elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第15部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ish。　Nefret　was　too　fond　of　his　mother　to　tell　her　no　to　her　face。　She　would　want　him　to　do　it！
　He　expected　to　find　his　wife　on　the　doorstep；　vibrating　with　indignation。　She　wasn't　there。　He　had　to　track　her　down；　looking　into　room　after　room　as　he　searched。　The　place　was　quite　attractive；　really　…　large；　low…ceilinged　rooms；　with　the　carved　mashrabiya　screens　he　liked　so　much　covering　the　windows；　tiled　floors；　bookshelves　on　many　of　the　walls。　Otherwise　the　house　was　almost　empty　except　for　a　few　tables　and　chairs　and　couches。　She'd　had　sense　enough　to　leave　the　choice　of　furnishings　and　decorations　to　them。　Not　at　all　bad；　on　the　whole。　If　it　had　been　up　to　him　。　。　。
　If　it　had　been　up　to　him；　he　would　rather　live　in　a　hole　in　the　rock　than　tell　his　mother　he　didn't　like　it。
　He　found　Nefret　sitting　on　the　shady　porch　that　looked　out　on　a　small　courtyard。　Jumana　was　with　her；　their　heads　close　together。
　〃I'm　sorry；　Nefret；〃　he　began。
　〃You　apologize　too　often。〃　It　was　an　old　joke　between　them；　but　when　she　looked　up　he　saw　that　her　face　was　grave。
　〃It's　not　so　bad；　is　it？〃　he　asked。　〃She　meant　well；　and　it　is　some　distance　from　the　main　house；　and　…〃
　〃It's　fine；〃　Nefret　said　impatiently。　〃Never　mind　the　house；　Ramses。　Jumana　has　something　to　tell　you。〃
　There　were　wicker　chairs　and　a　table　or　two。　He　sat　down。　〃Well？〃
　She　had　obviously　been　talking　freely　with　Nefret；　but　the　sight　of　him　froze　her　tongue。　She　twisted　her　hands　together。
　〃What　is　it？〃　Ramses　asked。　〃Something　about　Bertie？　Don't　worry　about　him；　Jumana；　you'll　be　staying　with　us　from　now　on。　That　was　the　agreement。〃
　〃Bertie？〃　She　dismissed　him　with　a　shrug。　〃He　is　not　a　worry。　No。　I　must　tell　you；　but　。　。　。〃　She　swallowed；　hard。　〃I　have　seen　Jamil。〃
　〃My　God。〃　Ramses　breathed。　〃Where？　When？〃
　〃Two　weeks　ago。〃　Now　that　she　had　got　the　worst　of　it　out；　the　words　flowed　freely。　〃I　went　to　Luxor　Temple；　while　Mrs。　Vandergelt　was　shopping　at　the　suk　and　Mr。　Vandergelt　was　at　Mohassib's。　Bertie　wanted　to　go　with　me；　but　Mrs。　Vandergelt　said　…〃
　〃I　understand；〃　Ramses　said。　〃Jamil　was　at　the　temple？〃
　She　nodded。　〃He　had　been　waiting　for　days　to　find　me　alone。　He　wanted　money。　He　said　that　he　had　discovered　a　rich　tomb；　but　the　others　had　cheated　him　and　he　cursed　them　all　and　said　he　would　get　even；　but　he　needed　money　。　。　。　I　gave　him　all　I　had。〃
　〃You　shouldn't　have　done　that；〃　Nefret　said。　〃The　best　thing　for　Jamil　would　be　to　turn　himself　in。〃
　Her　mouth　drooped　like　that　of　a　child　on　the　verge　of　tears。　〃He　is　my　brother。　How　could　I　refuse　to　help　him？　But　he　said　。　。　。　Oh；　I　have　been　so　afraid！　I　didn't　know　what　to　do。　But　now　you　are　here；　you　will　tell　the　Father　of　Curses；　and　he　will　not　let　Jamil　…〃　Her　voice　broke。
　〃It's　all　right；〃　Ramses　said　gently。　He　took　her　small　shaking　hands　in　his。　〃He　won't　let　Jamil　hurt　you。　Is　that　what　he　threatened？　That　he　would　harm　you　if　you　told　anyone　you　had　seen　him？〃
　〃No；　oh；　no！〃　She　clung　tightly　to　his　hands　and　looked　up　into　his　face。　〃It　is　you　the　Father　of　Curses　must　guard。　It　is　you　Jamil　hates　most。　He　said　if　I　told　anyone　he　would　kill　you。〃
　
　
　　
　
　3
　　
　〃Bah；〃　said　Emerson。
　We　were　seated　on　the　veranda　drinking　tea。　The　rays　of　the　sun；　low　in　the　west；　cast　golden　gleams　through　the　roses　that　twined　around　the　open　arcades。　It　was　like　the　old　days；　when　we　had　so　often　gathered　in　that　shaded　spot；　the　wicker　chairs　and　settees　and　tables　were　not　much　the　worse　for　wear；　and　Ramses　had　taken　up　his　old　position；　perched　on　the　ledge　with　his　back　against　a　pillar。　Now　Nefret　sat　beside　him；　and　her　hand　was　in　his。　Fatima　had　insisted　upon　serving　sandwiches　and　tea　cakes；　despite　the　fact　that　we　were　to　leave　shortly　to　dine　with　the　Vandergelts。　Rather　than　disappoint　the　dear　woman；　I　nibbled　on　a　cucumber　sandwich　or　two。
　After　learning　of　the　reappearance　of　Jamil；　I　had　decided　a　private　council　of　war　was　imperative。　Sennia；　who　had　expected　to　take　tea　with　us；　strongly　objected　to　being　sent　away　and　was　only　mollified　when　…　before　I　could　stop　him　…　Emerson　handed　her　the　entire　plate　of　cakes　to　take　with　her。　As　soon　as　she　was　out　of　earshot　Nefret　repeated　what　Jumana　had　said；　and　Emerson　responded　in　characteristic　fashion。
　〃That　is　not　much　help；　Emerson；〃　I　said。　〃A　threat　cannot　be　dismissed　so　cavalierly。〃
　〃It　was　an　idle　threat；〃　Emerson　declared。　〃How　can　that　miserable　little　coward　constitute　a　danger　to　Ramses？〃　He　gave　his　tall　son　an　approving　look；　and　Ramses　replied　to　the　implied　pliment　with　an　exaggerated　lift　of　his　eyebrows。
　〃e　to　that；　why　Ramses？〃　Emerson　went　on。　〃I　take　it　as　an　affront　that　he　didn't　threaten　me。　Are　you　going　to　eat　all　the　cucumber　sandwiches；　Peabody？〃
　〃I　think；〃　said　Nefret；　passing　Emerson　the　plate；　〃that　in　Jamil's　eyes　Ramses　was　the　hero　of　last　year's　affair。　Or　villain；　from　Jamil's　viewpoint！　Not　to　take　anything　away　from　you；　Father　…　or　you；　Mother　…〃
　〃You　are　quite　right；　my　dear；〃　I　said　graciously。　〃We　did　our　part；　but　if　it　had　not　been　for　Ramses　…〃
　〃You　ought　to　take　it　as　a　pliment；　Father；〃　Ramses　said。　He　does　not　often　interrupt　me；　but　he　does　not　like　to　hear　himself　praised。　〃Jamil　would　consider　it　below　his　dignity　to　threaten　a　woman；　and　he　obviously　feels　I　am　less　dangerous　than　you。　'No　man　dares　threaten　the　Father　of　Curses！'　〃
　〃What　an　annoying　development！〃　I　mused。　〃I　had　hoped　the　wretched　boy　had　taken　himself　off　to　distant　parts；　or　that　he　had　met　with　a　fatal　accident。〃
　〃That　is　rather　cold…blooded；　Mother；〃　my　son　said。
　〃Your　mother　is　a　practical　woman；〃　Emerson　declared。　〃I　suppose　now　we'll　have　to　find　him　and　turn　him　over　to　the　police；　which　will　be　cursed　embarrassing　for　everyone　concerned；　especially　his　father。　We've　left　him　alone；　and　instead　of　taking　to　his　heels　he　has　the　effrontery　to　challenge　us！　He　must　be　mad。〃
　〃Or　mad　for　revenge；〃　Nefret　said；　her　brows　furrowing。
　〃No；〃　I　said　judiciously。　〃He's　too　much　of　a　coward。　However；　his　true　motive　is　not　difficult　to　discover。　One　of　his　most　notable　traits　is　greed。　He　also　has　an　uncanny　instinct　for　locating　lost　tombs。　Depend　on　it；　that　is　why　he　hasn't　left　Luxor。　He　hopes　to　find　another；　good　Gad；　perhaps　he　has　already　done　so！〃
　An　all…too…familiar　glint　brightened　Emerson's　sapphirine　orbs；　but　after　a　moment's　thought　he　shook　his　head　regretfully。　〃Pure　conjecture；　Peabody；　born　of　your　rampageous　imagination。　It's　more　likely　that　he　hasn't　the　courage　to　leave　familiar　surroundings　and　strike　out　on　his　own。　He　made　enough　from　his　share　of　the　princesses'　treasure　to　live　fortably　for　a　while；　I　would　guess　that　the　money　has　been　squandered；　and　that　he　approached　Jumana　as　a　last　resort。　He　won't　try　it　again。　As　for　attacking　Ramses　…　stuff　and　nonsense！〃
　〃Yes；　but　he　might　try　and　get　back　at　Jumana；〃　I　said。　〃Especially　if　he　learns　she　told　us　he　is　still　in　Luxor。　She　probably　won't　believe　that　she　could　be　in　danger　from　him；　so　we　must　make　certain　she　is　not　allowed　to　go　off　alone。　Katherine　and　I　had　agreed　she　would　e　to　us；　we　will　bring　her　back　with　us　tonight。　I　will　ask　Fatima　to　get　a　room　ready　for　her。　David's　old　room；　I　think；　it　is　next　to　ours；　Emerson；　with　windows　that　open　only　onto　the　courtyard。　It　will　not　be　easy　for　anyone　to　get　at　her　there　…　or　for　her　to　creep　out　unobserved。〃
　〃Are　you　going　to　tell　Cyrus　and　Katherine　about　Jamil？〃　Nefret　asked。
　〃I　am　glad　you　raised　that　point；　Nefret。　I　will　explain　the　situation　to　them　eventually；　but　I　do　not　believe　it　would　be　advisable　to　mention　it　this　evening。　The　walls　have　ears　and　the　tongues　of　Luxor　wag　at　both　ends。　We　certainly　don't　want　Jamil　to　find　out　that　his　sister　has　informed　on　him。〃
　〃There　you　go；　trying　to　make　a　mountain　out　of　a　molehill；〃　Emerson　declared。　〃In　my　humble　opinion；　the　sooner　Jamil　learns　that　we　are　aware　of　his　pathetic　threats；　the　better。　He　won't　dare　show　his　face　again。〃
　〃In　your　opinion？〃　I　repeated。　〃Humble？　I　trust　that　you　agree　that　Selim　and　Daoud　must　be　informed。　Harmless　the　wretched　boy　may　be；　but　he　is　their　cousin　…　of　some　degree　…　and　…〃
　〃Here　is　Cyrus's　carriage；　e　for　us；〃　Nefret　said　quickly。　〃Are　we　ready？　Mother；　where　is　your　hat？〃
　Cyrus's　carriage　was　a　handsome　open　barouche；　drawn　by　a　splendid　pair　of　grays。　A　brilliant　sunset　washed　the　western　sky；　and　across　the　river　the　lights　of　Luxor　began　to　shine。　When　the　carriage　turned　into　the　narrow　way　that　led　to　the　Valley　of　the　Kings；　the　hills　rose　up　around　us；　cutting　off　the　last　of　the　sunset　light。　Few　spots　on　earth　are　as　magical　as　the　Valley；　it　is　not　only　the　grandeur　of　the　scenery；　but　the　romance　of　its　history。　In　the　gray　twilight　one　could　easily　imagine　that　the　shadows　cast　by　the　carriage　lamps　were　the　ghostly　forms　of　the　royal　dead；　and　that　the　howling　in　the　hills　came　from　the　throat　of　the　divine　jackal　Anubis；　god　of　cemeteries。
　〃Now　that　we　are　settled　here　for　a　long　time；　we　must　think　seriously　of　getting　our　own　carriage；〃　I　remarked。　〃I　don't　like　depending　on　Cyrus　or　on　the　rattletraps　for　hire　at　the　dock。〃
　Emerson　said　something　under　his　brea