elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第78部分

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　〃Well　done。〃　Emerson　slapped　him　on　the　back。　〃Now　…　back　to　work；　eh？〃
　Not　until　later　that　day　was　Ramses　able　to　arrange　a　private　conversation　with　his　mother。
　〃Do　you　really　intend　to　tell　Cyrus　about　Khan　Yunus？　You　know；　Mother；　that　the　Official　Secrets　Act　…〃
　〃I　do　not　consider　myself　bound　by　any　document　to　which　I　did　not　agree　in　advance；〃　said　his　mother。　Her　chin　protruded　even　more　than　usual。　〃We　must　tell　Cyrus　something。　It　isn't　fair　to　him　to　keep　him　wholly　in　the　dark。　Ramses　。　。　。　dear　。　。　。〃　She　put　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。　〃I　know　you　would　rather　not　talk　or　think　of　the　affair　again；　but　if　you　will　brace　yourself；　one　more　time　。　。　。　You　have　my　word　that　Selim's　narrative　will　not　get　me　in　trouble　with　the　War　Office！〃
　〃All　right；　Mother。　Dear；〃　he　added；　with　a　smile　that　brought　a　faint　flush　to　her　cheeks。
　It　had　taken　Katherine　Vandergelt　a　while　to　bee　fortable　with　their　Egyptian　friends。　She　had　had　to　e　to　terms　with　her　prejudices；　or　at　least　conceal　them　…　his　mother　hadn't　left　her　any　choice！　No　one　but　a　boor　could　have　treated　Selim　with　less　than　the　courtesy　his　fine　manners　and　inherent　dignity　deserved；　Katherine's　greeting　was　warm　and　friendly。　She　displayed　even　more　warmth　toward　Jumana；　whose　pallor　and　morose　expression　obviously　shocked　her；　and　kept　pressing　delicacies　on　her。　Jumana；　who　had　not　wanted　to　e；　but　had　been　made　to；　pushed　the　food　around　her　plate　and　looked　wistful。　Cyrus's　majordomo　had　outdone　himself　…　〃to　wele　them　home。〃　The　table　glittered　with　crystal；　and　the　silverware　shone。
　After　dinner　they　retired　to　the　sitting　room　for　coffee。　Selim　knew　what　was　on　the　agenda。　He　had　been　perfectly　at　ease　up　till　that　time；　now　he　began　to　fidget　and　tug　at　his　beard。　Stage　fright？　Or　fear　that　he　would　forget　the　lines　in　which　he　had　been　coached　by　the　great　Sitt　Hakim？
　〃All　right　now；　Amelia；　we're　ready；〃　Cyrus　said；　settling　himself　fortably　in　a　deep　armchair。　〃I've　been　looking　forward　to　this　all　day。〃
　She　smiled　placently　and　sipped　her　coffee。　〃Selim　will　tell　it。　Go　ahead；　Selim。〃
　All　eyes　turned　toward　Selim；　pleting　his　disfiture。　As　he　confessed　later　to　Ramses；　he　would　rather　have　faced　a　horde　of　assailants；　armed　to　the　teeth；　than　those　focused　stares。　He　cleared　his　throat。
　〃I　am　no　storyteller；〃　he　began　in　a　voice　several　tones　higher　than　his　usual　baritone。　〃Not　like　Daoud。〃
　〃All　the　better；〃　Cyrus　said　with　a　smile。　〃We　know　Daoud's　tendency　to　…　er　…　embroider。〃
　〃Start　with　the　motorcar；〃　Emerson　suggested；　seeing　that　Selim　needed　encouragement。　〃It　was　a　fine　motorcar；　and　you　drove　magnificently。〃
　Once　launched；　Selim　described　the　charms　of　the　motorcar　in　loving　detail　and　dwelled　with　excessive　but　pardonable　enthusiasm　on　the　perils　of　the　long　journey　and　his　skill　as　a　driver。　〃Khan　Yunus　is　an　ugly　town；　not　like　Luxor；〃　he　declared。　〃There　were　many　soldiers。　The　house　of　the　friend　of　the　Father　of　Curses　was　where　we　stayed；　it　was　very　dirty。　It　was　there　that　the　real　adventure　began！〃
　〃About　time；〃　muttered　Cyrus。　〃Khan　Yunus；　eh？　What　did　you　go　there　for？〃
　Selim　glanced　at　Ramses's　mother；　who　gave　him　an　encouraging　nod。　He　had　got　over　his　self…consciousness　and　was　enjoying　himself　…　as　well　he　might；　Ramses　thought。　Never；　not　even　from　his　mother　or　Daoud；　had　he　heard　such　a　wild　story。
　They　had　been　summoned　to　Khan　Yunus　to　rescue　a　beautiful　maiden　…　the　daughter　of　a　Bedouin　sheikh；　their　friend　and　ally　…　from　the　evil　old　man　who　had　carried　her　off；　with　designs　on　her　fortune　and　her　virtue。　It　was　Ramses　who　had　gone　after　the　maiden　and　succeeded；　after　many　dangers；　in　rescuing　her。　Selim　described　some　of　the　dangers；　which　included　a　duel　with　scimitars。　Ramses　covered　his　face　with　his　hand。
　〃He　does　not　like　to　have　his　courage　praised；〃　said　Selim。　〃But　it　was　not　over。　The　evil　old　man　sent　men　to　take　her　back；　and　we　had　to　fight　them　off　and　escape；　in　the　night；　with　enemies　pursuing　us　and　the　town　in　flames。　We　stole　horses　from　under　the　very　noses　of　the　Australians！　But　I　have　not　told　you　about　the　ragged　beggar；　who　was　a　policeman　in　disguise　…　and　a　good　disguise　it　was；　he　had　fleas　and　smelled　bad。　The　evil　old　man　was　a　thief；　you　see；　who　had　stolen　jewels　from　many　rich　ladies　and　important　antiquities　from　the　Cairo　Museum。　The　beggar　was　trying　to　catch　him　and　bring　him　to　justice；　but　in　the　end　it　was　not　he　who　captured　the　villain；　it　was　Ramses。〃
　〃It　was　not；〃　Ramses　exclaimed；　driven　beyond　endurance。　〃It　was　Father；　with　…〃
　〃Hmph；〃　said　Emerson　loudly。　〃Very　well　told；　Selim。　You　see；　Vandergelt；　it　was　just　another　of　our　attempts　to　assist　the　police。　It　is　the　duty　of　every　citizen。〃
　〃How　about　the　maiden？〃　Cyrus　inquired。　〃You　didn't　bring　her　home　with　you？〃
　Selim　sighed　and　looked　soulful。
　〃The　…　er　…　policeman　took　her　away；〃　Ramses　said。　He'd　had　as　much　as　he　could　stand。
　〃He　was　her　lover；　I　think；〃　Selim　added。
　〃Oh；　I　see。　You　mind　if　I　ask　a　few　questions；　Selim？〃
　Selim　had　enjoyed　himself；　once　he　got　well　under　way；　but　he　knew　better　than　to　risk　an　interrogation　by　Cyrus　Vandergelt。　He　got　hastily　to　his　feet。　〃I　must　go。　It　is　late。　Thank　you　for　your　kind　hospitality。〃
　〃Now　see　here；　Amelia；〃　Cyrus　exclaimed。
　〃We　mustn't　detain　him；　Cyrus；　he　has　other　responsibilities。　Jumana；　you　are　excused　as　well。　Selim　will　take　you　home。〃
　〃But　I　want　…〃
　〃You　have　been　ill。　You　need　your　rest。〃
　〃I　feel　much　better！〃
　She　looked　almost　her　old　self；　eyes　bright；　cheeks　pink。　The　eyes　were　fixed　on　Ramses；　with　an　expression　that　made　him　want　to　run　for　cover。　His　mother　snapped；　〃Do　as　you　are　told。〃
　Ramses　went　to　the　door　with　Selim　while　Jumana　was　collecting　her　wrap。　〃I　owe　you　for　that；　Selim；〃　he　murmured。
　〃I　only　said　what　the　Sitt　Hakim　told　me　to。　But　why　are　you　angry？　I　know　what　you　did；　and　if　I　had　done　such　things　I　would　tell　everyone。　But；〃　Selim　said；　struck　by　a　new　idea；　〃we　do　it　to　make　the　men　fear　us　and　the　women　admire　us；　yes？　All　men　fear　the　Brother　of　Demons；　and　you　have　won　the　heart　of　the　only　woman　you　want。　When　Nur　Misur　looks　at　you；　it　is　as　if　the　sun　were　shining　in　her　eyes。〃
　〃I'm　not　angry；　Selim。〃　Ramses　embraced　him　in　the　Egyptian　manner。　〃You　are　a　good　friend　…　and　a　shameless　romantic。〃
　〃And　what　is　wrong　with　that？〃
　Selim's　grin　faded　into　a　scowl　when　Jumana　came　out　of　the　house。　He　mounted　his　horse　and　hauled　her　up　in　front　of　him　with　no　more　ceremony　than　if　she　had　been　a　sack　of　grain。　Ramses　heard　them　exchanging　insults　as　they　rode　off。　Serves　them　both　right；　he　thought。
　When　he　returned　to　the　drawing　room；　his　mother　had　taken　charge　of　the　proceedings。　〃Unbelievable　or　not；　that　story　is　what　Selim　told　Daoud。　By　the　time　Daoud　finishes　embellishing　it；　it　will　bear　little　resemblance　to　fact。〃
　〃And　I'll　sound　like　even　more　of　a　posturing　ass；〃　Ramses　said　sourly。
　〃Stop　plaining；〃　his　mother　said。　〃Goodness　gracious；　I　did　the　best　I　could！　It　was　necessary　to　account　for　our　absence　in　some　way。　Our　friends　at　Atiyeh　saw　the　motorcar　and　realized　we　were　preparing　for　a　long　desert　trip。　By　the　time　we　left　Khan　Yunus；　everyone　knew　who　we　were；　they　will　pass　the　story　on；　and　sooner　or　later　our　activities　will　be　gossiped　about　throughout　Egypt　and　Palestine。〃
　〃It　was　a　pretty　good　yarn；〃　Cyrus　admitted。　He　lit　one　of　his　cheroots　and　leaned　back。　〃And　no　wilder　than　a　lot　of　your　adventures。　I'm　sorry；　though；　I　can't　believe　in　the　beautiful　maiden。　Khan　Yunus　is　only　ten　miles　from　Gaza。　Need　I　say　more？〃
　His　knowing　smile　brought　a　responsive　twinkle　to　her　eyes。　〃Oddly　enough；　Cyrus；　the　beautiful　maiden　is　one　of　the　true　facts。　However；　there　is　no　use　denying　that　our　mission　involved　more　serious　matters。　You've　known　for　some　time　that　we　have　had　dealings　with　the　secret　service；　haven't　you？〃
　〃A　fellow　would　have　to　be　pretty　durned　stupid　not　to　have　strong　suspicions；　Amelia。　With　a　war　on；　and　the　way　you　keep　appearing　and　disappearing　without　explanation；　and　your　expertise　in　certain　areas　。　。　。〃　His　eyes　moved　to　Ramses。　〃Well；　I'm　not　asking　for　details。　I　just　hope　to　God　the　filthy　business　is　over　soon。　You　can't　keep　on　taking　chances　without　something　bad　happening；　and　we　couldn't　spare　you。　Any　of　you。〃
　〃Amen；〃　Katherine　said。
　〃Er　…　quite；〃　Bertie　added。
　〃It　is　over；〃　declared　Emerson；　squirming　a　little　in　the　warm　flood　of　friendship。　〃A　bloo　…　…　excuse　me；　Katherine　…　a　blooming　nuisance　too。　Now　we　can　…〃
　〃Just　one　more　question；〃　Cyrus　interrupted。　〃You　don't　have　to　answer　it；　but　I'm　real　curious。　Was　that　so…called　beggar　anybody　I　know？〃
　Caught　off…guard　and　at　a　loss　as　to　how　to　answer；　Emerson　turned　for　help　to　his　wife。　〃You　have　met　the　gentleman；〃　she　said　smoothly。
　〃And　he's　on　our　side　now？〃
　〃Oh；　yes。　Cyrus；　would　you　think　me　rude　if　I　asked　for　a　whiskey　and　soda？〃
　She　looked　so　smug；　her　son　had　to　fight　to　keep　from　laughing。　Trust　his　mother　…　she　never　lied　〃unless　it　was　absolutely　necessary；〃　and　this　time　she　had　spoken　the　literal　truth。　Cyrus　had　been　well　acquainted　with　Sir　Edward　Washington；　but　it　had　not　been　that　gentleman　he　meant。
　
　Naturally；　Emerson　felt　obliged　to　criticize　me　for　encouraging　Selim　to　tell　a　pack　of　lies　and；　with　typical　inconsistency；　for　telling　Cyrus　more　than　he　deemed　advisable。　We　had　quite　a　refreshing　little　argument　about　it　on　the　drive　home。　I　had　always　felt　somewhat　guilty　about　keeping　Cyrus　in　the　dark　…　if　he　was　in　the　dark。　He　was　too　intelligent　and　he　knew　us　too　well　to　overlook　certain　happenings。　I　had　told　him　no　more　than　he　already　suspected；　and　it　pleased　him　to　be　taken　into　our　confidence。
　He　was　even　happier　next　day；　when　he　found　a　new　tomb。　It　wasn't　much　of　a　tomb；　the　offering　chapel　had　been　pletely　destroyed　and　the　burial　chamber　was　empty　of　all　but　scraps；　but　there　were　several　well…preserved　paintings。
　〃That　will　keep　him　out　of　mischief　for　a　while；〃　remarked　Emerson　to　me。　〃It　will　take　several　days　to　carry　out　a　meticulous　excavation　and　make　plans。　He　can　have　Jumana　to　help　him。〃
　〃Kind　of　you；〃　I　said。