elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第8部分

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　And　out　he　went；　without　giving　me　time　to　reply。
　I　waited　a　quarter　of　an　hour　before　closing　my　book。　A　further　delay　ensued　when　I　attempted　to　get　out　of　my　evening　frock；　which　buttoned　down　the　back；　however；　I　was　not　in　a　hurry。　I　knew　where　Emerson　was　going；　and　I　fancied　it　would　take　him　a　while　to　get　there。　After　squirming　out　of　the　garment　I　assumed　my　working　costume　of　trousers；　boots；　and　amply　pocketed　coat；　took　up　my　parasol；　left　the　hotel；　and　hailed　a　cab。
　I　assumed　Emerson　would　have　gone　on　foot　and　kept　a　sharp　eye　out　for　that　unmistakable　form；　but　there　was　no　sign　of　him。　When　we　reached　the　Khan　el　Khalili　I　told　the　driver　to　wait　and　plunged　into　the　narrow　lanes　of　the　suk。
　Aslimi　was　not　happy　to　see　me。　He　informed　me　that　he　was　about　to　close。　I　informed　him　that　I　had　no　objection；　entered　the　shop；　and　took　a　chair。
　Aslimi　waddled　about；　closing　and　locking　the　shutters；　before　he　seated　himself　in　a　huge　armchair　of　Empire　style；　its　arms　and　legs　ornately　gilded；　and　stared　hopelessly　at　me。　〃I　told　you　all　I　know；　Sitt。　What　do　you　want　now？〃
　〃Are　you　expecting　someone；　Aslimi？〃
　〃No；　Sitt；　I　swear。〃
　〃I　am。　He　will　be　here　soon；　I　expect。〃
　We　sat　in　silence。　The　sweat　began　to　pour　down　Aslimi's　face。　It　shone　like　polished　amber。　I　was　about　to　offer　him　my　handkerchief　when　there　was　a　soft　sound　from　behind　the　closed　door　at　the　back　of　the　shop。
　Aslimi　kept　his　most　valuable　antiquities　in　the　back　room；　which　opened　onto　a　narrow　slit　of　a　passage　next　to　the　shop。　His　eyes　opened　so　wide　I　could　see　the　whites　all　round　the　dark　pupils。　For　an　instant　cowardice　struggled　with　greed。　Greed　won　out；　with　a　grunt　he　heaved　himself　to　his　feet。　By　the　time　he　acplished　this　feat；　I　had　burst　through　the　door；　parasol　in　hand。
　Facing　me　was　the　intruder。　There　was　enough　light　from　the　open　door　behind　me　to　show　his　tall；　heavyset　form　and　his　black　beard　and　mustache。　It　was　the　man　Aslimi　had　described　that　afternoon！　The　seller　of　stolen　antiquities　had　returned！　Aslimi　screamed　and　thudded　to　the　floor　in　a　dead　faint。　I　twisted　the　handle　of　my　parasol；　releasing　the　sword　blade　concealed　therein。
　〃Stop　where　you　are！〃　I　exclaimed　in　Arabic。
　With　a　sudden　sweep　of　his　arm；　the　man　knocked　the　blade　aside　and　seized　me　in　a　bruising　grip。
　2
　　
　〃How　many　times　have　I　told　you　not　to　attack　an　opponent　with　that　damned　parasol？〃　Emerson　demanded。
　〃I　did　not　attack　you。　You　attacked　me！〃
　Emerson　handed　me　into　the　cab　and　got　in　beside　me。　He　was　still　wearing　the　beard　and　clothing　he　had　borrowed　from　Ramses's　collection　of　disguises。
　〃It　was　self…defense；　Peabody。　I　can　never　predict　what　you　are　likely　to　do　when　you　are　in　one　of　your　bative　moods。　You　didn't　recognize　me；　did　you？〃
　〃I　certainly　would　not　have　gone　on　the　attack　without　provocation；〃　I　retorted。
　〃e；　Peabody；　be　a　sport。　Admit　you　didn't　know　me。〃
　〃I　knew　you　the　moment　you　took　hold　of　me。〃
　〃I　should　hope　so！〃　He　put　his　arm　round　me；　which　I　permitted；　but　when　his　face　approached　mine　I　turned　my　head。
　〃That　is　a　very　prickly　beard；　Emerson。〃
　〃Well；　curse　it；　I　can't　just　peel　it　off；　this　adhesive　won't　e　loose　unless　it　is　soaked　in　water。〃　Emerson　was　still　in　a　high　good　humor　and　rather　inclined；　in　my　opinion；　to　rub　it　in。　〃I　told　you　Aslimi　had　lied　to　you。〃
　〃Was　that　why　you　went　disguised　as　the　man　he　had　described？〃
　〃No；　I　did　that　because　I　wanted　to；〃　said　Emerson；　chuckling。　〃The　description　I　finally　pried　out　of　him　was　the　exact　opposite　of　the　one　he　gave　you：　medium　height；　slim；　young。〃
　〃But　unknown　to　Aslimi。〃
　〃It　doesn't　fit　any　of　the　thieves　or　go…betweens　known　to　me　either。　We　must　accept　it；　however。〃
　The　beard　assumed　a　particularly　arrogant　angle。　I　was　forced　to　agree　with　him。　After　I　had　restored　Aslimi　from　his　faint；　he　could　not　quite　get　it　straight　in　his　head　who　the　intruder　was：　a　thief　bent　on　robbing　and　murdering　him；　or　the　Father　of　Curses；　bent　on　something　equally　unpleasant；　or　both　in　the　same　body。　He　was　certainly　too　confused　and　terrified　to　lie。
　We　reached　the　hotel　without　anything　of　interest　happening；　to　find　that　the　children　had　not　yet　returned　from　dinner。　Emerson　had　removed　the　turban　and　caftan；　but　the　beard　and　mustache　occasioned　a　certain　hesitation　in　the　desk　clerk；　had　it　been　anyone　but　me　asking　for　the　key；　he　might　have　questioned　the　identity　of　the　fellow　I　was　taking　with　me　to　my　suite。
　〃He　didn't　recognize　me　either；〃　Emerson　declared　smugly。
　〃Ha；〃　I　said。
　Emerson　was　sitting　with　his　chin　and　mouth　in　a　basin　of　water；　breathing　through　his　nose；　and　I　was　enjoying　a　restorative　whiskey　and　soda　when　there　was　a　tap　on　the　door。　I　responded；　and　Nefret　put　her　head　in。　〃We　only　stopped　by　to　say　。　。　。〃　she　began；　catching　sight　of　Emerson；　she　flung　the　door　wide　and　hurried　to　his　side。　〃Father！　Are　you　hurt？〃
　〃No；〃　said　Emerson；　gurgling。　He　spat　out　a　mouthful　of　water。
　Ramses's　face　twitched　in　a　frantic　attempt　to　control　his　amusement。　〃It's　the　beard；〃　he　got　out。
　〃I　think　that's　done　the　job；〃　Emerson　said。　He　peeled　the　thing　off　and　gave　Nefret　a　cheerful　smile。
　〃Hold　it　over　the　basin；　Emerson；〃　I　said；　as　water　streamed　from　the　bedraggled　object　onto　the　carpet。
　〃What？　Oh。〃　Chagrin　wrinkled　his　brow；　and　he　attempted　to　wring　the　water　out　of　the　beard。　〃Hope　I　haven't　spoiled　it；　my　boy。　I　would　have　asked　you　for　the　loan　of　it；　but　you　see；　the　idea　came　to　me　after　you　left；　and　I　had　to　act　at　once。〃
　〃That's　quite　all　right；　sir；〃　said　Ramses。　〃Might　one　ask　。　。　。〃
　〃Certainly；　certainly。　I　will　tell　you　all　about　it。　Make　yourselves　fortable。〃
　It　was　evident　that　he　planned　to　revel　in　every　detail；　so　the　children　followed　his　suggestion；　settling　themselves　on　the　sofa　side　by　side　and　listening　with　interest。　Neither　of　them　interrupted　until　Emerson；　with　great　gusto；　told　of　my　pulling　out　the　sword。
　〃Good　God；　Mother！〃　Ramses　exclaimed。　〃How　many　times　have　I　told　you　…〃
　〃She　didn't　know　me；　you　see；〃　Emerson　said；　beaming。　〃She　won't　admit　it；　but　she　didn't。〃
　〃I　did　not　recognize　you　immediately；〃　I　admitted。　〃But　the　room　was　dark　and　Aslimi　was　shrieking　in　alarm；　and　I　didn't　expect　you　would　e　that　way。　Nefret；　my　dear；　are　you　laughing？〃
　〃I'm　sorry。　I　was　picturing　the　two　of　you　scuffling　in　Aslimi's　back　room。　Neither　of　you　was　hurt？〃
　〃No；〃　I　said；　while　Emerson　grinned　in　a　particularly　annoying　fashion。　〃It　may　take　Aslimi　a　while　to　recover；　though。〃
　〃He　admitted　that　his　original　description　was　false　in　every　particular；〃　Emerson　said　smugly。　〃The　seller　was　bearded；　of　course　…　most　Egyptians　are　…　but　he　was　young；　slender；　and　of　medium　height。〃
　Ramses　could　not　e　up　with　a　name　to　match　the　new　description　either。　〃Someone　new　to　the　business；〃　he　said　thoughtfully。
　〃Someone　who　has　been　in　Luxor　recently；〃　Emerson　added。　〃Assuming；　that　is；　that　the　artifacts　did　e　from　the　tomb　of　the　princesses。　He　must　have　got　them　direct　from　one　of　the　robbers；　who　had　withheld　them　from　the　rest　of　the　loot。　Those　scoundrels　cheat　even　one　another。〃
　〃I　suppose　you　are　now　even　more　on　fire　to　go　on　to　Luxor　and　track　down　the　thieves；〃　Nefret　said；　tucking　her　feet　under　her　and　leaning　against　Ramses。
　〃You　would　like　a　few　more　days　at　the　hospital；　wouldn't　you？〃　Emerson　asked。
　〃Well；　yes；　but　I　wouldn't　want　you　to　change　your　plans　on　my　account。〃
　I　must　give　my　dear　Emerson　credit；　he　was　too　forthright　to　pretend　he　was　doing　it　on　her　account。　〃The　tomb　has　already　been　robbed　and　the　loot　dispersed；〃　he　explained。　〃And　I　expect　everyone　knows　the　identity　of　the　thieves　…　the　Abd　er　Rassuls；　or　one　of　the　other　Gurneh　families　who　specialize　in　such　activities。　It　is　strange；　though；　to　have　some　of　the　objects　turn　up　in　Cairo。　The　local　boys　usually　work　with　Mohassib　or　another　of　the　Luxor　dealers。　Ramses；　are　you　certain　that　ointment　vessel　is　Eighteenth　Dynasty？〃
　〃No；　of　course　not；〃　Ramses　said；　somewhat　defensively。　〃I'm　not　an　expert　on　hard　stone　vessels。　The　same　forms　and　materials　were　used　over　a　long　period　of　time。　If　you　think　it's　important；　we　might　pay　a　visit　to　the　Museum　and　see　what　examples　they　have。〃
　〃If　we　can　find　them；〃　Emerson　muttered。　〃The　way　that　place　is　arranged　is　a　damned　disgrace。〃
　Emerson　always　plained　about　the　Museum　and　about　almost　everything　else　that　was　not　under　his　direct　supervision。　I　pointed　out　that　Mr。　Quibell；　the　director；　was　doing　the　best　he　could　under　difficult　circumstances。　Emerson　nodded　grudgingly。
　〃No　doubt。　I　suppose　we　ought　to　call　on　him。　Or　we　might　have　one　of　your　little　archaeological　dinner　parties；　Peabody。　The　Quibells；　and　Daressy；　and　anyone　else　you　can　collect。〃
　My　dinner　parties；　celebrating　our　return　to　Egypt；　had　been　very　popular。　For　the　past　few　years　I　had　been　loath　to　hold　them；　it　was　too　painful　to　see　the　diminished　pany　and　reflect　on　the　fates　of　those　who　were　no　longer　with　us：　our　German　and　Austrian　colleagues　departed；　the　ranks　of　the　French　and　English　Egyptologists　depleted　by　death　or　military　service。　However；　I　had　already　been　in　receipt　of　friendly　messages　from　those　who　were　still　in　Cairo　…　the　news　of　our　arrival　had；　of　course；　immediately　bee　known。　Emerson's　proposal　solved　the　difficulty　of　how　I　was　to　respond　to　these　greetings　and　invitations；　and　astonished　me　not　a　little；　for　he　was　never　inclined　toward　social　engagements；　and　he　had　been　insistent　on　leaving　Cairo　as　soon　as　was　possible。
　A　brief　period　of　reflection　explained　his　change　of　heart。　The　letter　from　Cyrus　and　the　discovery　of　the　artifacts　at　Aslimi's　had　whetted　his　curiosity；　Cyrus's　mention　of　Howard　Carter　being　in　some　manner　involved　aroused　an　understandable　desire　to　question　that　individual。　There　was　another　reason　for　his　willingness　to　stay　on　in　Cairo；　he　was　hoping　for　a　further　munication　from　his　brother。　He　had　made　a　point　of　looking　through　the　messages　every　day　and　his　disappointment　at　finding　nothing　of　the　sort　was　evident　to　me　at　least。　I　confess　I　was　also　somewhat　exasperated　with　Sethos。　What　had　been　the　p