elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第93部分

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　Ramses　gave　me　a　curious　look。
　〃As　in　my　case；〃　he　suggested。
　〃Walter　doesn't　suit　you；〃　I　agreed。　〃But　no　one　ever　calls　you　that。　William？　Frederick？　Albert？〃
　〃Robert；〃　said　Ramses；　entering　into　the　spirit　of　the　thing。　〃No；　something　more　distinctive。　Perhaps　his　mother　was　fond　of　poetry。　Byron？　Wordsworth？〃
　The　subject　entertained　us　for　the　rest　of　the　drive。　I　was　happy　to　see　I　had　got　Ramses's　mind　off　the　recent　unpleasantness。　He　had　done　his　duty　with　regard　to　Esin；　not　even　flinching　at　that　appalling　promise　…　〃from　the　ends　of　the　earth〃　indeed！　…　and　was　more　at　ease　about　her。　Getting　back　to　Luxor　and　to　the　dig　would　plete　the　cure。
　When　we　returned　to　the　hotel　we　found　both　Nefret　and　Emerson　missing。　She　had　left　a　message　for　Ramses；　telling　him　she　had　gone　to　the　hospital　and　promising　to　be　back　in　time　for　luncheon。　There　was　no　message　from　Emerson。
　〃Where　do　you　suppose　he　has　gone？〃　I　asked；　in　considerable　irritation。
　〃To　the　railroad　station；　perhaps；〃　Ramses　suggested。　〃I　believe　he　wants　to　take　the　train　this　evening。〃
　〃I　trust　that　is　agreeable　to　you　and　Nefret；　Ramses。　Did　he　do　you　the　courtesy　of　asking？〃
　〃So　far　as　I　am　concerned；　the　sooner　we　leave　Cairo；　the　better。〃
　True　to　her　word；　Nefret　turned　up　in　good　time；　to　report　that　all　was　well　at　the　hospital　and　that　she　was　perfectly　agreeable　to　a　departure　that　evening。　I　suspected　her　motives　were　the　same　as　mine；　I　wanted　no　more　encounters　with　General　Murray　or　any　of　his　lot。　We　had　done　our　duty　and　more；　we　had　handed　over　a　very　important　prisoner　to　the　military；　and　we　had　reported　（some　of）　our　activities　to　General　Chetwode。　They　could　ask　no　more　of　us；　but　they　probably　would；　if　we　stayed　in　Cairo。
　〃Isn't　Father　back　yet？〃　she　asked。　〃I　made　him　go　with　me　to　the　hospital　so　that　I　could　X…ray　his　arm　and　replace　the　cast；　but　that　was　hours　ago。〃
　Another　hour　passed　with　no　sign　of　Emerson。　Nefret　suggested　we　order　coffee　and　biscuits；　adding　with　a　rueful　smile；　〃My　appetite　has　bee　outrageous　since　Gaza。　I　suppose　it's　because　we　ate　such　peculiar　things　at　such　peculiar　hours。〃
　〃No　doubt；〃　I　said。
　The　minutes　dragged　by。　Finally　I　heard　the　unmistakable　thud　of　Emerson's　heavy　steps；　and　the　door　was　flung　open。　A　cry　of　indignation　burst　from　my　lips。
　〃Emerson；　how　many　times　must　I　tell　you　not　to　use　that　cast　like　a　battering　ram？　And　why　aren't　you　wearing　your　coat？　And　your　cravat？　And　…〃
　Emerson　glanced　in　mild　surprise　at　his　arm。　〃Forgot；〃　he　said；　tossing　his　crumpled　coat　onto　the　floor。　〃Coffee？　Good。　How　did　it　go？〃
　〃How　did　what　。　。　。　？　Oh；　Esin。　It　is　all　settled　and　she　is　in　good　hands。　Where　the　devil　have　you　been？〃
　Emerson　sipped　his　coffee。　Ramses　leaned　forward；　forearms　resting　on　his　knees。　〃Shall　I　hazard　a　guess？〃
　〃If　you　like；〃　said　Emerson；　rolling　his　eyes　at　me。
　〃Hilmiya。〃
　〃Oh；　Emerson；　you　didn't！〃　I　cried。
　〃I　had　to；　didn't　I？　What　the　devil；　the　crafty　bastard　did　me　a　favor　…　two　favors；　in　fact。〃
　〃How　did　you　get　into　the　camp？〃　Ramses　asked　curiously。
　〃Walked　up　to　the　gate　and　announced　myself；〃　said　his　father；　holding　out　his　cup　for　me　to　refill　it。　〃El…Gharbi　was　not　surprised　to　see　me　…　he　had　heard　of　our　return。　He　seems　to　hear　everything。　He　wanted　me　to　pay　him　for　the　damage　to　the　motorcar。〃
　〃Did　you？〃　Nefret　asked；　torn　between　amusement　and　disgust。
　〃No。　His　people　had　stolen　the　thing；　hadn't　they？　I　assured　him；〃　said　Emerson；　with　another　wary　glance　at　me；　〃that　I　would　speak　on　his　behalf。　Exile；　to　his　village　in　Upper　Egypt；　would　satisfy　him　and　settle　my　debt。〃
　〃Oh；　dear；〃　I　murmured。　〃Well；　Emerson；　you　acted　according　to　your　lights；　I　suppose。　Go　and　clean　up；　it　is　past　time　for　luncheon。〃
　I　followed　him　into　our　room；　for　I　knew　that　if　I　did　not　assist　his　ablutions　he　would　get　the　cast　wet。
　〃I　trust　el…Gharbi　was　properly　appreciative；〃　I　said；　assisting　him　to　remove　his　shirt。
　〃In　his　fashion。　He　said　something　rather　strange。〃
　〃What？　Let　me　do　that；　Emerson。〃
　I　took　the　dripping　washcloth　from　his　hand。
　〃　'The　young　serpent　also　has　poisoned　fangs。'　〃
　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Emerson？〃
　〃Those　were　his　precise　words；　Peabody。　I　haven't　the　vaguest　idea　what　they　mean；　but　it　has　the　ring　of　a　warning；　doesn't　it？〃
　〃Hmm。　Perhaps　he　was　referring　to　Jamil。〃　I　put　the　washcloth　down　and　picked　up　a　towel。
　〃The　warning　es　a　bit　late；〃　said　Emerson。　〃But　that　is　how　soothsayers　and　fortune…tellers　and　such　individuals　make　their　reputations；　by　predicting　what　has　already　happened。　The　devil　with　it；　and　el…Gharbi。　I　stopped　by　the　railroad　station　and　made　reservations。　We　will　take　the　train　tonight。〃
　　
　I　did　not　wire　ahead。　We　would　probably　arrive　before　the　telegram　was　delivered；　and　Fatima　always　kept　the　house　in　perfect　order。　The　happy　surprise　I　had　planned　for　her　and　the　others　was　spoiled；　however；　by　the　network　of　gossip　that　enpasses　Luxor。　By　the　time　we　reached　the　house；　the　whole　family　was　on　the　veranda　waiting　for　us。　Sennia　darted　at　Ramses；　shouting；　〃See　how　much　taller　and　stronger　I　am？〃
　Before　any　of　us　could　stop　her；　she　had　thrown　her　arms　round　him　in　one　of　her　gigantic　hugs。　We　always　pretended　to　be　left　breathless　by　her　strength；　but　she　knew　at　once　that　his　gasp　of　pain　was　not　feigned；　and　began　fussing　and　apologizing。　She　made　him　sit　down　and　lifted　both　his　feet　onto　a　stool。
　〃You've　been　and　got　yourselves　into　trouble　again；〃　said　Gargery　sternly。　〃Was　it　that　Master　Criminal　chap？　I　trust；　sir　and　madam；　that　he　isn't　going　to　turn　up　here。　We've　got　enough　problems　without　that。〃
　〃What　sort　of　problems？〃　I　asked。
　〃There　is　no　trouble；　Sitt；〃　said　Fatima；　with　a　reproachful　glance　at　Gargery。　〃Rest　and　I　will　bring　tea。〃
　Gargery　would　not　be　silenced。　〃It's　mostly　these　young　women；　madam。　That　girl　that　was　working　for　Miss　Nefret　has　been　round　saying　you　promised　to　find　her　a　husband。　She's　got　a　chap　in　mind　and　wants　you　to　pin　him　down　before　he　can　get　away。〃
　We　all　laughed　except　Sennia；　who　was　still　fussing　over　Ramses。　〃She　didn't　put　it　that　way；　surely；〃　Nefret　said。
　〃She　keeps　ing　round；〃　said　Gargery　gloomily。　〃And　then　there's　Jumana。　Won't　eat；　won't　talk；　won't　work。　It　puts　a　person　off；　madam；　just　seeing　that　gloomy　face。　And　Mrs。　Vandergelt　…〃
　〃Enough；　Gargery；〃　Emerson　snarled。　〃Can't　we　have　a　single　day　of　peace　and　quiet？　No　one　is　desperately　ill；　no　one　is　dead；　no　one　is　missing？　Good。　Mrs。　Emerson　will　deal　with　these　minor　difficulties　in　due　time。〃
　〃Thank　you；　my　dear；〃　I　said。
　The　sarcasm　was　wasted　on　Emerson。　〃Good　to　be　back；〃　he　declared　with　great　satisfaction。　〃No　use　asking　Gargery　how　things　are　going　at　Deir　el　Medina；　but　I　expect　Vandergelt　will　be　here　before　long；　with　his　own　list　of　plaints。　Never　a　dull　moment；　eh？　Sennia；　you　haven't　given　me　a　kiss。　My　arm　is　bothering　me　quite　a　lot。〃
　Cyrus　was　courteous　enough　not　to　disturb　us　for　the　greater　part　of　the　day。　We　were　sitting　on　the　veranda　admiring　the　lovely　sunset　colors；　as　the　calls　of　the　muezzins　drifted　across　the　desert　in　a　melodious　medley；　when　he　turned　up；　riding　Queenie。
　〃Figured　I'd　arrive　in　time　for　drinks；〃　he　remarked；　handing　the　reins　to　the　stableman。　〃Sure　good　to　have　you　folks　back。　I　hear　Ramses　has　had　another　little　…　er　…　accident。　I　don't　suppose　I　should　ask　where　you've　been　and　what　you've　been　up　to。〃
　〃No；〃　said　Emerson。　He　handed　Cyrus　a　glass。
　It　was　the　answer　Cyrus　had　expected。　He　accepted　it；　and　the　glass　of　whiskey；　with　a　smile。　〃Sure　have　missed　you。　Maybe　you　can　do　something　with　Jumana。　She's　just　wasting　away；　poor　little　girl。〃
　〃No；　she　is　not；〃　I　assured　him。　〃Nefret　and　I　both　examined　her　this　afternoon。　She　is　somewhat　off…color；　since　she　hasn't　left　the　house　for　days；　but　she　hasn't　lost　an　ounce。〃
　〃But　Fatima　said　…〃
　〃She　has　only　picked　at　her　meals。　That　means　she　is　eating　on　the　sly。　I　prescribed　a　particularly　nasty…tasting　tonic。〃
　〃She's　been　putting　it　on？〃　Cyrus　demanded。
　〃It's　not　that　simple；　Cyrus；〃　Nefret　said　thoughtfully。　〃Her　unhappiness　is　genuine。　She　isn't