elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第63章

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cattering　them　about　the　streets；　to　the　additional　confusion　of　those　I　encountered。　I　presented　the　last　…　a　very　handsome　emerald　brooch；　which　I　hated　to　give　up　…　to　the　officer　in　mand　of　one　of　the　guard　posts。　With　my　blessing。　May　I　have　more　tea？〃
　Ramses　was　the　first　to　break　the　fascinated　silence。　〃I'm　a　bloody　amateur；〃　he　murmured。　〃Excuse　me；　Mother。〃
　〃You　haven't　done　so　badly；〃　his　uncle　conceded。　〃This　last　escapade　wasn't　well　thought　out；　though。　You　ought　to　have　had　a　means　of　escape　arranged　before　you　shot　at　me。〃
　〃You　don't　suppose　Ramses　would　do　such　a　thing！〃　Nefret　said　indignantly。
　〃Now；　now；　keep　calm。　I　did　not　suppose　my　affectionate　nephew　really　intended　to　kill　me。　I　credited　him　with　realizing　that　an　attack　on　me；　presumably　by　my　erstwhile　employers；　would　establish　me　as　a　bona　fide　traitor。　I　didn't　expect　he　would　go　so　far　as　to　let　himself　be　caught。　That　was　a　plication　I　did　not　need。〃
　〃Accept　my　apologies；〃　said　Ramses；　scowling　at　his　uncle。　Sethos　did　have　a　gift　for　turning　people　against　him。
　〃Who　was　it；　then；　if　it　wasn't　you？〃
　〃A　fellow　named　Chetwode。　He's　the　general's　nephew。　His　superior　is　a　man　named　Cartright。〃
　〃Oh；　that　lot。　How　did　you　…〃
　〃Never　mind　that　now；〃　I　interrupted。　〃If　we　keep　getting　off　onto　side　issues　we　will　never　make　sense　of　this　business。　What　happened　after　you　left　Gaza？〃
　〃I　decided　I　had　better　go　to　Khan　Yunus　and　warn　you。〃
　〃You　might　have　thought　of　that　earlier；〃　Emerson　grumbled。
　〃I　told　you；　I　didn't　know　what　Sahim　intended　to　do　until　he　informed　me。　I　barely　made　it　out　of　the　city　before　his　men　came　boiling　out　in　hot　pursuit；　I　had　to　lie　low　in　the　hills　until　they　tired　of　looking　for　me。〃　He　took　a　cigarette　from　the　tin　Ramses　offered　him　and　lit　it　before　he　went　on。　〃By　the　time　I　got　to　Khan　Yunus；　all　hell　had　broken　loose。　The　army　was　on　the　scene；　trying　to　suppress　the　riot；　without　the　vaguest　idea　of　who　had　started　it　or　why。　Your　place　had　been　broken　into；　and　some　of　the　locals　were　taking　advantage　of　the　confusion　to　carry　off　anything　they　could　lay　their　hands　on。〃
　〃The　motorcar！〃　Selim　exclaimed。　〃Did　they　damage　it？〃
　〃I　wasn't　given　the　opportunity　to　examine　it；〃　Sethos　said　dryly。　〃I　hung　about　trying　to　look　harmless　until　the　military　got　things　more　or　less　under　control。　You　hadn't　shown　yourselves；　so　I　could　only　hope　Edward　had　warned　you　in　time　for　you　to　escape。　It　was　after　midnight　by　then。　I　had　the　devil　of　a　time　getting　out　of　town；　since　I　had　to　avoid　not　only　soldiers　looking　for　rioters　but　rioters　who　might　be　Sahin's　lads。　The　whole　bloody　countryside　was　aroused　…　looking　for　a　pack　of　horse　thieves；　as　the　sergeant　who　collared　me　explained。　I　was　not　in　possession　of　a　horse；　so　he　let　me　go。　You　people　really　excel　at　stirring　up　trouble！　I　pushed　on　and；　of　course；　found　the　ruined　house　deserted。　You'd　been　there　…　you　left　an　empty　biscuit　tin　…　and　so　had　several　horses。　So　I　came　on　here。　I　couldn't　think　where　else　you　might　have　gone。　It　took　a　while；　since　I　was　on　foot。〃
　I　observed　the　faintest　tremor　in　the　hand　that　extinguished　his　cigarette。　It　was　not　the　only　sign　of　fatigue；　his　voice　was　flat　and　his　face　was　drawn。
　〃You　had　better　get　some　sleep；〃　I　said。　〃We　will　talk　again　later。〃
　〃As　you　mand；　Sitt　Hakim。〃　He　got　slowly　to　his　feet。　〃Is　someone　sleeping　in　my　bed？〃
　〃Miss　Sahin　is　in　one　of　the　beds。　I　will　make　up　the　other　one　for　you。〃
　〃There　is　no　need　for　that。〃
　〃Clearly　it　is　not　an　amenity　to　which　you　are　accustomed。　I　will　do　it　anyhow。　e　along。〃
　What　I　wanted；　as　the　Reader　must　have　surmised；　was　a　private　chat。　Even　Emerson　realized　the　reasonableness　of　this；　though　he　did　not　much　like　it。　He　had　never　pletely　conquered　his　jealousy　of　his　brother；　baseless　though　it　was　…　on　my　side；　at　any　rate。
　〃Allow　me　to　give　you　a　little　laudanum；〃　I　said。　〃You　won't　sleep　without　it；　you　are　too　tired　and　too　on　edge。〃
　〃Are　you　afraid　I'll　sneak　out　of　the　house？〃　He　watched　me　unfold　one　of　the　sheets　and　then　took　hold　of　the　other　end。　〃I　have　better　sense　than　that。　If　Edward　isn't　back　by　nightfall；　I　will　have　to　take　steps；　but　I　cannot　function　efficiently　without　sleep。〃
　He　had　tucked　the　sheet　in　any　which　way。　I　remade　that　end　of　the　bed。　Our　eyes　met；　and　he　smiled　a　little；　he　was　thinking；　as　was　I；　what　an　oddly　domestic　scene　this　was。　〃I　don't　need　your　laudanum；〃　he　went　on；　removing　a　container　from　one　of　the　shelves。
　〃How　long　have　you　been　taking　that？〃　I　asked；　as　he　swallowed　a　small　white　pill。
　〃Weeks。　Months。〃　He　stretched　out　on　the　bed。　〃It　works　quickly；　so　if　you　have　any　questions　…　which　you　undoubtedly　do　…　talk　fast。〃
　〃I　only　wanted　to　ask　about　Margaret。　Have　you　heard　from　her？〃
　He　hadn't　expected　such　a　harmless　subject。　〃Margaret？　No；　not　for　months。　I　couldn't　very　well　carry　on　a　frequent　correspondence；　could　I？〃
　〃Does　she　know　what　you　are　doing？〃
　〃She　knows　everything　about　me。〃　He　closed　his　eyes。
　〃Including　…〃
　〃Everything。〃
　〃You　have　plete　confidence　in　her；　then。　Are　you　going　to　marry　her？〃
　Sethos　opened　his　eyes　and　clasped　his　hands　behind　his　head。　〃You　aren't　going　to　leave　me　in　peace　until　I　invite　you　into　my　innermost　heart；　are　you？　The　question　is　not　whether　I　am　going　to　marry　her；　but　whether　she　will　consent　to　marry　me。　I　asked　her。　I　hadn't　intended　to；　it　…　er　…　came　into　my　head　at　a　particularly　…　er　…　personal　moment。　She　said　no。〃
　〃A　flat；　unconditional　no？〃
　〃There　were　conditions。　You　can　guess　what　they　were。　She　was　in　the　right。　I　told　her　…　I　promised　her　…　this　would　be　my　last　assignment。　As　it　well　may　be。〃
　〃Not　in　the　way　you　mean；〃　I　said　firmly。　〃We　are　here；　and　on　the　job！　We　could　be　more　useful；　however；　if　you　would　tell　me　the　purpose　of　your　mission。　What　are　you　after？〃
　〃Sahin。〃　His　eyelids　drooped。　The　sedative　had　loosened　his　tongue。　〃He's　their　best　man。　Their　only　good　man。　Once　he's　out　of　the　way；　we　can　proceed　with　。　。　。　He　loves　the　girl。　I　didn't　know　that。　I　thought　he'd　go　to　some　lengths　to　get　her　back；　but　I　didn't　realize　。　。　。　Paternal　affection　isn't　one　of　my　strong　points。　I　told　you　about　Maryam；　didn't　I？〃
　〃Who？〃　I　had　to　repeat　the　question。　He　was　half　asleep；　wandering　a　little　in　his　mind。
　〃Maryam。　Molly。　That's　the　name　you　knew　。　。　。　She's　gone。〃
　〃Dead？〃　I　gasped。　〃Your　daughter？〃
　〃No。　Gone。　Left。　Ran　away。　Hates　me。　Because　of　her　mother。　She's　living　proof　of　heredity。　Got　the　worst　of　both　parents。　Poor　little　devil　。　。　。　She　is；　you　know。　Amelia　。　。　。〃
　〃It's　all　right；〃　I　said　softly；　taking　the　hand　that　groped　for　mine。　〃Everything　will　be　all　right。　Sleep　now。〃
　I　sat　by　him　until　his　hand　relaxed　and　the　lines　on　his　face　smoothed　out。　I　had　intended　…　oh；　I　admit　it　…　to　take　advantage　of　his　drowsy　state　to　wring　information　out　of　him；　but　I　had　not　expected　revelations　so　intimate；　so　personal；　so　painful。
　His　daughter　had　been　fourteen　years　of　age　when　I　knew　her。　She　must　be　sixteen　now。　Her　mother　had　been　Sethos's　lover　and　partner　in　crime；　but　her　tigerish　affection　had　turned　to　jealous　hatred　when　she　realized　his　heart　belonged　to　another。　（Me；　in　fact；　or　so　he　claimed。）　She　tried　several　times　to　kill　me　and　succeeded　in　assassinating　one　of　my　dearest　friends　before　she　met　her　end　at　the　hands　of　those　who　had　been　an　instant　too　late　to　save　him。
　How　much　of　that　terrible　story　did　the　child　know？　If　she　blamed　her　father　for　her　mother's　death；　she　could　not　know　the　whole　truth。　He　had　not　even　been　present　when　she　died；　and　she　had　led　a　life　of　crime　and　depravity　before　she　met　Sethos。　A　moralist　might　hold　him　guilty　of　failing　to　redeem　her；　but　in　my　opinion　even　a　saint；　which　Sethos　was　not；　would　have　found　Bertha　hard　going。
　I　do　not　believe　that　the　dead　hand　of　heredity　is　the　sole　determinant　of　character。　Remembering　Molly　as　I　had　last　seen　her；　looking　even　younger　than　her　actual　age；　the　picture　of　freckled；　childish　innocence　。　。　。　But　she　hadn't　looked　so　innocent　the　day　I　found　her　in　Ramses's　room　with　her　dress　half　off　…　by　her　own　act；　I　should　add。　If　I　had　not　happened　to　be　passing　by　…　if　Ramses　had　not　had　the　good　sense　to　summon　me　at　once　…　or　if　he　had　been　another　kind　of　man；　the　kind　of　man　she　hoped　he　was　…　he　might　have　found　himself　in　an　extremely　interesting　situation。
　That　proved　nothing。　She　had　not　deliberately　set　out　to　seduce　or　shame　him；　she　had　been　young　and　foolish　and　infatuated。　My　heart　swelled　with　pity；　for　her　and　for　the　man　who　lay　sleeping　on　the　bed；　his　face　pale　and　drawn　with　fatigue。　He　had　not　known　how　much　he　loved　her　until　he　lost　her；　and　he　blamed　himself。　How　wonderful　it　would　be　if　I　could　bring　father　and　child　together　again！
　It　was　a　happy　thought；　but　not　practical　…　for　the　present；　at　any　rate。　We　had　to　get　through　the　current　difficulty　first。　With　a　sigh　I　slipped　my　hand　from　his　and　tiptoed　out　of　the　room。
　〃Well？〃　Emerson　demanded。　〃You've　been　the　devil　of　a　long　time。　How　much　were　you　able　to　get　out　of　him？〃
　〃We　were　right　about　him；　of　course；〃　I　replied；　seating　myself　next　to　him　as　his　gesture　invited。　〃He　is　no　traitor。　His　mission　was　to　remove　Sahin　Bey　…　Pasha。〃
　〃Kill　him；　you　mean？〃　Ramses　asked。
　〃He　didn't　say。　But　surely　Sethos　would　not　…〃
　〃Sahin　is　a　dangerous　enemy　and　this　is　wartime。　However；〃　Ramses　said　thoughtfully；　〃the　same　purpose　would　be　served　if　Sahin　Pasha　were　to　be　disgraced　and　removed　from　his　position。　In　the　last　week　he's　lost　me；　his　daughter；　and　now　Ismail　Pasha；　whose　flight　will　prove　to　their　satisfaction　that　he　was　a　British　spy。　Careless；　to　say　the　least！〃
　〃More　than　careless；〃　Emerson　exclaimed。　〃Highly　suspicious；　to　say　the　least！　With　that　lot；　you　are　guilty　until　proven　innocent。　By　Gad；　my　boy；　I　believe　you　are　right。　It's　like　Sethos　to　concoct　such　a　devious　scheme。　If　the　Turks　believe；　as　they　well　may；　that　Sahin　Pasha　has　been　a　double　agent　all　along；　they　will　have　to　reorganize　their　entire　intelligence　network。　It　could　take　months。〃
　〃And　in　the　meantime　they　would　be　without　their　best　and　cleverest　man；〃　I　added。　〃Sethos　said　that　once　Sahin　was　out　of　the　way；　they　could　proceed　with　。　。　。　something。〃
　〃What？〃
　〃He　didn't　say。〃
　〃And　who　is　'they'？〃　Nefret　asked。　〃Who　is　he　working　for？　Not　Cartright　and　'that　lot'？〃
　〃He　…　er　…　didn't　say。〃
　Emerson　brought　his　fist　down　on　the　table；　rattling　the　crockery。　〃What　did　he　say？　Good　Gad；　you　were　with　him　for　almost　three　quarters　of　an　hour。〃
　〃How　do　you　know　that？〃　I　demanded。　〃You　haven't　a　watch。〃
　This　time　my　attempt　to　distract　him　and　put　him　on　the　defensive　did　not　succeed。　〃Just　answer　the　question；　Peabody。　What　were　you　talking　about　all　that　while？〃
　〃Personal　matters。　Oh；　Emerson；　for　pity's　sake；　don't　grind　your　teeth。　I　wanted　to　make　certain　he　was　asleep　before　I　left　him。　The　man　is　on　the　edge　of　nervous　collapse。　He　has　been　living　for　months　under　conditions　of　intolerable　strain。　He　must　not　be　allowed　to　return　to　Gaza。〃
　〃He　wouldn't　be　such　a　fool；〃　Emerson　muttered。
　〃He　would　if　he　believed　Sir　Edward　had　gone