anner.themummy-第58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！


　
　Elliott　sat　on　his　bed；　his　back　to　the　ornate　wooden　headboard；　the　veils　of　mosquito　netting　pinned　back　on　either　side　of　him。　It　felt　good　to　be　settled　into　a　suite　at　Shepheard's。
　
　The　pain　in　his　hip　was　almost　unbearable。　The　long　walks　at　Luxor　and　Abu　Simbel　had　left　him　utterly　exhausted。　There　was　a　slight　congestion　in　his　lungs；　and　for　days　his　heart　had　been　beating　just　a　little　too　fast。
　
　He　watched　Henry　in　his　rumpled　linen　suit　pace　the　little　Tunisian　carpet　in　the　quaint〃　Colonial〃　　bedroom　with　its　old…
　
　fashioned　chunky　Victorian　pieces　and　Egyptian　wall　hangings；　and　the　inevitable　wicker　chairs。
　
　Henry　now　had　the　look　of　a　round…the…clock　drinker；　skin　waxy　as　well　as　florid；　hands　steady　because　he　was　now　thoroughly　fueled　with　Scotch。
　
　As　a　matter　of　fact；　his　glass　was　empty　and　Elliott　had　not　the　slightest　inclination　to　ask　Walter　to　refill　it。　Elliott's　antipathy　for　Henry　had　reached　its　zenith。　The　man's　mumbling；　half…incoherent　speech　left　Elliott　utterly　repelled。
　
　〃。。。no　reason　in　the　world　why　I　should　make　that　voyage　back　with　her；　she's　perfectly　capable　of　taking　care　of　herself。　And　I　don't　intend　to　stay　here　at　Shepheard's；　either。。。〃
　
　〃Why　are　you　telling　me　all　this？〃　　Elliott　asked　finally。〃　Write　to　your　father。〃
　
　〃Well；　I　have。　It's　only　you'd　be　advised　not　to　tell　him　that　I　stayed　here　in　Cairo　while　you　went　on　that　inane　voyage　south。　You'd　be　advised　to　back　me　up。〃
　
　〃And　why　is　that？〃
　
　〃Because　I　know　what　you're　up　to。〃　　Henry　wheeled　around　suddenly；　eyes　glittering　with　drunken　drama。〃　I　know　why　you　came　here。　It's　got　nothing　to　do　with　Julie！　You　know　that　thing's　a　monster。　You　realized　it　during　the　voyage。　You　know　what　I　said　was　true　about　its　climbing　out　of　the　coffin。　。。。〃
　
　〃Your　stupidity　is　beyond　belief。〃
　
　〃What　are　you　saying？〃　　Henry　leaned　over　the　footboard；　as　if　he　meant　to　frighten　Elliott。
　
　〃You　saw　an　immortal　man　rise　from　his　grave；　you　worthless　fool。　Why　do　you　run　from　it　with　your　tail　between　your　legs？〃
　
　〃You're　the　fool；　Elliott。　It's　unnatural。　It's　。。。　monstrous。　And　if　it　tries　to　e　near　me；　I　shall　tell　what　I　know。　About　it　and　about　you。〃
　
　〃You're　losing　your　memory　as　well　as　your　mind。　You　have　already　told。　You　were　the　laughingstock　of　London　for　twenty…four　hours；　probably　the　only　real　recognition　you　will　ever　enjoy。〃
　
　〃You　think　you're　so　clever；　you　filthy　aristocratic　beggar。　You　dare　to　put　on　airs　with　me。　Have　you　forgotten　our　little　weekend　in　Paris？〃　　He　gave　a　twisted　smile　as　he　lifted　the　empty　glass；　then　saw　there　was　nothing　in　it。〃　You　peddled　your　title　for　an　American　fortune。　You've　peddled　your　son's　title　for　the　Stratford　money。　And　now　you're　chasing　after　that　filthy　thing！　You　believe　in　this　mad；　stupid　idea　of　the　elixir。〃
　
　〃And　you　don't？〃
　
　〃Of　course　I　don't。〃
　
　〃Then　how　do　you　explain　what　you　saw？〃
　
　Henry　paused；　eyes　working　again　in　that　feverish　manner　which　had　bee　shifty。〃　There's　some　trick　to　it；　some　twist。　But　there's　no　damned　chemical　that　makes　people　live　forever。　That's　insane。〃
　
　Elliott　laughed　under　his　breath。〃　Maybe　it　was　done　with　mirrors。〃
　
　〃What？〃
　
　〃The　thing　ing　out　of　the　coffin　and　trying　to　strangle　you；〃　　Elliott　said。
　
　The　contempt　in　Henry's　eyes　hardened　to　hate。
　
　〃Maybe　I　should　tell　my　cousin　that　you're　spying　on　her；　that　you　want　the　elixir。　Maybe　I　should　tell　that　thing。〃
　
　〃She　knows。　So　does　he。〃
　
　Utterly　stymied；　Henry　looked　down　into　the　empty　glass。
　
　〃Get　out　of　here；〃　　Elliott　said。〃　Go　where　you　please。〃
　
　〃If　my　father　should　contact　you；　leave　a　message　for　me　at　the　desk。〃
　
　〃Oh？　Am　I　not　supposed　to　know　that　you're　living　with　that　dancer；　Malenka？　Everyone　else　knows　it。　It's　the　scandal　of　the　moment；　Henry　in　old　Cairo　with　his　card　game　and　his　dancing　girl。〃
　
　Henry　sneered。
　
　Elliott　looked　towards　the　windows。　Soft　bright　sunshine。　He　did　not　look　back　until　he'd　heard　the　door　close。　He　waited　a　few　moments；　then　picked　up　the　telephone　and　asked　for　the　front　desk。
　
　〃You　have　an　address　for　Henry　Stratford？〃
　
　〃He　asked　that　we　not　give　it　out；　sir。〃
　
　〃Well；　this　is　the　Earl　of　Rutherford；　and　I　am　a　friend　of　the　family。　Please　do　give　it　to　me。〃
　
　He　memorized　it　quickly；　thanked　the　clerk　and　put　down　the　receiver。　He　knew　the　street　in　old　Cairo。　It　was　only　steps　from　the　Babylon；　the　French　night　club　where　the　dancing　girl；　Malenka；　worked。　He　and　Lawrence　used　to　sit　and　argue　in　that　club　by　the　hour；　when　there　had　been　dancing　boys。
　
　He　reaffirmed　his　vow：　whatever　else　happened；　he　would　find　out　what　he　could　from　Ramsey　before　they　parted　as　to　what　had　really　happened　to　Lawrence　in　that　tomb。
　
　Nothing　would　deter　him　from　that；　not　cowardice；　not　dreams　of　the　elixir。　He　had　to　know　what；　if　anything；　Henry　had　done。
　
　The　door　opened　quietly。　It　had　to　be　his　man；　Walter；　the　only　one　who　would　enter　without　a　knock。
　
　〃Nice　rooms；　my　lord？〃　　Too　solicitous。　He　had　overheard　the　argument。　He　puttered　about；　wiping　the　bedside　table；　adjusting　the　shade　of　the　lamp。
　
　〃Oh；　yes；　they're　fine；　Walter。　They'll　do。　And　my　son；　where　is　he？〃
　
　〃Downstairs；　my　lord；　and　may　I　tell　you　a　little　secret？〃
　
　Walter　leaned　over　the　bed；　hand　up　to　his　mouth　as　if　they　were　in　the　midst　of　a　crowd　rather　than　in　a　large　empty　bedroom　with　nothing　but　an　empty　sitting　room　opening　onto　it。
　
　〃He's　met　a　pretty　girl；　downstairs；　an　American。　Name's　Barrington；　my　lord。　Rich　family　from　New　York。　Father　in　the　railroads。〃
　
　Elliott　smiled。〃　Now；　how　do　you　know　all　that　already？〃
　
　Walter　laughed。　He　emptied　Elliott's　ashtray　of　the　cheroot；　which　had　gone　out　because　it　burned　Elliott's　lungs　so　badly　he　couldn't　smoke　it。
　
　〃Rita　told　me；　my　lord。　Saw　him　not　an　hour　after　we　checked　in。　And　he's　with　Miss　Barrington　now；　taking　a　little　walk　about　in　the　hotel　gardens。〃
　
　〃Well；　wouldn't　that　be　interesting；　Walter；〃　　Elliott　said；　shaking　his　head；〃　if　our　dear　Alex　married　an　American　heiress。〃
　
　〃Yes；　my　lord；　it　certainly　would　be　interesting；〃　　Walter　said。〃　As　for　the　other；　do　you　want　the　same　arrangements　as　before？〃　　Again　Walter　assumed　a　highly　confidential　air。〃　Someone　to　follow　him？〃
　
　He　meant　Ramses；　of　course。　He　referred　to　the　shameful　matter　of　the　boy　whom　Elliott　had　hired　in　Alexandria。
　
　〃If　you　can　do　it　quietly；〃　　Elliott　said。〃　They're　to　watch　him　night　and　day；　to　report　to　me　where　he　goes　and　what　he　does。〃
　
　He　gave　Walter　a　wad　of　bills；　which　Walter　tucked　in　his　pocket　immediately　and　then　went　out；　closing　the　door　behind　him。
　
　Elliott　tried　to　take　a　deep　breath；　but　the　pain　in　his　chest　wouldn't　allow　it；　very　quietly　he　took　one　shallow　breath　after　another。　He　stared　at　the　white　curtains　ballooning　over　the　open　windows。　He　could　hear　the　bustle　and　noise　of　British　Cairo　outside。　He　thought　about　the　futility　of　all　of　this…following　Ramses　in　the　hope　of　discovering　something；　anything；　about　the　elixir。
　
　Absurd；　really。　A　little　bit　of　cloak…and…dagger　that　did　no　more　than　fuel　Elliott's　obsession。　There　was　no　doubt　now　as　to　what　Ramses　was；　and　if　he　had　the　elixir　with　him；　undoubtedly　he　carried　it　on　his　person。
　
　Elliott　felt　ashamed。　But　that　was　a　small　matter。　The　larger　matter　was　the　mystery　from　which　he　was　utterly　shut　out。　Might　as　well　go　to　the　man　and　beg　for　the　gift。　He　had　a　good　mind　to　call　Walter　back；　to　tell　him　it　was　all　foolishness。　But　in　his　heart　of　hearts　he　knew　he　would　try　one　more　time　to　search　Ramses'　room；　and　the　boy　following　Ramses　might　give　him　some　clue　as　to　the　man's　habits。
　
　It　was　something　to　do；　wasn't　it；　other　than　think　about　the　pain　in　his　chest　and　in　his　hip。　He　closed　his　eyes；　he　saw　the　colossal　statues　of　Abu　Simbel　again。　It　seemed　to　him　suddenly　that　this　was　the　last　great　adventure　of　his　life；　and　he　realized　that　he　had　no　regrets；　that　this　excitement　had　been　in　itself　a　priceless　gift　to　him。
　
　An