anner.themummy-第43部分

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　She　could　not　resist　him。　That　had　always　been　the　case。　One　night　several　months　back；　when　she'd　had　too　much　champagne　and　there'd　been　entirely　too　much　dancing；　she'd　told　Elliott　she　was　more　in　love　with　him　than　she'd　been　with　Alex。　If　he'd　been　free　and　asking　for　her　hand；　it　would　have　been　a　fait　acpli。　Of　course　Alex　had　thought　she　was　joking。　But　there　had　been　a　strange　secret　look　in　her　eye　that　flattered　Elliott　immensely。　And　he　saw　a　pale　flicker　of　that　same　look　now。　And　what　a　liar　he　was。　What　a　liar　he　was　being　just　now。
　
　〃All　right；　Elliott；〃　　she　said。　She　kissed　him　on　the　cheek；　and　he　loved　it。〃　I　don't　want　to　hurt　Alex；〃　　she　whispered。
　
　〃Yes；　darling；〃　　he　said。〃　Of　course。〃
　
　There　was　a　violent　blast　from　the　steam　whistle。　The　last
　
　call　for　boarding　passengers。　Parties　had　broken　up　in　the　staterooms；　and　a　steady　stream　of　guests　was　going　ashore。
　
　Suddenly　Ramsey　came　pounding　towards　them。　He　spun　Julie　around　as　if　he　didn't　realize　his　own　strength。　She　stared　blankly。
　
　〃Feel　it；　Julie；　the　vibrations。　I　must　see　these　engines。〃
　
　Her　face　softened　at　once。　It　was　as　if　his　excitement　were　contagious。
　
　〃Of　course　you　must。　Elliott；　excuse　me。　I　have　to　take　Ramse　。。。　I　mean　Mr。　Ramsey　。。。　to　the　engine　room；　if　it　can　possibly　be　arranged。〃
　
　〃Allow　me；〃　　Elliott　said　agreeably；　motioning　for　a　young　officer　in　a　crisp　white　uniform　who　had　just　e　out　on　deck。
　
　Alex　was　unpacking　already　when　Elliott　entered　the　little　drawing　room　between　their　staterooms。　Two　steamer　trunks　stood　open。　Walter　moved　to　and　fro　with　armfuls　of　clothes。
　
　〃Well；　this　is　pleasant；　isn't　it？〃　　Elliott　said；　surveying　the　little　couch　and　chairs；　the　tiny　portal。　There　had　not　been　much　time　to　arrange　for　proper　acmodations；　but　Edith　had　stepped　in　finally　and　seen　to　everything　herself。
　
　〃You　look　tired；　Father。　Let　me　order　you　some　tea。〃
　
　The　Earl　eased　himself　into　the　little　gilded　fauteuil。　Tea　did　sound　rather　nice。　What　was　that　fragrance？　Were　there　flowers　in　this　room？　He　saw　none。　Only　the　champagne　in　its　glistening　ice　bucket　and　the　glasses　ready　on　the　silver　tray。
　
　Then　he　remembered。　The　morning　glory　he　had　crushed　into　his　pocket。　It　was　still　giving　off　a　latent　perfume。
　
　〃Yes；　tea　would　be　fine；　Alex；　but　there's　no　hurry；〃　　he　murmured。　Reaching　into　his　pocket；　he　found　the　mangled　little　blossom　and　drew　it　out　and　lifted　it　to　his　nose。
　
　A　very　pretty　scent　indeed。　And　then　he　thought　of　that　conservatory；　overgrown　fantastically　with　leaves　and　blossoms。　He　looked　at　the　morning　glory。　As　he　watched；　it　straightened；　the　creases　in　its　waxy　petals　disappearing。　It　opened　pletely　and　within　seconds　had　bee　again　a　perfect　bloom。
　
　Alex　was　talking；　but　Elliott　did　not　hear　him。　He　merely　looked　stupidly　at　the　flower。　Then　he　crushed　it　again；　tightly　in　the　palm　of　his　hand。
　
　Slowly　he　looked　up　to　see　that　Alex　was　just　putting　down　the　telephone。
　
　〃Tea　in　fifteen　minutes；〃　　Alex　said。〃　What's　the　matter；　Father？　Father；　you're　white　as　a…〃
　
　〃Nothing。　No。　It's　nothing。　I　want　to　rest　now。　Call　me　when　the　tea　es。〃
　
　He　stood　up；　the　flower　clenched　still　in　his　fist。
　
　When　he　had　shut　the　door　of　his　stateroom；　he　leaned　against　it；　the　sweat　flooding　down　his　back。　He　opened　his　hand。　Again　the　blossom　sprang　back　from　a　crushed　and　broken　thing　into　a　perfect　flower；　the　blue…and…white　petals　lengthening　before　his　eyes。
　
　For　an　endless　time；　it　seemed；　he　stared　at　it。　The　tiny　bit　of　green　leaf　at　its　base　curled　as　he　watched。　Then　he　realized　he　was　looking　at　himself　in　the　mirror。　The　grey…haired；　partially　crippled　Earl　of　Rutherford；　handsome　still　at　fifty…five；　though　every　step　he　took　was　an　agony。　He　let　go　his　walking　stick；　ignoring　it　as　it　fell；　and　with　his　left　hand　felt　of　his　grey　hair。
　
　He　could　hear　Alex　calling　him。　The　tea　had　already　e。　Carefully　he　took　out　his　wallet。　He　crushed　the　flower　again　and　slipped　it　into　the　leather　folds。　Then　he　bent　over　very　slowly　and　picked　up　his　cane。
　
　In　a　daze；　it　seemed；　he　stared　at　his　son；　who　poured　the　tea　for　him。
　
　〃You　know；　Father；〃　　Alex　said；〃　I'm　beginning　to　think　it's　going　to　work　out　after　all。　I've　had　a　good　look　at　Ramsey。　He's　quite　a　handsome　fellow；　but　he's　too　old　for　her；　don't　you　think？〃
　
　Oh；　but　this　was　too　much　fun；　this　great　floating　iron　palace　with　little　shops　on　board；　and　a　great　banquet　room　and　a　dance　floor　where　musicians　would　later　play！
　
　And　his　quarters；　why；　never　as　a　King　had　he　had　such　splendid　quarters　aboard　a　seagoing　vessel。　He　was　laughing　almost　foolishly　as　the　stewards　finished　unpacking　the　very　last　of　Lawrence　Stratford's　clothes。
　
　Samir　closed　the　door　after　they'd　gone；　then　turned　and　drew　out　a　great　deal　of　paper　money　from　his　coat。
　
　〃This　will　take　care　of　your　wants　for　a　long　time；　sire；　only　you　must　not　show　it　all　at　one　time。〃
　
　〃Yes；　my　loyal　one。　That　was　the　mon　wisdom　when　I'd　slip　out　of　the　palace　as　a　boy。〃　　He　gave　another　exuberant
　
　laugh。　He　couldn't　help　himself。　The　ship　even　contained　a　library　and　a　small　cinema；　and　then　all　the　marvels　below　deck。　And　the　gentle；　elegant　members　of　the　crew…all　of　whom　had　the　manners　of　gentlemen…had　told　him　he　might　move　about　as　he　wished。
　
　〃Your　coin　was　worth　a　great　deal　more；　sire；　but　I　had　little　room　to　bargain。〃
　
　〃As　they　say　in　this　day　and　age；　Samir；　don't　give　it　another　thought。　And　you　are　correct　in　your　estimation　of　Lord　Rutherford。　He　believes。　In　fact；　I　should　say　he　knows。〃
　
　〃But　it's　Henry　Stratford　that　presents　the　danger。　Would　a　fall　from　the　deck　on　the　high　seas　be　justice？〃
　
　〃Not　wise。　It　would　destroy　Julie's　peace　of　mind。　The　more　I　learn　of　this　age；　the　more　I　understand　its　plexities；　its　highly　developed　concepts　of　justice。　They　are　Roman；　but　they　are　something　more。　We　shall　keep　an　eye　on　the　progress　of　Mr。　Henry　Stratford。　When　his　presence　bees　more　of　a　trial　to　his　cousin；　then　perhaps　his　death　will　be　the　better　of　two　evils；　and　you　need　not　worry　about　that　part　of　it。　I　shall　do　it　alone。〃
　
　〃Yes；　sire。　But　if　for　any　reason　you　do　not　want　this　task；　I　shall　be　more　than　happy　to　kill　this　man　myself。〃
　
　Ramses　laughed　softly。　How　he　liked　this　one；　so　shrewd；　yet　honest；　patient；　yet　keenly　clever　as　well。
　
　〃Maybe　we　should　kill　him　together；　Samir；〃　　he　said。〃　But　whatever　the　case　I　am　ravenous。　When　do　we　take　this　great　meal　together　on　the　pink　tablecloths　amid　the　great　potted　palms？〃
　
　〃All　too　soon；　sire；　and　please　be　。。。　careful。〃
　
　〃Samir；　do　not　worry；〃　　Ramses　said。　He　took　Samir's　hand。〃　I　have　my　instructions　already　from　Queen　Julie。　I　am　to　eat　only　one　item　of　fish；　one　item　of　fowl；　one　item　of　meat；　and　not　all　at　the　same　time。〃
　
　It　was　Samir's　turn　to　laugh　softly。
　
　〃Are　you　unhappy　still？〃　　Ramses　asked。
　
　〃No；　sire。　I　am　very　happy。　Don't　ever　be　disappointed　in　my　sombre　expression。　I　have　seen　more　in　my　life；　as　of　this　moment；　than　I　ever　dreamed　I　would　see。　When　Henry　Stratford　is　dead；　I　shall　ask　for　nothing　more。〃
　
　Ramses　nodded。　His　secret　was　safe　forever　with　this　one；　he　knew　it；　though　he　could　not　fully　understand　this　quality　of　wisdom　and　resignation。　He　had　never　known　it　when　he　was　mortal。　He　didn't　know　it　now。
　
　IT　WAS　a　sumptuous　first…class　dining　room；　crowded　already　with　gentlemen　in　white　tie　and　tails　and　ladies　in　low…cut　dresses。　When　Julie　came　in　and　took　her　chair；　Alex　rose　to　assist　her。　Henry　and　Elliott；　already　seated　opposite；　also　rose；　and　though　Julie　nodded　to　Elliott；　she　found　herself　incapable　of　looking　at　her　cousin。
　
　She　turned　to　Alex；　and　placed　her　hand　on　his。　Unfortunately　she　could　not　help　overhearing　Henry　continuing　to　talk　angrily　in　Elliott's　ear。　Something　about　Alex　being　a　fool　that　he　could　not　have　stopped　Julie　from　taking　this　trip。
　
　Alex；　staring　down　at　the　plate　before　him；　seemed　somewhat　at　a　loss。　Was　this　the　time　or　place　for　truth？　She　felt　she　must　be　honest　from