elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第9部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　a　demonstration　of　possessiveness；　he　supposed。
　Walking　back　toward　the　hotel；　head　bent　and　hands　in　his　pockets；　he　examined　his　feelings　and　despised　himself　for　selfishness。　At　least　he　hadn't　insisted　she　wait　for　him　to　escort　her　back　to　the　hotel。　She'd　have　resented　that。　No　one　in　el…Wasa　would　have　dared　lay　a　hand　on　her；　but　it　made　him　sick　to　think　of　her　walking　alone　through　those　noisome　alleys；　at　a　time　of　day　when　the　houses　would　be　opening　for　business　and　the　women　would　be　screaming　obscene　invitations　at　the　men　who　leered　at　them　through　the　open　windows。
　His　parents　were　already　at　the　hotel；　and　when　he　saw　what　his　mother　had　found　that　morning；　he　forgot　his　grievances　for　a　while。　The　little　ointment　jar　was　in　almost　perfect　condition；　and　he　was　inclined　to　agree　with　her　that　the　scraps　of　jewelry　…　beads；　half　of　a　gold…hinged　bracelet；　and　an　exquisitely　inlaid　uraeus　serpent　…　had　e　from　the　same　Eighteenth　Dynasty　tomb　Cyrus　had　told　them　about。
　〃Aslimi　claimed　the　seller　was　unknown　to　him？〃　he　asked。　〃That's　rather　odd。　He　has　his　usual　sources　and　would　surely　be　suspicious　of　strangers。〃
　〃Aslimi　would　not　dare　lie　to　me；〃　his　mother　declared。　She　gave　her　husband　a　challenging　glance。　Emerson　did　not　venture　to　contradict　her。　He　had　something　else　on　his　mind。
　〃Er　…　I　trust　you　and　Nefret　have　given　up　the　idea　of　visiting　the　coffeeshops？〃
　〃I　wasn't　keen　on　the　idea　in　the　first　place；〃　Ramses　said。
　〃Well。　No　need　for　such　an　expedition　now；　your　mother　questioned　the　dealers　and　none　of　them　had　heard　of　the　Master's　return。　Be　ready　to　take　the　train　tomorrow；　eh？〃
　〃That　depends　on　Nefret。　She　may　not　want　to　leave　so　soon。〃
　〃Oh。　Yes；　quite。　Is　she　still　at　the　hospital？　You　arranged　to　fetch　her　home；　I　presume。〃
　〃No；　sir；　I　didn't。〃
　Emerson's　brows　drew　together；　but　before　he　could　ment　his　wife　said；　〃Is　there　something　unusual　about　that　ointment　jar；　Ramses？〃
　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　b