elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第61部分
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〃Quite right；〃 Emerson exclaimed。 〃I am the one who should apologize； my boy； for badgering you。 Go and get some rest。〃
Ramses sat up； propping his heavy head with his hands。 〃It might have been him。 There wasn't time to get a good look。 I couldn't determine whether the soldiers were guarding a prisoner or protecting a holy man。 But the mere fact that I am here； and not in Sahin's cell； is a strong indication that Sethos is in Gaza。 Unless that is what we are meant to believe 。 。 。 Sorry。 I seem to be adding to the deadwood instead of clearing it away。〃
〃You didn't have time to question the girl； I suppose；〃 I said。 〃And don't say you're sorry again！〃
Ramses summoned up a feeble grin。 〃Yes； Mother。 I did ask who had helped her。 She claimed no one had； that it was all her doing。〃
〃She lied；〃 I said。 〃Quite understandable； she wanted the credit and your … er … gratitude。〃
Ramses shook his head。 〃I don't think so。 Her fear was genuine。 You know how Sethos operates。 If it was he who arranged my escape； he'd have found a way of supplying her with everything she needed while leaving her with the impression that the whole thing had been her idea。〃
〃But how did he manage it？〃 I demanded。 〃He had less than twelve hours to e up with a plan and carry it out。 He must have known the identity of Sahin's prisoner； for surely he would not have taken such a risk for a stranger。 How did he find out it was you？〃
〃That question hadn't occurred to me。〃 Ramses sat up straighter。 〃And it may be significant。 Could that have been why Sahin didn't pop me into his little cell straightaway？ Damn it； yes！ He put me on display … beardless and bareheaded； easily recognizable … and when they did take me downstairs they paraded me through most of the house first。 If Sethos was staying in the same house 。 。 。〃 His brief animation faded。 〃It still doesn't answer the most important questions。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 Emerson said gruffly。 〃We'll talk about it later。 Take him away； Nefret。〃
Ramses got slowly to his feet。 〃Take me where？〃
〃To my little private cubicle；〃 Nefret said； drawing his arm over her shoulders。
〃Are there any peepholes in the walls？〃
〃Probably。 Does it matter？〃
〃That depends。〃 He smiled down into her upturned face and brushed her cheek with his fingertips。
〃I don't suppose it does matter；〃 I admitted。 〃By this time everyone in town will know we have dealings with British officers； and that we may not be what we seem。 I do strongly urge； however； that you rest instead of … er …〃
〃Of course； Mother。〃 Nefret turned her head and gave me a bewitching smile。
〃That was an extremely impertinent and unsolicited bit of advice；〃 Emerson said； after they had left the room。 〃She'll look after him。 And … er … cheer him up。 The boy is too hard on himself。〃
〃He always has been；〃 I said； taking no notice of the criticism。 〃It wasn't his fault； it was the fault of the confounded War Office。 Shall I begin packing？〃
〃No； my dear。 What's your hurry？〃
〃I would have supposed；〃 I said； with a certain amount of sarcasm； 〃that you would want to go in pursuit of the conscienceless villain who sent your son to risk torture and death。〃
〃All in due course； Peabody。 We went to considerable trouble to get this close to Gaza； and I'm damned if I am going to leave before I've learned what we came here to learn。〃
〃And how do you propose to do that？〃
〃We could wait for him to e to us。 That is your favorite method of investigation； I believe。〃
〃You mean Sethos； I suppose。〃
〃Sethos or anyone else who decides we are a threat to his plans。〃 He settled himself on the divan and beckoned to me。 〃e and sit by me； my love。 We've had little enough privacy these past few days。〃
I acceded at once； but as his strong arm wrapped round me and drew me close to his side； I felt obliged to remind him of the peepholes。 Emerson only chuckled。 〃It is time I paid a few attentions to my elder wife。 Give me a kiss。〃
〃In English？〃 I exclaimed。
〃Kisses are a universal language；〃 said Emerson。
I was so touched by this poetic sentiment； I suffered the prickles of the beard without objection。 When I had got my breath back； I said suspiciously； 〃You are in a very cheerful mood； I must say。 What are you concealing from me？〃
〃I have no intention of concealing anything from you； my dear。 I didn't want to keep Ramses from his bed … er … his rest any longer； but he made an interesting point。 If Sethos was staying in the same house 。 。 。 He must have been； mustn't he？ Not only did he know Ramses's identity； but he had access to the girl。 Now listen closely； Peabody 。 。 。〃
〃Yes； my dear。〃 I rubbed my stinging cheek。
〃He wouldn't have approached her as Ismail Pasha。 It would have been an unnecessary risk。 He disguised himself as someone else 。 。 。 and I know who。〃
〃Well； so do I。〃
〃Confound it；〃 Emerson shouted； removing his arm and fixing me with an evil glare。 〃You're doing it again！ You always claim you …〃
〃But； my dear； it is obvious。〃
〃Oh？ Then you tell me。 Or shall we play our old game； each of us writing the answer and sealing it in an envelope？〃
We had played this little game often； and I will admit； in the pages of my private journal； that I had maneuvered Emerson into mitting himself first on certain occasions when I was not entirely certain of my conclusions。 On this occasion I did not hesitate。
〃Why； my dear； I think we are past that childish sort of petition。 I will be happy to tell you。 He disguised himself as Sahin Pasha。〃
Emerson let out a whoop of laughter。 He sobered almost at once； however； and began stroking his beard。 〃Really； Peabody； that is deuced ingenious。 But 。 。 。 No； it is impossible。 What led you to that remarkable deduction？〃
〃Your turn next；〃 I said playfully。 〃Whom did you suspect？〃
〃I need my pipe；〃 Emerson muttered。 〃What did you do with it？〃
I hadn't done anything with it。 Muttering to himself； Emerson rummaged through his voluminous garments until he located the thing and his tobacco pouch。 I helped him to light the pipe； keeping a wary eye out for sparks in his beard。
〃Well；〃 said Emerson； settling back onto the divan and puffing away with enjoyment。 〃Where were we？〃
〃You were about to tell me whom you suspected of being Sethos。〃
The fort of his beloved pipe had given Emerson new courage。 〃The servant；〃 he said decidedly。
〃The fellow who brought the tea？ It was drugged； Emerson。〃
〃Well； of course。 It would have been a dead giveaway for him to ignore his master's orders。 People don't look at servants；〃 Emerson went on。 〃And Sahin had borrowed the house and； one must suppose； the staff from someone else。〃
〃It isn't like Sethos to choose such an inconspicuous role。〃
〃No； he much prefers to make a spectacle of himself。 It would be a coup much to his taste to take over the role of someone as well known as Sahin。〃
He looked so chagrined that I felt obliged to offer his vanity a little encouragement。 Husbands appreciate these gestures。
〃There are some things I don't understand； though；〃 I said。 〃How could Sethos deceive Sahin's men and his household and even his daughter？〃
〃Oh； that；〃 said Emerson； with a dismissive wave of his hand。 〃Sethos has fooled more observant individuals than a handful of dull…witted guards。 The girl may have seen very little of her father； I don't suppose Sahin was the sort of papa who plays games with his children。〃
〃Well； perhaps I am wrong；〃 I said handsomely。 〃Without knowing more about the household than we do； it is impossible to know for certain how he managed it。〃
〃I don't know how he managed it；〃 Emerson admitted。 〃Or what is behind all this maneuvering。 But I have a feeling … yes； my dear； call it a premonition if you like … I have a feeling we will hear from my eccentric … er … acquaintance before too long。 And since it appears that far too many people know our identities already； we may as well leave off pretending to be respectable Moslems。 What do you say I borrow a bottle of whiskey from one of our chaps？〃
〃I have considered the advantages and disadvantages of abandoning our masquerade； and in my opinion the advantages outweigh the disadvantages。 The people we were trying to keep in the dark already know the truth； and the presence of the famous Father of Curses can only inspire respect from others。 However； there is no need for you to borrow anything。〃 I reached behind the cushions and drew out the parcel I had kept in my personal charge during that long； wearisome journey。 It was a large and rather lumpy parcel； as I knew to my sorrow； since I had sat on it most of the way。
〃Good Gad！〃 said Emerson； as I extracted the bottle； which I had wrapped in certain articles of clothing。
〃We will have to use plain water or drink it neat； like Cyrus。 The gasogene was too large； and fragile besides。〃
Emerson's smile faded。 〃What else have you got in there？〃 he asked suspiciously。
〃Trousers； shirts； and boots for me and Nefret … you saw them the other day … my knife； and hers … my belt of tools … and …〃
〃No！〃 Emerson exclaimed； his eyes bulging。
〃You cannot suppose I would venture into danger without it。〃 I had spread the articles out on the divan。 I added my parasol。
Emerson's lips writhed； but the light of forlorn hope lingered in his eyes。 〃Please。 Tell me it isn't 。 。 。〃
I took hold of the handle and gave it a twist and a pull。 〃My sword parasol； yes。 The one you were kind enough to give me。〃
Emerson reached for the bottle。
We did not see the children again that evening。 When they joined us for breakfast； I was pleased to observe that Ramses looked more rested。 He was wearing the uniform shirt and trousers； but with the shirt open and his feet bare； the hated military look was diminished。 He was in full agreement with my decision that we might as well abandon our disguises。
〃I didn't suppose Mother would stand being confined to the harem for long；〃 he remarked； selecting a piece of fruit from the tray。
〃It is too inconvenient；〃 I explained。 〃We were running out of excuses for admitting strange men to our quarters。 I haven't spoken with Selim for days； and in my opinion a council of war is imperative。 We must plan our next move。〃
〃Next move？〃 Ramses's eyebrows tilted up at
