　The　women　spread　the　mats　over　the　divans　and　unpacked　a　few　more　things；　including　my　traveling　tea　set；　which　included　a　silver　kettle　and　a　spirit　lamp。　（This　had　produced　a　particularly　sarcastic　string　of　remarks　from　Emerson。）
　I　was　preparing　an　emphatic　speech　of　dismissal　for　the　ladies　when　the　appearance　of　Emerson　spared　me　that　effort。　The　women　at　once　fled；　drawing　folds　of　their　garments　over　their　faces；　and　closed　the　doors。
　Hands　on　hips；　feet　apart；　Emerson　inspected　the　room　and　us　with　a　lordly　sneer。　He　looked　magnificent！　I　repressed　the　thrill　of　admiration　that　ran　through　my　limbs；　since　it　was　unlikely　I　could　do　anything　about　it　for　some　time。　Regret　was　mitigated　by　the　presence　of　the　beard。　It　looked　splendid；　but　I　knew　how　it　would　feel　…　like　a　bramble　bush。
　〃Well；　this　is　very　pleasant；〃　he　remarked。
　〃French；　Emerson；〃　I　said。
　〃Merde；〃　said　Emerson；　whose　mand　of　that　language　is　limited。　He　does　know　most　of　the　swearwords；　though。
　〃I　have　ordered　dinner　to　be　brought　here；〃　he　went　on。　〃It　is　a　condescension　on　my　part；　but　I　am　an　uxorious；　indulgent　husband。　You　will　serve　me　kneeling；　of　course。〃
　〃Don't　get　carried　away；　Emerson；〃　I　warned。
　〃En　fran？ais；　ma　chérie；　s'il　vous　pla？t；〃　said　Emerson；　grinning　broadly。　He　went　on　in　his　version　of　that　language；　with　occasional　lapses　into　English　when　his　vocabulary　failed　him。　〃Selim　is　in　a　condition　because　of　the　motorcar。　He　injured　the　…　er　…　bonnet　when　he　passed　it　between　the　gate。〃
　Through　the　window　I　could　hear　Selim's　voice；　raised　in　vehement　mentary；　and　understood　enough　to　prehend　that　he　was　trying　to　sort　out　the　servant　situation。　I　deduced　that　dinner　would　be　late。
　〃Well；　we　are　here；〃　I　remarked；　〃and　although　some　of　our　habits　will　undoubtedly　strike　the　servants　as　peculiar；　they　won't　think　much　about　it。　But　how　is　Ramses　to　reach　us？　He　can't　e　here　as　himself。〃
　〃He　knows　that；〃　Emerson　said。　〃Give　the　boy　credit。〃
　〃We　must　do　something　about　the　mashrabiya　screens；　Emerson。　I　cannot　see　an　infernal　thing　out　the　window。〃
　〃Vous　êtes　en　la　harem；　ma　chérie；〃　said　Emerson；　smirking。　〃Les　dames　non　pouvait　…　pourraint　…　（curse　it！）　voir　dans　le　aperture。〃
　I　understood　his　meaning；　despite　his　atrocious　grammar。　Some　of　our　windows　opened　onto　the　courtyard；　it　would　not　have　been　proper　for　strangers　to　see　a　woman　looking　out。
　After　his　little　exercise　of　wit；　Emerson　admitted　we　would　be　well　advised　to　get　the　screens　loose；　so　that　we　would　have　warning　of　unexpected　visitors。　It　took　all　three　of　us　to　do　the　job；　since　we　did　not　want　to　remove　them　entirely。　With　the　aid　of　strips　of　fabric　cut　from　the　hangings；　we　managed　to　secure　them　so　they　would　not　flap　but　could　be　opened　without　difficulty。
　Dinner　finally　arrived。　It　was　very　bad；　so　I　assumed　Selim　had　not　been　able　to　find　a　skilled　cook。　We　ate　sitting　cross…legged　round　the　platter　of　rice　and　mutton。　Though　mats　had　been　placed　in　the　adjoining　cubicles；　we　decided　to　spend　the　night　in　the　ka'ah。　What　the　servants　thought　of　this　I　cannot　imagine　（or　rather；　I　prefer　not　to　imagine）。　Emerson　considered　it　best　that　we　should　not　separate；　however。
　Next　morning　Selim；　now　in　undisputed　charge　of　the　household；　relegated　the　extraneous　members　of　the　family　to　the　house　they　had　originally　occupied；　and　went　off　to　hire　several　more　servants；　including　a　cook。　The　patriarch　of　the　small　clan　we　retained　in　the　post　of　doorkeeper。
　After　breakfast　（warmed…up　rice　and　mutton）　Emerson　went　out　to　visit　the　coffeeshops　and　listen　to　the　local　gossip。　I　saw　no　reason　why　we　could　not　have　visited　the　suk；　properly　veiled　and　escorted；　but　Emerson　declared　it　would　be　an　unnecessary　risk；　and　Nefret　produced　an　even　more　conclusive　argument。
　〃What　if　he　should　e　while　we　were　out？〃
　She　was　right；　but　the　morning　dragged　on；　with　nothing　to　do　except　bully　the　servants　and　familiarize　ourselves　with　the　rooms　of　the　harem。　We　were　able　to　bathe　for　the　first　time　since　we　had　left　Cairo；　and　a　great　relief　it　was。
　In　the　course　of　my　exploration；　I　discovered　several　secret　passages　with　peepholes　in　the　walls；　used　by　the　master　to　spy　on　his　women。　Many　of　the　older　mansions　in　the　region　had　such　devices；　as　well　as　escape　tunnels　and　hidden　rooms。　There　were　three　of　the　latter　in　the　haremlik；　two　mere　cubbyholes　in　the　wall　and　the　third　a　large　hiding　place　under　the　floor。　The　trapdoor　covering　it　was　concealed　by　matting。　It　had　been　designed　for　hiding　objects；　not　people；　since　it　was　less　than　four　feet　high　and　there　was　no　means　of　ventilation；　and　it　was；　as　I　had　expected；　empty。　Mahmud　would　not　have　left　anything　of　value。
　Emerson　returned　with　nothing　to　report；　except　that　the　town　was　full　of　soldiers；　which　we　already　knew。　We　were　lingering　over　luncheon　when　there　were　sounds　of　a　disturbance　without。　Emerson　hurried　to　the　door；　when　it　opened　I　heard　someone　say　in　Arabic；　〃There　is　a　person　here；　lord　…　I　could　not　keep　him　away　…〃
　Emerson　let　out　a　strangled　cough；　and　a　voice　I　knew　well　murmured　deprecatingly；　〃Lord；　your　slave　begs　your　mercy；　it　is　not　his　fault　he　did　not　e　before　this；　he　was　detained　by　the　cursed　British　and　made　to　dig　holes　…　see；　see　how　his　hands　are　bleeding！〃
　A　thump　followed；　as　if　of　knees　hitting　the　floor。
　My　curiosity　could　not　be　contained。　Nefret　was　already　at　the　door；　peeping　out。
　Emerson　stood　staring　down　openmouthed　at　the　form　crouching　at　his　feet。　Ramses's　curly　black　head　was　bare　and　what　I　could　see　of　his　skin　was　almost　as　dark　as　his　hair。　I　could　see　quite　a　lot　of　it。
　His　voice　rose　in　a　wail。　〃They　took　my　clothes；　lord；　the　fine　clothing　you　gave　me；　my　gibbeh　and　my　sudarayee　and　my　tarboosh　and　my　shoes；　and　my　…〃
　〃God　curse　them；〃　said　Emerson；　recovering　himself。　〃e　in；　then；　and　tell　me。〃
　Ramses　straightened；　smirking　like　a　favored　servant　who　has　talked　his　way　out　of　a　beating；　but　the　old　man　who　had　escorted　him　there　croaked；　〃Into　the　harem；　Effendi？〃
　Emerson　drew　himself　up　and　skewered　the　presumptuous　fellow　with　a　fierce　stare。　〃Did　not　the　Prophet　say；　when　he　brought　to　his　daughter　the　gift　of　a　male　slave；　that　she　need　not　veil　herself；　for　there　was　none　present　save　her　father　and　a　slave？〃
　This　interesting　theological　reference　may　have　been　too　abstruse　for　the　servant；　but　Emerson's　stare　got　the　point　across。　〃e；〃　he　added　to　Ramses。
　Nefret　and　I　quickly　retreated　from　the　door　and　Emerson　propelled　Ramses　through　it　with　a　hard　shove。　〃Now；〃　he　said　loudly；　in　Arabic；　〃make　your　excuses　to　your　mistress。〃
　He　slammed　the　door　and　Ramses　looked　quizzically　from　me　to　Nefret。　〃Which？〃
　〃Me；〃　Nefret　said　breathlessly。　〃I'm　the　new　favorite；　aren't　I？〃
　〃Speak　French；〃　I　said　warningly。
　Neither　of　them　heard　me；　I　believe。　Nefret　was　staring　at　him　as　if　she　had　never　seen　him　before　…　which；　in　a　way；　she　had　not；　for　to　the　best　of　my　knowledge　this　was　a　new　role　for　Ramses；　and　when　Ramses　played　a　part　he　did　it　thoroughly。　He　was　wearing　only　a　pair　of　dirty　cotton　drawers　and　he　had　stained　his　body　a　rich　dark　brown。　I　observed　several　raw　marks　across　his　bare　back；　and　remembered　that　I　had　heard　one　of　the　officers　explain　that　〃a　few　cuts　of　the　whip〃　were　advisable　when　dealing　with　recalcitrant　members　of　the　Labour　Corps。
　Nefret　had　seen　them　too。　She　let　out　a　little　cry　and　threw　herself　into　his　arms。
　They　made　a　picturesque　tableau　as　they　clung　to　one　another；　framed　by　the　pointed　arch　of　the　alcove　…　his　dark；　muscular　body　and　her　slender；　yielding　form　in　its　gold…embroidered　blue　velvet　gibbeh。　〃Story　pictures〃　were　popular　with　a　certain　school　of　painting；　and　it　was　not　difficult　to　think　of　a　title　for　this　one。　〃The　Slave　and　the　Sultan's　Favorite；〃　or　〃A　Tryst　with　Death；〃　or　…　
　Emerson　let　out　a　sound　rather　like　one　the　sultan　might　have　made　if　he　had　e　upon　such　a　scene；　and　the　two　drew　apart。
　〃Careless；〃　I　said　softly。　〃I　stopped　up　several　peepholes　in　the　walls；　but　I　doubt　I　found　them　all。〃
　Ramses　dropped　to　his　knees　in　front　of　me　and　clasped　his　hands。　〃Your　forgiveness；　honored　lady。〃
　〃Yes；　all　right；　just　don't　do　it　again。〃　I　added；　just　as　softly；　〃I；　too；　am　relieved　to　see　you；　my　dear。　What　next？〃
　〃I　can't　stay。　You　had　better　send　me　on　an　errand　…　and　find　me　some　clothes；〃　he　added；　looking　up　at　me　with　a　smile。　His　thin　dark　face　and　cheerful　grin　and　the　curls　clustering　untidily　round　his　forehead　filled　me　with　a　strong　desire　to　shake　him。　Men　actually　enjoy　this　sort　of　thing！　So　do　I；　if　truth　be　told；　but　only　when　I　am　allowed　to　take　an　active　part。　It　is　the　waiting　I　find　so　difficult；　particularly　when　one　waits　for　news　of　a　loved　one。
　〃When　will　we　see　you　again？〃　I　asked。
　〃I　don't　know。　I　am　to　rendezvous　with　Chetwode　this　evening　and　go　on　to　Gaza　with　him。　Two　days