elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第7部分

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　〃I'm　not　surprised；〃　Ramses　murmured。　Harvey　Pasha；　mander　of　the　Cairo　police；　was　honest；　extremely　straitlaced；　and　rather　stupid。　He　probably　hadn't　even　been　aware　of　el…Gharbi's　existence　until　someone　…　Russell？　…　pointed　out　to　him　that　he　had　missed　the　biggest　catch　of　all。　Ramses　could　only　imagine　the　look　on　Harvey's　face　when　el…Gharbi　waddled　in；　draped　in　women's　robes　and　glittering　with　jewels。
　Musa　captured　a　flea　and　cracked　it　expertly　between　his　thumbnails。　〃He　is　now　in　Hilmiya；　my　poor　master；　and　I；　his　poor　servant；　have　e　to　this。　The　world　is　a　hard　place；　Brother　of　Demons。〃
　Even　harder　for　the　women　whose　only　crime　had　been　to　do　the　bidding　of　their　pimps　and　their　clients　…　many　of　them　British　and　Empire　soldiers。　Ramses　couldn't　honestly　say　he　was　sorry　for　el…Gharbi；　but　he　was　unhappily　aware　that　the　situation　had　probably　worsened　since　the　procurer　had　been　arrested。　El…Gharbi　had　ruled　the　Red　Blind　district　with　an　iron　hand　and　his　women　had　been　reasonably　well　treated；　he　had　undoubtedly　been　replaced　by　a　number　of　smaller　businessmen　whose　methods　were　less　humane。　The　filthy　trade　could　never　be　pletely　repressed。
　〃My　master　wishes　to　talk　with　you；〃　Musa　said。　〃Do　you　have　a　cigarette？〃
　So　Musa　had　been　on　the　lookout　for　him；　and　had　put　himself　deliberately　in　Ramses's　way。　Somewhat　abstractedly　Ramses　offered　the　tin。　Musa　took　it；　extracted　a　cigarette；　and　calmly　tucked　the　tin　away　in　the　folds　of　his　robe。
　〃How　am　I　supposed　to　manage　that？〃　Ramses　demanded。
　〃Surely　you　have　only　to　ask　Harvey　Pasha。〃
　〃I　have　no　influence　with　Harvey　Pasha；　and　if　I　did；　I　wouldn't　be　inclined　to　spend　it　on　favors　for　el…Gharbi。　Does　he　want　to　ask　me　to　arrange　his　release？〃
　〃I　do　not　know。　Have　you　another　cigarette？〃
　〃You　took　all　I　had；〃　Ramses　said。
　〃Ah。　Would　you　like　one？〃　He　extracted　the　tin　and　offered　it。
　〃Thank　you；　no。　Keep　them；〃　he　added。
　The　irony　was　wasted　on　Musa；　who　thanked　him　effusively；　and　held　out　a　suggestive　hand。　〃What　shall　I　tell　my　master？〃
　Ramses　dropped　a　few　coins　into　the　outstretched　palm；　and　cut　short　Musa's　pleas　for　more。　〃That　I　can't　do　anything　for　him。　Let　el…Gharbi　sweat　it　out　in　the　camp　for　a　few　months。　He's　too　fat　anyhow。　And　if　I　know　him；　he　has　his　circle　of　supporters　and　servants　even　in　Hilmiya；　and　methods　of　getting　whatever　he　wants。　How　did　he　municate　with　you？〃
　〃There　are　ways；〃　Musa　murmured。
　〃I'm　sure　there　are。　Well；　give　him　my　。　。　。〃　He　tried　to　think　of　the　right　word。　The　only　ones　that　came　to　mind　were　too　friendly　or　too　courteous。　On　the　other　hand；　the　procurer　had　been　a　useful　source　of　information　in　the　past；　and　might　be　again。　〃Tell　him　you　saw　me　and　that　I　asked　after　him。〃
　He　added　a　few　more　coins　and　went　back　to　the　hospital。　Dr。　Sophia　greeted　him　with　her　usual　smiling　reserve。　Ramses　admired　her　enormously；　but　never　felt　pletely　at　ease　with　her；　though　he　realized　there　was　probably　nothing　personal　in　her　lack　of　warmth。　She　had　to　deal　every　day　with　the　ugly　results　of　male　exploitation　of　women。　It　would　not　be　surprising　if　she　had　a　jaundiced　view　of　all　men。
　He　met　the　new　surgeon；　a　stocky；　gray…haired　American　woman；　who　measured　him　with　cool　brown　eyes　before　offering　a　handclasp　as　hard　as　that　of　most　men。　Ramses　had　heard　Nefret　congratulating　herself　on　finding　Dr。　Ferguson。　There　weren't　many　women　being　trained　in　surgery。　On　the　other　hand；　there　weren't　many　positions　open　to　women　surgeons。　Ferguson　had　worked　in　the　slums　of　Boston；　Massachusetts；　and　according　to　Nefret　she　had　expressed　herself　as　more　concerned　with　saving　abused　women　than　men　who　were　fool　enough　to　go　out　and　get　themselves　shot。　She　and　Sophia　ought　to　get　along。
　As　Ramses　had　rather　expected；　Nefret　decided　to　spend　the　rest　of　the　day　at　the　hospital。　She　was　in　her　element；　with　two　women　who　shared　her　skills　and　her　beliefs；　and　Ramses　felt　a　faint；　unreasonable　stir　of　jealousy。　He　kissed　her　good…bye　and　saw　her　eyes　widen　with　surprise　and　pleasure；　as　a　rule　he　didn't　express　affection　in　public。　It　had　been　a　demonstration　of　possessiveness；　he　supposed。
　Walking　back　toward　the　hotel；　head　bent　and　hands　in　his　pockets；　he　examined　his　feelings　and　despised　himself　for　selfishness。　At　least　he　hadn't　insisted　she　wait　for　him　to　escort　her　back　to　the　hotel。　She'd　have　resented　that。　No　one　in　el…Wasa　would　have　dared　lay　a　hand　on　her；　but　it　made　him　sick　to　think　of　her　walking　alone　through　those　noisome　alleys；　at　a　time　of　day　when　the　houses　would　be　opening　for　business　and　the　women　would　be　screaming　obscene　invitations　at　the　men　who　leered　at　them　through　the　open　windows。
　His　parents　were　already　at　the　hotel；　and　when　he　saw　what　his　mother　had　found　that　morning；　he　forgot　his　grievances　for　a　while。　The　little　ointment　jar　was　in　almost　perfect　condition；　and　he　was　inclined　to　agree　with　her　that　the　scraps　of　jewelry　…　beads；　half　of　a　gold…hinged　bracelet；　and　an　exquisitely　inlaid　uraeus　serpent　…　had　e　from　the　same　Eighteenth　Dynasty　tomb　Cyrus　had　told　them　about。
　〃Aslimi　claimed　the　seller　was　unknown　to　him？〃　he　asked。　〃That's　rather　odd。　He　has　his　usual　sources　and　would　surely　be　suspicious　of　strangers。〃
　〃Aslimi　would　not　dare　lie　to　me；〃　his　mother　declared。　She　gave　her　husband　a　challenging　glance。　Emerson　did　not　venture　to　contradict　her。　He　had　something　else　on　his　mind。
　〃Er　…　I　trust　you　and　Nefret　have　given　up　the　idea　of　visiting　the　coffeeshops？〃
　〃I　wasn't　keen　on　the　idea　in　the　first　place；〃　Ramses　said。
　〃Well。　No　need　for　such　an　expedition　now；　your　mother　questioned　the　dealers　and　none　of　them　had　heard　of　the　Master's　return。　Be　ready　to　take　the　train　tomorrow；　eh？〃
　〃That　depends　on　Nefret。　She　may　not　want　to　leave　so　soon。〃
　〃Oh。　Yes；　quite。　Is　she　still　at　the　hospital？　You　arranged　to　fetch　her　home；　I　presume。〃
　〃No；　sir；　I　didn't。〃
　Emerson's　brows　drew　together；　but　before　he　could　ment　his　wife　said；　〃Is　there　something　unusual　about　that　ointment　jar；　Ramses？〃
　He　had　been　holding　it；　turning　it　in　his　hands；　running　his　fingers　along　the　curved　sides。　He　gave　her　a　smile　that　acknowledged　both　her　tactful　intervention　and　her　perceptiveness。　〃There's　a　rough　section；　here　on　the　shoulder。　The　rest　of　it　is　as　smooth　as　satin。〃
　〃Let　me　see。〃　Emerson　took　it　from　him　and　carried　it　to　the　window；　where　the　light　was　stronger。　〃By　Gad；　you're　right；〃　he　said；　in　obvious　chagrin。　〃Don't　know　how　I　could　have　missed　it。　Something　has　been　rubbed　off。　A　name？　An　inscription？〃
　〃The　space　is　about　the　right　size　for　a　cartouche；〃　Ramses　said。
　〃Can　you　see　anything？〃
　〃A　few　vague　scratches。〃　Direct　sunlight　shimmered　in　the　depths　of　the　pale　translucent　stone。　〃It　looks　as　if　someone　has　carefully　removed　the　owner's　name。〃
　〃Not　the　thief；　surely；〃　his　mother　said；　squinting　at　the　pot。　〃An　inscribed　piece　would　bring　a　higher　price。〃
　〃True。〃　Emerson　rubbed　his　chin。　〃Well；　we've　seen　such　things　before。　An　enemy；　wishing　to　condemn　the　owner　to　the　final　death　that　befalls　the　nameless；　or　an　ancient　thief；　who　intended　to　replace　the　name　with　his　own　and　never　got　round　to　it。〃
　Having　settled　the　matter　to　his　satisfaction；　he　was　free　to　worry　about　Nefret。　He　didn't　criticize　Ramses　aloud；　but　he　kept　looking　at　his　watch　and　muttering。　Fortunately　she　returned　before　Emerson　got　too　worked　up。
　〃I　hope　I'm　not　late　for　tea；〃　she　said　breezily。　〃Have　I　time　to　change？〃
　〃You　had　better；〃　Ramses　said；　inspecting　her。　Not　even　Nefret　could　pass　through　the　streets　of　el…Wasa　without　carrying　away　some　of　its　atmosphere。　〃How　did　it　go？〃
　〃Just　fine。　I'll　tell　you　about　it　later。〃
　She　rather　monopolized　the　conversation　at　tea；　which　they　took　on　the　terrace。　Even　Sennia　found　it　difficult　to　get　a　word　in。
　
　I　could　tell　Ramses　was　perturbed　about　something　and　I　suspected　it　had　to　do　with　the　hospital；　yet　nothing　Nefret　said　indicated　that　she　was　unhappy　about　the　arrangements。　Unlike　my　son；　Nefret　does　not　conceal　her　feelings。　Her　eyes　shone　and　her　cheeks　were　prettily　flushed　as　she　talked；　and　when　Sennia　said　pensively；　〃I　would　like　to　e　and　help　you　take　care　of　the　sick　ladies；　Aunt　Nefret；〃　she　laughed　and　patted　the　child's　cheek。
　〃Someday；　Little　Bird。　When　you　are　older。〃
　〃Tomorrow　I　will　be　older；〃　Sennia　pointed　out。
　〃Not　old　enough；〃　Emerson　said；　trying　to　conceal　his　consternation。　〃Anyhow；　we　must　be　on　our　way　to　Luxor　shortly。　Nefret；　when　can　you　be　ready？〃
　〃Not　tomorrow；　Father。　Perhaps　the　following　day。〃
　She　went　on　to　explain　that　she　had　arranged　to　dine　with　Dr。　Sophia　and　the　new　surgeon；　Miss　Ferguson。　A　flicker　of　emotion　crossed　my　son's　enigmatic　countenance　when　she　indicated　she　would　like　him　to　be　present。　He　nodded　in　mute　acquiescence；　but　Emerson　firmly　declined　the　invitation。　The　idea　of　spending　the　evening　with　three　such　determined　ladies；　discussing　loathsome　diseases　and　gruesome　injuries；　did　not　greatly　appeal　to　him。
　So　we　had　an　early　dinner　with　Sennia；　which　pleased　her　a　great　deal。　It　did　not　please　Horus；　who　had　to　be　shut　in　Sennia's　room；　where　（as　I　was　later　informed　by　the　sufragi）　he　howled　like　a　jackal　the　entire　time。　As　we　left　the　dining　saloon；　we　were　hailed　by　an　individual　I　recognized　as　the　apple…cheeked　gentleman　who　had　been　one　of　our　fellow　passengers。　His　wife　was　even　more　resplendent　in　jewels　and　satin。　Sennia　would　have　stopped；　but　Emerson　hustled　her　on　past；　and　the　gentleman；　encumbered　by　the　large　menu　and　even　larger　napkin；　was　not　quick　enough　to　intercept　us。
　〃Curse　it；〃　said　my　spouse；　〃who　are　those　people？　No；　don't　tell　me；　I　don't　want　to　know。〃
　After　returning　Sennia　to　Basima；　who　had　taken　refuge　from　Horus　in　the　servants'　dining　hall；　I　settled　down　with　a　nice　book　…　but　I　kept　an　eye　on　Emerson。　I　can　always　tell　when　he　is　up　to　something。　Sure　enough；　after　pretending　to　read　for　fifteen　minutes；　he　got　up　and　declared　his　intention　of　taking　a　little　stroll。
　〃Don't　disturb　yourself；　my　dear；〃　he　said。　〃You　look　very　fortable。〃
　And　out　he　went；　without　giving　me　time　to　reply。
　I　waited　a　qu