elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第49部分

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ich　they　had　already　supplied　Ramses　and　Emerson。
　〃You　may　as　well　have　something；〃　said　my　son；　who　was　sitting　on　a　bench　pretending　he　had　been　there　the　whole　time。　（In　fact；　he　had　been　watching　Yusuf's　house；　I　had　caught　a　glimpse　of　him　ducking　back　into　concealment　as　I　approached。）　〃Selim　will　be　a　while；　he　is　changing　into　proper　attire　for　the　luncheon。〃
　〃You　weren't　long；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Wasn't　Yusuf　there？〃
　〃He　was　at　the　mosque。　At　least；　so　I　was　told。〃
　〃He　spends　too　much　time　in　prayer　for　a　man　with　nothing　on　his　conscience；〃　said　my　cynical　spouse。
　Selim　finally　emerged　looking　very　handsome　in　a　striped　silk　vest　and　cream…colored　robe；　and　we　bade　the　ladies　farewell　with　thanks　for　their　hospitality。
　Nefret　met　us　at　the　door　of　her　house。　I　thought　she　looked　a　trifle　fussed；　and　expected　to　hear　of　some　minor　domestic　disaster。　Then　the　cause　of　the　disaster　appeared　and　flung　herself　at　Ramses。
　〃I　couldn't　refuse　her；〃　Nefret　whispered。　〃She　wanted　so　badly　to　e。〃
　〃It　is　very　difficult　to　refuse　Sennia　when　she　is　in　one　of　her　moods；〃　I　said　resignedly　as　Sennia；　beaming　and　beruffled　from　neck　to　hem；　hugged　Emerson　and　Selim。　〃I　presume　this　means　Horus　and　the　Great　Cat　of　Re　are　also　lunching　with　us？〃
　〃Not　actually　at　the　table；〃　Nefret　said；　dimpling。　〃At　least　I　hope　not。〃
　〃And　where　is　Gargery？〃
　Nefret　gestured　helplessly。　〃In　the　kitchen　with　Fatima。　He　insisted　on　arranging　the　whole　affair　and　he　has　been　bullying　everyone；　including　me！　Shall　I　ask　him　to　sit　down　with　us？〃
　〃He　won't。　He　is　very　firm　about　keeping　us　in　our　place。　He　will　listen　to　every　word　we　say；　though。〃
　The　arrival　of　the　Vandergelts　interrupted　the　conversation。　Everyone　went　on　into　the　drawing　room；　but　Nefret　drew　me　aside　long　enough　to　say　in　a　low　voice；　〃I　looked　in　my　wardrobe　this　morning；　Mother。　Several　things　are　missing。〃
　〃Ah。　I　thought　as　much。　I　will　deal　with　the　matter；　my　dear。　Just　leave　it　to　me。〃
　〃I　always　do；　Mother。〃
　The　Great　Cat　of　Re；　now　approximately　the　size　of　a　melon；　had　to　be　removed　from　Ramses　claw　by　claw　before　we　could　proceed　to　the　dining　room。　I　had　not　seen　the　room　since　the　furniture　was　delivered；　and　some　of　the　others　had　not　seen　it　at　all。　The　effect　was　extremely　attractive　…　fine　old　rugs　on　the　floor；　a　few　antique　chests；　and　the　table　itself；　spread　with　one　of　the　woven　cloths　Nefret　had　purchased　in　Luxor　and　with　the　Spode　dinnerware　that　had　been　a　wedding　present　from　Cyrus　and　Katherine。
　Amid　exclamations　of　admiration　we　seated　ourselves；　and　Gargery；　in　full　buttling　attire；　poured　the　wine。　I　might　have　expected　he　would　jump　at　the　chance　to　appear　at　a　formal　meal；　he　considered　Emerson　and　me　very　remiss　in　carrying　out　our　social　duties。　He　then　stood　back；　stiffly　alert；　while　the　two　young　Egyptian　girls　served　the　food。
　Most　people　would　have　been　unnerved　by　his　critical　stare；　not　to　mention　the　lecture　he　had　undoubtedly　delivered　beforehand。　Ghazela；　the　sturdy　fourteen…year…old；　was　unaffected；　except　for　occasional　fits　of　giggles；　but　Najia　crept　about　like　a　ghost；　letting　Ghazela　do　most　of　the　work。　The　birthmark　was　not　nearly　so　prominent。　Nefret　must　have　given　her　some　cosmetic　that　helped　to　conceal　it。
　It　is　almost　impossible　to　keep　conversation　at　a　meaningless　social　level　with　our　lot；　and　the　interesting　events　of　the　previous　day　were　fresh　in　everyone's　mind。　I　knew　Sennia　would　introduce　the　subject　if　Gargery　did　not　find　some　means　of　doing　so。
　The　child　had　coolly　taken　a　chair　next　to　Emerson　and　was　cutting　up　his　food　for　him；　over　his　feeble　protests。　〃Tell　me　again　how　you　hurt　your　arm；〃　she　demanded。　〃You　made　me　go　to　bed　last　night　before　I　heard　the　whole　story　and　it　is　very　important　that　I　know　all　the　facts。〃
　〃And　why　is　that？〃　I　inquired；　amused　at　her　precise　speech。
　〃So　that　I　can　help　you；　of　course。〃
　Gargery　coughed。　His　coughs　are　very　expressive。　This　one　indicated　emphatic　agreement。
　Emerson　glanced　at　me。　I　shrugged。　Keeping　the　matter　secret　was　now　impossible。
　〃Well；　you　see　。　。　。〃　he　began。
　Gargery　had　not　heard　the　entire　story　either。　In　his　interest　he　so　forgot　himself　as　to　edge　closer　and　closer　to　the　table；　until　he　was　hovering　over　Emerson　like　a　vulture。　Emerson　turned　with　a　scowl。　〃Gargery；　may　I　beg　you　to　fill　the　glasses？　If　it　isn't　too　much　trouble。〃
　〃Not　at　all；　sir；〃　said　Gargery；　backing　off。　〃I　must　say；　sir　and　madam；　that　I　can　find　no　fault　in　your　actions。〃
　〃Good　of　you　to　say　so；〃　said　Emerson；　snatching　the　bottle　from　him。　Gargery　snatched　it　back。
　〃It　might　have　occurred　to　you；　perhaps；〃　he　continued；　splashing　wine　into　the　glasses；　〃to　drop　odds　and　ends　along　the　way；　to　mark　your　trail。〃
　〃Like　the　poor　children　in　the　fairy　tale；〃　Sennia　added　approvingly。
　〃We　hadn't　any　odds　and　ends；〃　I　explained；　recognizing　the　start　of　one　of　those　digressions　that　can；　in　our　family；　go　on　interminably。　〃Anyhow；　it　is　over　and　done　with。　Thanks　to　the　quick　wits　of　Daoud；　and　Jumana's　excellent　memory；　we　were　found　in　time。〃
　Sennia　demanded　a　detailed　account　of　that；　too；　which　Nefret　gave。　Jumana　had　spoken　very　little　all　morning　and　she　did　not　add　to　the　story；　but　Sennia's　praise　of　her　cleverness　brought　a　smile　to　her　solemn　face。　〃I　should　have　remembered　before；〃　she　said　modestly。　〃It　was　what　Daoud　said　that　made　me　think　of　it。〃
　〃Memory；〃　I　remarked；　〃is　capricious　and　aberrant。　It　is　not　surprising　that　the　import　of　Jamil's　remarks　should　have　escaped　you　until　a　dire　emergency　recalled　them　to　your　mind。　Without　your　assistance　we　might　have　perished　in　the　trap　he　set　for　us。〃
　I　had　kept　a　close　if　casual　eye　on　Najia；　who　had　bee　increasingly　clumsy　and　unfortable。　When　she　slipped　out　of　the　room；　observed　only　by　me；　I　immediately　rose。
　〃Nefret；　will　you　e　with　me？　The　rest　of　you　stay　here。　That　includes　you；　Gargery。〃
　She　had　gone　straight　through　the　kitchen　and　out　into　the　courtyard；　and　was；　when　I　caught　sight　of　her；　trying　to　open　the　back　gate。　The　unfortunate　creature　was　already　in　a　frightful　state　of　nerves；　her　shaking　hands　could　not　work　the　latch。　When　I　called　to　her　to　stop；　she　crumpled　to　the　ground；　her　hands　over　her　face；　her　body　shaking　with　sobs。
　We　lifted　her　up　and　half　carried　her　to　a　bench；　and　then　Nefret　waved　me　to　stand　back。
　〃She's　afraid　of　you；　Mother。〃
　〃Afraid　of　me？　Good　Gad；　why？〃
　〃Let　me　talk　to　her。〃　Her　gentle　voice　and　reassurances　finally　succeeded　in　calming　the　girl。　She　raised　a　face　sticky　with　tears。
　〃I　meant　no　harm。　He　told　me　I　was　beautiful　…〃
　I　was　trying　my　best　not　to　appear　threatening；　but　the　sight　of　me　set　her　off　again。
　〃I　know　you　meant　no　harm；　Najia；〃　Nefret　said。　〃The　Sitt　Hakim　knows　that　too。　What　was　the　harm　in　writing　a　message　to　his　sister；　and　in　borrowing　my　clothes？　What　else　did　you　give　him？〃
　She　had　not　much　to　give；　and　she　had　given　that；　gladly　and　humbly。　He　had　told　her　that　he　loved　her；　that　the　disfigurement　did　not　mar　her　beauty　in　his　eyes。　She　had　never　thought　to　attract　any　man；　much　less　one　as　young　and　handsome。　When　he　asked　the　loan　of　a　few　of　Nefret's　clothes；　to　play　a　joke　on　one　of　his　friends；　she　had　seen　nothing　wrong。　Not　until　she　heard　how　he　had　used　that　disguise　did　she　realize　she　had　been　an　unwitting　acplice　to　attempted　murder。
　Another　pitiful　tale　of　man's　perfidy！　I　determined　on　the　spot　that　she　should　not　suffer　for　it。　Seating　myself　next　to　her　on　the　bench；　I　spoke　quietly　and　firmly。
　〃No　one　else　knows　of　this；　Najia；　and　no　one　will　ever　learn　the　truth　from　us。　Wipe　your　eyes　。　。　。〃　I　gave　her　my　handkerchief。　〃And　go　home。　We　will　tell　the　others　you　were　taken　ill。〃
　〃But　when　my　shame　is　known　。　。　。〃　She　faltered。　〃。　。　。　no　man　will　ever　want　me。　My　father　will　…〃
　〃He　will　do　nothing　and　no　one　will　know　unless　you　are　fool　enough　to　confess。〃　Distress　had　weakened　her　wits；　which　had　never　been　very　strong；　I　gave　over　trying　to　get　her　to　see　sense；　and　asserted　the　full　force　of　a　stronger　will。　〃Say　nothing　to　anyone。　That　is　an　order　from　me；　the　Sitt　Hakim。　We　will　take　care　of　you　…　and　find　you　a　husband；　if　that　is　what　you　want。　You　know　we　can　do　what　we　promise。〃
　〃Yes　…　yes；　it　is　true。〃　She　threw　herself　at　Nefret's　feet。　〃How　can　you　forgive　me？　You　were　so　kind；　and　I　betrayed　you。〃
　〃For　pity's　sake；　stop　crying；〃　I　said　impatiently。　My　handkerchief　was　stained；　not　only　with　tears　but　with　some　brownish　substance；　the　birthmark；　wiped　clean；　stood　out　strong　as　ever。　〃Run　along　and　remember　that　the　word　of　the　Sitt　Hakim　is　stronger　than　another　man's　oath。〃
　〃That's　'the　word　of　the　Father　of　Curses；'　isn't　it？〃　Nefret　remarked；　as　the　girl　scampered　off；　still　swabbing　at　her　face。　〃I　don't　see　how　we　can　keep　all　of　it　secret；　though。　Someone　is　bound　to　suspect　it　was　my　clothing　Jamil　wore。　They'd　have　been　a　tight　fit；　but　not　as　tight　as　Jumana's。　Especially　the　boots。　I　hope　they　pinched　horribly。〃
　〃He　probably　cut　the　toes　out　or　slit　the　heels；〃　I　said　absently。　〃Some　people　must　be　told　some　part　of　the　truth；　but　it　is　the　girl's　dishonor；　as　men　ca