anner.themummy-第94部分
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s Stratford's suite。 He's eager to get in touch with
you。 He's worried that he hasn't seen you all day。 So much has happened； Master Alex…〃 But the connection was already broken。 Quickly he rang Miss Stratford。 No answer。 He had no time。 He had to hurry with the clothes。
Cleopatra stood at the window。 She had dressed in the gorgeous gown of pure silver which she had taken from the poor woman in the little shop。 Ropes of pearls fell down over the swell of her breasts。 She had never done her hair properly； in a dark black veil it hung down about her； moist still from the bath； and full of perfume； and she liked it。 It made her smile bitterly to think it was like being a girl again。
Running through the palace gardens； her hair her cloak。
〃I like your world； Lord Alex；〃 she said as she watched the winking lights of Cairo under the paling evening sky。 The stars seemed so lost above this dazzling splendour。 Even the headlamps moving through the streets had a soothing beauty。〃 Yes； I like your world。 I like everything about it。 I want to have money and power in it； and for you to be at my side。〃
She turned。 He was staring at her as if she'd hurt him。 She ignored the knock at the door。
〃Dearest； those things don't always go hand in hand in my world；〃 he said。〃 Lands； a title； education…these I have； but money I do not。〃
〃Don't worry；〃 she said； so relieved it was only that。〃 I shall acquire the wealth； my lord； that's nothing。 Not when one is invulnerable。 But there are some scores I must settle first。 I must hurt someone who has hurt me。 I must take from him 。。。 what he took from me。〃
The knock sounded again。 As if waking from a dream； he took his eyes off her and went to the door。 A servant。 His evening clothes had e。
〃Your father's already left； sir。 Your tickets will be at the box office under his name。〃
〃Thank you； Walter。〃
There was barely time for him to dress。 As he shut the door； he looked at her again； curiously； with that little touch of sadness。
〃Not now；〃 she said； quickly kissing him。〃 And we may use these tickets； may we not？〃 She picked up off the dressing table the pair she'd stolen from the poor dead boy in the alleyway； the little papers which said〃 Admit One。〃
〃But I want you to meet my father； I want you to meet all of them。 I want them to meet you。〃
〃Of course you do； and I shall； soon enough。 But let us be alone somewhere lost in the crowd so that we can be together。 We shall see them when it suits us。 Please？〃
He wanted to protest； but she was kissing him； stroking his hair again。〃 Let me have a chance to see your lost love Julie Stratford from a distance。〃
〃Oh； but none of that matters now；〃 he said。
8
ANOTHER MODERN palace…the Opera House； swarming with bejeweled women in gowns the colours of the rainbow； and the men beside them； elegant in white and black。 How curious it was； all colours belonging to the females。 The males wore uniforms； it seemed； each perfectly identical with the other。 She blurred her eyes； to see the reds and blues dancing independently of all detail。
She watched the great surge up the grand staircase。 She felt admiring glances on her； the soft glaze of admiration like a light on her skin。
Lord Summerfield beamed at her with pride and affection。 〃You are the Queen here；〃 he whispered； cheeks flushed again for an instant。 He turned to one of the merchants peddling strange little instruments the purpose of which she couldn't guess。
〃Opera glasses；〃 he said as he handed them to her。〃 And the program； yes； please。〃
〃But what are they？〃 she asked。
He gave a startled little laugh。〃 You did fall from heaven； didn't you？〃 His lips touched her neck and then her cheek。〃 Put them to your eyes； adjust them until they e into focus。 Yes； that's it。 You see？〃
She was shocked。 She jumped back as the people on the upper gallery appeared to loom over her。
〃What a curious tiling。 What makes it happen？〃
〃Magnification；〃 he said。〃 Pieces of glass。〃 How delighted
he seemed that she'd never heard of it。 She wondered how Ramses had mastered all these little secrets； Ramses； whose〃 mysterious tomb〃 had been discovered only a month ago by 〃poor Lawrence；〃 who was now dead。 Ramses； who told〃 in the scrolls〃 of his love for Cleopatra。 Was it really possible that Alex didn't know that the mummy and his nemesis Ramsey were the same？
But how could he grasp it？ With only the inane story of the disreputable cousin to link the two？ Had she believed when the old priest had led her into the cave？
Chimes sounded。 〃The opera's going to begin。〃
They moved up the stairs together。 It seemed to her a brilliant light surrounded both of them； separated them from others； and others could see this light； and cast their glances carefully； perceiving that it was love。 Love。 She did love him； it was not a full…blooded love such as she'd known for Antony； that hurtling through darkness and destruction because one cannot resist another； one cannot live with him or without him； and one goes on； knowing full well that one is being destroyed。
No； this was a newborn love； fresh and gentle as Alex was； but it was love。 Julie Stratford had been a fool not to love him； but then Ramses could seduce the goddess Isis。 Had there not been Antony； she would never have loved anyone but Ramses。 That he had always understood。
Ramses the father； the judge； the teacher； Antony the bad boy with whom she'd run away。 Playing in the royal bedchamber like children； drunk； mad； answerable to no one； until Ramses had appeared after all those years。
This is what you've done with your freedom？ Your life？
The question was； what would she do with her freedom now？ Why did the pain not cripple her？ Because this newborn world was too magnificent。 Because she had what she had dreamed of in those last few months； when the Roman armies swarmed over Egypt； when Antony was desperate and full of delusions： another chance。 Another chance； without the weight of a love that was dragging her down into those dark waves forever； another chance without a hatred for Ramses； who wouldn't save her doomed lover； who wouldn't forgive her for being doomed herself。
〃Your Highness； I'm losing you again；〃 he said intimately。
〃No； you're not；〃 she said。 The lights swam around her。〃 I'm with you； Lord Alex。〃 The high crystal light fixture above was full of tiny sparkling rainbows； she could hear the faint tinkle of glass as it moved in the breeze from the open doors。
〃Oh； but look； there they are！〃 Alex said suddenly； pointing up to where the banister curved and ran away from the top of die stairs。
The noise died around her； the lights； the crowds； the soft munal excitement。 Ramses stood there！
Ramses in modem raiment； and beside him the woman； of considerable beauty； young and fragile as Alex was fragile； her auburn hair brushed exquisitely back from her face。 A flash of dark eyes as she looked at them and did not see them。 And Lord Rutherford； dear Lord Rutherford； struggling on his silver cane。 Did Ramses really fool the mortals around him？ This giant of a man； his face glistening with immortal vigour； hair a tousled mane。 And the woman…she had not been given it。 She was mortal still。 Desperately； fearfully； she clung to Ramses' arm。
〃Darling； not now；〃 she begged。
Onward the party moved； the crowd swallowing them。
〃But dearest； just to tell them that we're here。 Why； this is splendid； it means Ramsey's been cleared。 Everything's back to normal。 Pitfield worked the miracle。〃
〃Give me this time； Alex； I beg you！〃 Had her tone bee imperious？
〃All right； Your Highness；〃 he said with a forgiving smile。
Away from them！ She felt desperate； as if she were suffocating。 Reaching the top of the stairs； she glanced back。 They had gone into a far doorway draped with velvet。 And Alex was taking her in another direction。 Thank the gods for this。
〃Well； it seems we're at the opposite end of the dress circle；〃 he said to her； smiling。〃 But how can you be so shy when you're s
