elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第88部分

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　〃Did　Sir　Edward　tell　you　where　he　was　going？〃
　〃No。〃　Mustafa　held　up　his　foot　and　studied　the　bandage。　〃He　took　the　mule。〃
　〃You　have　a　mule？〃
　〃Two。　He　took　one。〃
　〃Did　he　say　when　he　would　be　back？〃
　〃No。〃　Mustafa　cogitated；　his　brow　furrowing。　〃He　said　。　。　。　what　was　it？　Something　about　whiskey。　That　he　would　bring　it　to　the　Father　of　Curses。〃
　〃He's　gone　to　Khan　Yunus；〃　Ramses　said；　as　we　left　Mustafa　admiring　his　bandaged　foot。
　〃Not　to　Gaza？〃
　〃Father　is　right；　he　wouldn't　be　such　a　fool。　Not　unless　he　had　proof　that　Sethos　was　still　there。〃　He　took　hold　of　my　arm　and　stopped　me。　〃I　don't　believe　we　want　to　discuss　Sahin　Pasha　in　front　of　the　girl；　do　we？〃
　〃It　would　be　wiser　not　to；　I　believe。　The　feelings　of　young　persons　are　notoriously　changeable。　She　is　angry　with　him　now；　but　if　she　believed　he　was　in　danger　…〃
　〃Yes；　Mother；　that　is　precisely　what　I　had　in　mind。〃
　When　we　returned　to　the　saloon　Nefret　looked　up　from　the　paper　on　which　she　was　drawing。　〃Esin　wanted　to　know　about　the　latest　fashions；〃　she　explained。　〃How　is　Mustafa's　sore　。　。　。　whatever？〃
　〃His　toe；〃　I　replied。　〃A　slight　infection。　Where　is　Emerson？〃
　〃He　said　he　was　going　to　sit　with　Sethos。〃　She　chuckled。　〃I　think　he's　looking　for　tobacco。　He's　run　out。〃
　Emerson　did　not　find　any　tobacco。　He　came　back　looking　even　more　perturbed　than　deprivation　of　that　unhealthy　substance　could　explain。
　〃Is　he　still　sleeping？〃　I　asked。
　〃Yes。　He　…　er　…　doesn't　look　well。〃
　〃He　isn't　well。〃
　〃Is　someone　sick？〃　Esin　asked。
　I　realized　she　was　unaware　of　the　latest　arrival。　〃A　…　er　…　friend　of　ours。　You　know　him　as　Ismail　Pasha。〃
　〃He　is　here？〃　She　jumped　up　and　clapped　her　hands　to　her　cheeks。　〃Why？　Did　my　father　send　him？　Has　he　e　to　take　me　back？〃
　〃Goodness；　but　you　have　a　one…track　mind；〃　I　said。　〃He　is　a　fugitive　too。　Your　father　became　suspicious　of　him　and　he　ran　away。〃
　〃Oh。〃　She　thought　it　over　and　her　face　brightened。　〃Then　I　must　thank　him。　He　risked　himself　for　me！〃
　〃He　is；　after　all；　a　gallant　Englishman；〃　Ramses　drawled。　〃Much　braver　and　more　chivalrous　than　I。〃
　〃But　you　are　younger　and　more　beautiful；〃　said　Esin。
　That　took　care　of　Ramses。　He　said　no　more。
　The　rest　of　us　kept　up　a　desultory　conversation　and　the　minutes　dragged　slowly　by。　There　was　much　we　could　not　say　in　Esin's　presence；　and　I　couldn't　think　of　a　reasonable　excuse　for　getting　rid　of　her。　Sending　her　off　to　bed　wouldn't　work；　she　had　slept　most　of　the　day。
　Except　for　Selim；　the　rest　of　us　had　not。　I　persuaded　Nefret　to　lie　down　and　took　Esin　off　into　a　corner　so　our　voices　would　not　disturb　her。　We　found　a　mon　interest　in　women's　rights；　and　I　told　her　all　about　the　suffrage　movement　and　how　I　had　marched　with　the　suffragists　and　been　seized　by　a　large　constable。　She　declared　that　she　would　have　done　the　same；　and　kicked　the　constable　as　well。
　Emerson　sat　in　brooding　silence；　smoking　Ramses's　cigarettes　and　slipping　out　of　the　room　periodically　to　look　in　on　his　brother。　Ramses　brooded　too；　over　Nefret；　sitting　quietly　beside　her　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　her　face。　After　a　while　I　took　Esin　with　me　to　the　kitchen　and　showed　her　how　to　make　tea。　It　was　the　first　time　she　had　ever　performed　such　a　menial　chore；　I　believe。　She　was　certainly　clumsy　enough。　However；　we　got　the　tray　upstairs　without　disaster。
　Late　in　the　afternoon　the　sun　made　its　appearance；　and　shortly　afterward　Sethos　made　his。　He　was　in　a　vile　mood；　which　I　had　expected；　and　he　had　shaved　his　beard；　which　I　had　not　expected。　The　strange　gray…green　eyes　swept　the　room　in　a　contemptuous　and　prehensive　survey。　〃Everybody　here？〃　he　inquired　in　his　most　offensive　tone。　〃How　nice。〃
　I　knew　what　concerned　him　most　and　I　hastened　to　give　him　the　news　that　would　relieve　his　mind。　〃We　believe　Sir　Edward　has　not　gone　to　Gaza　but　to　Khan　Yunus。〃
　〃Oh？〃　He　rubbed　his　chin。　〃Let　us　hope　you　are　right。〃
　〃I　am　certain　of　it；〃　I　said。　〃Tea？〃
　〃No。〃　He　flung　himself　down　on　the　divan。
　〃You　had　better　have　some。　Take　it　to　him；　Esin。〃　I　handed　her　the　cup。　〃Lemon；　no　sugar；　isn't　that　right？〃
　His　eyes　met　mine　and　his　tight　mouth　turned　up　at　this　reminder　of　the　last　time　we　had　taken　tea　together。　Unfortunately　it　reminded　Emerson　too。　He　knew　what　had　happened　at　that　meeting；　for　of　course　I　had　confided　fully　in　him。　However；　he　confined　his　ments　to　a　wordless　grumble。
　〃Are　you　really　Ismail　Pasha？〃　the　girl　asked　doubtfully。　She　stood　beside　him；　the　cup　held　carefully　in　both　hands。
　Sethos　rose　and　took　it　from　her。　A　smile　transformed　his　haggard　face；　and　the　cultivated　charm　slipped　onto　him　like　a　cloak。　〃Is　it　the　absence　of　the　beard　that　confused　you？　I　am　indeed　the　same　man；　and　I　am　relieved　to　find　you　well　and　safe。　My　friends　have　looked　after　you？〃
　The　charm　was　a　little　tattered；　but　it　was　good　enough　for　Esin。　〃Oh；　yes；　but　I　was　frightened　for　a　while；　there　was　fighting　and　we　had　to　run　away。〃
　〃Tell　me　about　it；〃　Sethos　murmured。
　Her　account　was　accurate；　on　the　whole；　though　she　made　a　thrilling　tale　of　it。　Sethos　listened　attentively；　his　mobile　countenance　expressing　admiration；　astonishment；　and　distress　at　appropriate　intervals；　but　I　could　tell　she　had　not　his　plete　attention。　He　was　listening　and　waiting　…　as　were　we　all。
　The　sunlight　deepened　to　amber　and　then　faded　into　gray；　and　there　was　still　no　sign　of　Sir　Edward。　Ramses　lighted　the　lamps。　I　was　about　to　suggest　we　do　something　about　supper　when　the　long…awaited　sound　of　footsteps　was　heard　and　Sir　Edward　came　into　the　room。　In　that　first　moment　he　had　eyes　only　for　his　chief。　Had　I　doubted　the　warmth　of　their　friendship；　the　looks　of　relief　on　both　faces　would　have　proved　it。　Being　English；　they　did　not　express　their　feelings。
　〃It's　good　to　see　you；　sir；〃　Sir　Edward　said　coolly。　〃Mustafa　told　me　you　were　here。〃
　〃You　ought　to　have　been　here〃　was　the　equally　cool　reply。　〃Sit　down　and　have　a　cup　of　tea。〃
　〃It's　cold；〃　I　said；　inspecting　the　sad　dregs。
　〃I'll　take　it　anyhow。〃　Sir　Edward　dropped　heavily　onto　the　divan　next　to　Emerson。　〃Sorry；　Professor；　I　wasn't　able　to　get　your　whiskey。　The　house　…〃
　〃Then　we　will　have　to　settle　for　claret；〃　said　Sethos；　going　to　the　wine　cabinet。　〃My　supplies　have　bee　somewhat　depleted。　Amelia？〃
　〃Yes；〃　I　said；　answering　both　the　spoken　question　and　the　unspoken　order。　〃Esin；　I　suggest　you　…　er　…　go　to　your　room　and　rest。〃
　〃I　don't　need　to　rest；〃　said　the　young　person。　〃I　am　not　tired。〃
　〃Then　help　Selim　find　us　something　to　eat。〃
　I　gave　Selim　a　wink　and　a　nod。　As　a　rule　this　was　all　Selim　needed；　but　this　time　I　had　to　give　him　a　little　poke；　for　he　was　not　looking　at　me。　His　intent　black　eyes　were　fixed　on　Sethos。
　〃Your　pardon；　Sitt　Hakim；〃　he　said；　starting。
　I　repeated　the　suggestion。　He　nodded　obediently；　and　got　Esin　to　go　with　him　by　requesting　the　details　of　her　daring　escape　from　her　father's　house。　〃Such　courage；〃　I　heard　him　say；　as　they　left　the　room。　〃Such　cleverness！〃
　Sethos　turned　from　the　cabinet；　the　bottle　in　one　hand　and　the　corkscrew　in　the　other。　〃Report；〃　he　said　curtly。
　〃The　town's　quiet；〃　Sir　Edward　said。　〃Less　damage　than　I　had　expected。　The　house　is　guarded　by　several　soldiers　and　they're　scouring　the　countryside　looking　for　you　people。　According　to　the　worthy　citizens　of　Khan　Yunus；　you　simply　vanished　into　thin　air；　like　the　djinn　you　are　reputed　to　be。　The　military　hasn't　accepted　that；　though。〃　He　took　the　glass　Sethos　handed　him　and　went　on；　〃They　haven't　made　up　their　minds　whether　you　were　abducted　by　force　or　went　off　on　your　own；　for　purposes　of　your　own。　Either　way；　they　want　you。〃
　Ramses　took　the　bottle　from　Sethos；　who　had　neglected　the　rest　of　us　in　his　concern　for　his　aide；　and　poured　wine　for　Nefret　and　me。
　〃What　about　Gaza？〃　Sethos　asked。
　〃The　place　is　shut　up　tighter　than　a　prison。〃　Sir　Edward　sipped　his　wine　appreciatively。　〃I　made　contact　with　one　of　our　lads　…　Hassan。　He'd　just　got　back　from　an　attempt　to　enter　the　city　by　his　usual　route；　but　what　he　saw　made　him　veer　off。　They're　stopping　everyone。〃
　〃Shutting　the　barn　door　after　the　horse　is　stolen；〃　I　said　with　a　smile。
　〃Ha；〃　said　Emerson；　motioning　Ramses　to　fill　his　glass。　〃Any　new