elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第7章

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　He　had　been　holding　it；　turning　it　in　his　hands；　running　his　fingers　along　the　curved　sides。　He　gave　her　a　smile　that　acknowledged　both　her　tactful　intervention　and　her　perceptiveness。　〃There's　a　rough　section；　here　on　the　shoulder。　The　rest　of　it　is　as　smooth　as　satin。〃
　〃Let　me　see。〃　Emerson　took　it　from　him　and　carried　it　to　the　window；　where　the　light　was　stronger。　〃By　Gad；　you're　right；〃　he　said；　in　obvious　chagrin。　〃Don't　know　how　I　could　have　missed　it。　Something　has　been　rubbed　off。　A　name？　An　inscription？〃
　〃The　space　is　about　the　right　size　for　a　cartouche；〃　Ramses　said。
　〃Can　you　see　anything？〃
　〃A　few　vague　scratches。〃　Direct　sunlight　shimmered　in　the　depths　of　the　pale　translucent　stone。　〃It　looks　as　if　someone　has　carefully　removed　the　owner's　name。〃
　〃Not　the　thief；　surely；〃　his　mother　said；　squinting　at　the　pot。　〃An　inscribed　piece　would　bring　a　higher　price。〃
　〃True。〃　Emerson　rubbed　his　chin。　〃Well；　we've　seen　such　things　before。　An　enemy；　wishing　to　condemn　the　owner　to　the　final　death　that　befalls　the　nameless；　or　an　ancient　thief；　who　intended　to　replace　the　name　with　his　own　and　never　got　round　to　it。〃
　Having　settled　the　matter　to　his　satisfaction；　he　was　free　to　worry　about　Nefret。　He　didn't　criticize　Ramses　aloud；　but　he　kept　looking　at　his　watch　and　muttering。　Fortunately　she　returned　before　Emerson　got　too　worked　up。
　〃I　hope　I'm　not　late　for　tea；〃　she　said　breezily。　〃Have　I　time　to　change？〃
　〃You　had　better；〃　Ramses　said；　inspecting　her。　Not　even　Nefret　could　pass　through　the　streets　of　el…Wasa　without　carrying　away　some　of　its　atmosphere。　〃How　did　it　go？〃
　〃Just　fine。　I'll　tell　you　about　it　later。〃
　She　rather　monopolized　the　conversation　at　tea；　which　they　took　on　the　terrace。　Even　Sennia　found　it　difficult　to　get　a　word　in。
　
　I　could　tell　Ramses　was　perturbed　about　something　and　I　suspected　it　had　to　do　with　the　hospital；　yet　nothing　Nefret　said　indicated　that　she　was　unhappy　about　the　arrangements。　Unlike　my　son；　Nefret　does　not　conceal　her　feelings。　Her　eyes　shone　and　her　cheeks　were　prettily　flushed　as　she　talked；　and　when　Sennia　said　pensively；　〃I　would　like　to　e　and　help　you　take　care　of　the　sick　ladies；　Aunt　Nefret；〃　she　laughed　and　patted　the　child's　cheek。
　〃Someday；　Little　Bird。　When　you　are　older。〃
　〃Tomorrow　I　will　be　older；〃　Sennia　pointed　out。
　〃Not　old　enough；〃　Emerson　said；　trying　to　conceal　his　consternation。　〃Anyhow；　we　must　be　on　our　way　to　Luxor　shortly。　Nefret；　when　can　you　be　ready？〃
　〃Not　tomorrow；　Father。　Perhaps　the　following　day。〃
　She　went　on　to　explain　that　she　had　arranged　to　dine　with　Dr。　Sophia　and　the　new　surgeon；　Miss　Ferguson。　A　flicker　of　emotion　crossed　my　son's　enigmatic　countenance　when　she　indicated　she　would　like　him　to　be　present。　He　nodded　in　mute　acquiescence；　but　Emerson　firmly　declined　the　invitation。　The　idea　of　spending　the　evening　with　three　such　determined　ladies；　discussing　loathsome　diseases　and　gruesome　injuries；　did　not　greatly　appeal　to　him。
　So　we　had　an　early　dinner　with　Sennia；　which　pleased　her　a　great　deal。　It　did　not　please　Horus；　who　had　to　be　shut　in　Sennia's　room；　where　（as　I　was　later　informed　by　the　sufragi）　he　howled　like　a　jackal　the　entire　time。　As　we　left　the　dining　saloon；　we　were　hailed　by　an　individual　I　recognized　as　the　apple…cheeked　gentleman　who　had　been　one　of　our　fellow　passengers。　His　wife　was　even　more　resplendent　in　jewels　and　satin。　Sennia　would　have　stopped；　but　Emerson　hustled　her　on　past；　and　the　gentleman；　encumbered　by　the　large　menu　and　even　larger　napkin；　was　not　quick　enough　to　intercept　us。
　〃Curse　it；〃　said　my　spouse；　〃who　are　those　people？　No；　don't　tell　me；　I　don't　want　to　know。〃
　After　returning　Sennia　to　Basima；　who　had　taken　refuge　from　Horus　in　the　servants'　dining　hall；　I　settled　down　with　a　nice　book　…　but　I　kept　an　eye　on　Emerson。　I　can　always　tell　when　he　is　up　to　something。　Sure　enough；　after　pretending　to　read　for　fifteen　minutes；　he　got　up　and　declared　his　intention　of　taking　a　little　stroll。
　〃Don't　disturb　yourself；　my　dear；〃　he　said。　〃You　look　very　fortable。〃
　And　out　he　went；　without　giving　me　time　to　reply。
　I　waited　a　quarter　of　an　hour　before　closing　my　book。　A　further　delay　ensued　when　I　attempted　to　get　out　of　my　evening　frock；　which　buttoned　down　the　back；　however；　I　was　not　in　a　hurry。　I　knew　where　Emerson　was　going；　and　I　fancied　it　would　take　him　a　while　to　get　there。　After　squirming　out　of　the　garment　I　assumed　my　working　costume　of　trousers；　boots；　and　amply　pocketed　coat；　took　up　my　parasol；　left　the　hotel；　and　hailed　a　cab。
　I　assumed　Emerson　would　have　gone　on　foot　and　kept　a　sharp　eye　out　for　that　unmistakable　form；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　him。　When　we　reached　the　Khan　el　Khalili　I　told　the　driver　to　wait　and　plunged　into　the　narrow　lanes　of　the　suk。
　Aslimi　was　not　happy　to　see　me。　He　informed　me　that　he　was　about　to　close。　I　informed　him　that　I　had　no　objection；　entered　the　shop；　and　took　a　chair。
　Aslimi　waddled　about；　closing　and　locking　the　shutters；　before　he　seated　himself　in　a　huge　armchair　of　Empire　style；　its　arms　and　legs　ornately　gilded；　and　stared　hopelessly　at　me。　〃I　told　you　all　I　know；　Sitt。　What　do　you　want　now？〃
　〃Are　you　expecting　someone；　Aslimi？〃
　〃No；　Sitt；　I　swear。〃
　〃I　am。　He　will　be　here　soon；　I　expect。〃
　We　sat　in　silence。　The　sweat　began　to　pour　down　Aslimi's　face。　It　shone　like　polished　amber。　I　was　about　to　offer　him　my　handkerchief　when　there　was　a　soft　sound　from　behind　the　closed　door　at　the　back　of　the　shop。
　Aslimi　kept　his　most　valuable　antiquities　in　the　back　room；　which　opened　onto　a　narrow　slit　of　a　passage　next　to　the　shop。　His　eyes　opened　so　wide　I　could　see　the　whites　all　round　the　dark　pupils。　For　an　instant　cowardice　struggled　with　greed。　Greed　won　out；　with　a　grunt　he　heaved　himself　to　his　feet。　By　the　time　he　acplished　this　feat；　I　had　burst　through　the　door；　parasol　in　hand。
　Facing　me　was　the　intruder。　There　was　enough　light　from　the　open　door　behind　me　to　show　his　tall；　heavyset　form　and　his　black　beard　and　mustache。　It　was　the　man　Aslimi　had　described　that　afternoon！　The　seller　of　stolen　antiquities　had　returned！　Aslimi　screamed　and　thudded　to　the　floor　in　a　dead　faint。　I　twisted　the　handle　of　my　parasol；　releasing　the　sword　blade　concealed　therein。
　〃Stop　where　you　are！〃　I　exclaimed　in　Arabic。
　With　a　sudden　sweep　of　his　arm；　the　man　knocked　the　blade　aside　and　seized　me　in　a　bruising　grip。
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　〃How　many　times　have　I　told　you　not　to　attack　an　opponent　with　that　damned　parasol？〃　Emerson　demanded。
　〃I　did　not　attack　you。　You　attacked　me！〃
　Emerson　handed　me　into　the　cab　and　got　in　beside　me。　He　was　still　wearing　the　beard　and　clothing　he　had　borrowed　from　Ramses's　collection　of　disguises。
　〃It　was　self…defense；　Peabody。　I　can　never　predict　what　you　are　likely　to　do　when　you　are　in　one　of　your　bative　moods。　You　didn't　recognize　me；　did　you？〃
　〃I　certainly　would　not　have　gone　on　the　attack　without　provocation；〃　I　retorted。
　〃e；　Peabody；　be　a　sport。　Admit　you　didn't　know　me。〃
　〃I　knew　you　the　moment　you　took　hold　of　me。〃
　〃I　should　hope　so！〃　He　put　his　arm　round　me；　which　I　permitted；　but　when　his　face　approached　mine　I　turned　my　head。
　〃That　is　a　very　prickly　beard；　Emerson。〃
　〃Well；　curse　it；　I　can't　just　peel　it　off；　this　adhesive　won't　e　loose　unless　it　is　soaked　in　water。〃　Emerson　was　still　in　a　high　good　humor　and　rather　inclined；　in　my　opinion；　to　rub　it　in。　〃I　told　you　Aslimi　had　lied　to　you。〃
　〃Was　that　why　you　went　disguised　as　the　man　he　had　described？〃
　〃No；　I　did　that　because　I　wanted　to；〃　said　Emerson；　chuckling。　〃The　description　I　finally　pried　out　of　him　was　the　exact　opposite　of　the　one　he　gave　you：　medium　height；　slim；　young。〃
　〃But　unknown　to　Aslimi。〃
　〃It　doesn't　fit　any　of　the　thieves　or　go…betweens　known　to　me　either。　We　must　accept　it；　however。〃
　The　beard　assumed　a　particularly　arrogant　angle。　I　was　forced　to　agree　with　him。　After　I　had　restored　Aslimi　from　his　faint；　he　could　not　quite　get　it　straight　in　his　head　who　the　intruder　was：　a　thief　bent　on　robbing　and　murdering　him；　or　the　Father　of　Curses；　bent　on　something　equally　unpleasant；　or　both　in　the　same　body。　He　was　certainly　too　confused　and　terrified　to　lie。
　We　reached　the　hotel　without　anything　of　interest　happening；　to　find　that　the　children　had　not　yet　returned　from　dinner。　Emerson　had　removed　the　turban　and　caftan；　but　the　beard　and　mustache　occasioned　a　certain　hesitation　in　the　desk　clerk；　had　it　been　anyone　but　me　asking　for　the　key；　he　might　have　questioned　the　identity　of　the　fellow　I　was　taking　with　me　to　my　suite。
　〃He　didn't　recognize　me　either；〃　Emerson　declared　smugly。
　〃Ha；〃　I　said。
　Emerson　was　sitting　with　his　chin　and　mouth　in　a　basin　of　water；　breathing　through　his　nose；　and　I　was　enjoying　a　restorative　whiskey　and　soda　when　there　was　a　tap　on　the　door。　I　responded；　and　Nefret　put　her　head　in。　〃We　only　stopped　by　to　say　。　。　。〃　she　began；　catching　sight　of　Emerson；　she　flung　the　door　wide　and　hurried　to　his　side。　〃Father！　Are　you　hurt？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Emerson；　gurgling。　He　spat　out　a　mouthful　of　water。
　Ramses's　face　twitched　in　a　frantic　attempt　to　control　his　amusement。　〃It's　the　beard；〃　he　got　out。
　〃I　think　that's　done　the　job；〃　Emerson　said。　He　peeled　the　thing　off　and　gave　Nefret　a　cheerful　smile。
　〃Hold　it　over　the　basin；　Emerson；〃　I　said；　as　water　streamed　from　the　bedraggled　object　onto　the　carpet。
　〃What？　Oh。〃　Chagrin　wrinkled　his　brow；　and　he　attempted　to　wring　the　water　out　of　the　beard。　〃Hope　I　haven't　spoiled　it；　my　boy。　I　would　have　asked　you　for　the　loan　of　it；　but　you　see；　the　idea　came　to　me　after　you　left；　and　I　had　to　act　at　once。〃
　〃That's　quite　all　right；　sir；〃　said　Ramses。　〃Might　one　ask　。　。　。〃
　〃Certainly；　certainly。　I　will　tell　you　all　about　it。　Make　yourselves　fortable。〃
　It　was　evident　that　he　planned　to　revel　in　every　detail；　so　the　children　followed　his　suggestion；　settling　themselves　on　the　sofa　side　by　side　and　listening　with　interest。　Neither　of　them　interrupted　until　Emerson；　with　great　gusto；　told　of　my　pulling　out　the　sword。
　〃Good　God；　Mother！〃　Ramses　exclaimed。　〃How　many　times　have　I　told　you　…〃
　〃She　didn't　know　me；　you　see；〃　Emerson　said；　beaming。　〃She　won't　admit　it；　but　she　didn't。〃
　〃I　did　not　recognize　you　immediately；〃　I　admitted。　〃But　the　room　was　dark　and　Aslimi　was　shrieking　in　alarm；　and　I　didn't　expect　you　would　e　that　way。　Nefret；　my　dear；　are　you　laughing？〃
　〃I'm　sorry。　I　was　picturing　the　two　of　you　scuffling　in　Aslimi's　back　room。　Neither　of　you　was　hurt？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said；　while　Emerson　grinned　in　a　particularly　annoying　fashion。　〃It　may　take　Aslimi　a　while　to　recover；　though。〃
　〃He　admitted　that　his　original　description　was　false　in　every　particular；〃　Emerson　said　smugly。　〃The　seller　was　bearded；　of　course　…　most　Egyptians　are　…　but　he　was　young；　slender；　and　of　medium　height。〃
　Ramses　could　not　e　up　with　a　name　to　match　the　new　description　either。　〃Someone　new　to　the　business；〃　he　said　thoughtfully。
　〃Someone　who　has　been　in　Luxor　recently；〃　Emerson　added。　〃Assuming；　that　is；　that　the　artifacts　did　e　from　the　tomb　of　the　princesses。　He　must　have　got　them　direct　from　one　of　the　robbers；　who　had　withheld　them　from　the　rest　of　the　loot。　Those　scoundrels　chea