elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第53部分

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been　a　splendid　guide。　He　knows　the　antiquities　so　well！〃
　〃A　sister's　fondness　exaggerates；〃　said　Smith　with　a　modest　cough。　〃I　may　claim；　however；　to　be　exceedingly　keen。　My　interest　was　aroused　during　my　first　visit　to　Luxor　…　perhaps　you　do　me　the　honor　of　remembering　our　meeting　at　that　time　。　。　。〃
　He　transferred　his　gaze　to　Ramses　and　Nefret。
　〃Very　well；〃　said　Ramses。　Nefret；　her　lips　forming　a　line　almost　as　thin　as　Smith's；　said　nothing。
　〃We　must　not　keep　you　from　your　dinner；〃　I　said。　〃It　has　been　a　pleasure　to　meet　you；　Mrs。　Bayes。　Enjoy　the　rest　of　your　stay。〃
　〃Aren't　you　dining　here？〃　the　lady　asked　innocently。
　〃No；〃　I　said；　and　took　Emerson's　arm。　〃Good　night。〃
　I　led　our　little　party　out　of　the　hotel。
　〃What　about　Carter？〃　Ramses　asked。
　〃I　would　be　very　much　surprised　to　find　that　Howard　is　here。　Smith　sent　the　message。〃
　〃I　wonder　what　he　wants；〃　Nefret　muttered。　She　had　very　tight　hold　of　Ramses's　arm。　〃If　he　thinks　he　can　…〃
　〃Not　now；　Nefret；〃　I　said　firmly。
　〃Where　are　we　going？〃　Emerson　asked。　〃I　want　my　dinner。〃
　〃The　Luxor　will　suit；　I　believe。　We　must　have　a　little　chat　before　he　tracks　us　down　again。〃
　Emerson　waved　away　the　carriages　that　sought　our　custom。　It　is　only　a　short　walk　from　the　Winter　Palace　to　the　Luxor；　and　it　was　a　lovely　evening；　the　dark　sky　star…strewn　and　the　air　fresh。　The　scent　of　night…blooming　jasmine　tried　（in　vain）　to　counter　the　other　scents　of　Luxor；　but　even　these　had　a　certain　charm　…　the　smell　of　cooking　fires　and　camel　dung；　of　unwashed　donkeys；　camels；　and　humans。
　We　were　greeted　with　pleasure　and　seated　at　one　of　the　best　tables　in　the　dining　saloon。　After　consulting　with　Ramses；　Emerson　ordered　a　bottle　of　wine　and　then　shoved　his　plate　aside　and　planted　both　elbows　on　the　table；　a　habit　of　which　I　have　given　up　trying　to　break　him。
　〃You　think　he　will　follow　us　here；　do　you？〃　he　inquired。
　〃Yes。　What　other　reason　could　he　have　for　being　in　Luxor？〃
　〃It　may　be　a　perfectly　innocent　reason；〃　Ramses　said。　〃Do　you　suppose　the　lady　is　really　his　sister？〃
　〃Possibly；〃　I　replied；　studying　the　menu。　〃Men　of　his　sort　are　not　above　using　personal　relationships　for　their　own　purposes。　It　was　only　her　presence　that　prevented　your　father　from　being　rude。　I　believe　I　will　start　with　lentil　soup。　They　make　it　very　well　here。　Nefret？〃
　〃I　don't　care。　Mother；　how　can　you　think　about　food；　when　you　know　that　bas　…　…　that　man　is　after　Ramses　again？〃
　〃He　can't　make　me　do　anything　I　don't　want　to　do；〃　Ramses　said；　somewhat　sharply。　〃You　are　getting　yourself　into　a　rage　about　nothing；　Nefret。　There　is　no　inducement　they　could　offer　that　would　make　me　change　my　mind。〃
　〃Damn　right；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Who's　he　working　for　anyhow？　I　can't　get　all　these　departments　and　bureaus　and　agencies　straight　in　my　mind。　Not　that　I　care　to；〃　he　added。
　〃Nobody's　got　them　straight；〃　Ramses　said　with　a　wry　smile。　〃At　one　time　there　were　four　separate　intelligence　groups；　and　the　police。　I　believe　they've　been　reorganized；　but　there　is　still　a　certain　amount　of　infighting　between　the　civilian　branch；　which　reports　to　the　high　missioner　and　the　Foreign　Office；　and　the　military　branches；　who　are　under　the　C…in…C　…　that's　General　Murray　…　in　Cairo。　The　Admiralty　has；　or　had；　its　own　group。　God　knows　where　Smith　fits　in。〃
　〃I　don't　give　a　damn　where　he　fits　in；〃　Nefret　declared。　〃So　long　as　you　aren't　in　it　with　him。〃
　I　was　tempted　to　intervene；　for　her　voice　had　risen　and　Ramses's　eyes　had　narrowed　…　sure　signs；　in　both　cases；　of　rising　temper。　Considering　the　scrapes　we　often　got　into　…　Nefret　included　…　her　almost　hysterical　fear　of　this　particular　danger　might　have　seemed　exaggerated；　but　I　understood。　In　our　other　adventures　we　worked　as　a　family。　Well　。　。　。　most　of　the　time。　In　these　he　was　alone；　with　every　man's　hand　against　him。　I　told　myself　to　leave　it　to　them。　It　was　not　my　role　to　interfere　…　unless　it　became　necessary。
　〃The　devil　with　Smith；　eh？〃　said　Emerson；　whose　fond　paternal　brow　had　furrowed。　He　is　such　a　hopeless　sentimentalist；　he　hates　to　see　the　children　exchange　hard　words；　whereas　I；　who　understand　the　human　heart　better；　knew　that　little　disagreements　are　natural　and　healthy。　On　this　occasion　his　remark　had　the　desired　effect。　The　lines　of　tension　left　Nefret's　face　and　she　smiled　affectionately　at　Emerson。
　〃Quite　right；　Father。　Let　us　drink　to　it：　The　devil　with　Mr。　Smith！〃
　He　had　at　least　enough　courtesy　to　allow　us　to　finish　our　dinner　in　peace。　The　waiter　was　hovering；　waiting　to　remove　our　plates；　when　he　approached　us。　The　lady　was　not　with　him。
　〃Will　you　allow　me　to　offer　you　a　liquor　or　a　glass　of　brandy？〃　he　asked。
　〃I　don't　want　any　damned　brandy；〃　said　Emerson；　glowering。　〃Or　a　conversation　with　you。〃
　〃I　think　you　had　better；　Professor。〃
　Emerson's　face　brightened。　〃Is　that　a　threat？〃　he　asked　hopefully。
　I　had　once　before　observed　in　Smith　the　rudiments　of　a　sense　of　humor。　Amusement　narrowed　his　eyes　and　he　shook　his　head　emphatically。　〃Good　Lord；　no。　Threatening　you；　Professor　Emerson；　is　tantamount　to　teasing　a　tiger。　However；　I　am　sure　you　will　want　to　hear　what　I　have　to　say；　and　if　I　am　mistaken；　you　will　…　er　…　take　whatever　steps　occur　to　you。　May　I　sit　down？〃
　〃Oh；　I　suppose　so；〃　Emerson　grumbled。　〃Just　be　quick　about　it。　You　want　Ramses　for　some　other　filthy　job；　I　suppose。　He　has　already　refused。　What　makes　you　suppose　that　you　can　change　his　mind？〃
　〃He　is　wanted；〃　Smith　said　quietly。　〃And　I　think　he　will　change　his　mind。〃
　Nefret　caught　hold　of　Ramses's　hand。　Ramses　gave　her　a　quick　glance　from　under　lowered　lids；　and　although　his　controlled　countenance　did　not　change；　I　knew　he　had　misunderstood；　and　resented；　the　gesture。　It　was　not　one　of　possessiveness　but　of　fear　…　the　unreasoning　panic　of　a　child　reaching　out　for　fort　in　a　dark　room。
　〃He　will；〃　Smith　went　on；　〃because　he　won't　want　to　see　a　close　friend　face　a　firing　squad。　Someone　closer　than　a　friend；　in　fact。　A　kinsman。〃
　There　was　no　doubt　as　to　whom　he　meant。　Nefret's　face　turned　pale；　Emerson's　turned　red。　〃Don't　speak；　Emerson；〃　I　exclaimed。　〃Don't　anyone　speak　until　he　has　explained　what　he　means。〃
　〃You　know　who　I　mean；〃　Smith　said；　with　that　thin；　satisfied　smirk　I　remembered　so　well。　〃He　has　turned　traitor。　Gone　over　to　the　enemy。〃
　　
　FROM　MANUSCRIPT　H
　　
　Nefret　had　told　herself　there　was　no　reason　to　be　apprehensive。　She　had　Ramses's　word；　and　he　would　not　break　it。　But　because　she　was　so　intensely　aware　of　the　emotions　he　succeeded　in　concealing　from　almost　everyone　but　her；　she　had　sensed　his　growing　restlessness　and　feelings　of　guilt　at　going　on　with　his　work　while　friends　and　kin　were　fighting　and　dying。　He　wouldn't　fight；　but　his　unique　skills　could　be　of　use　without　violating　his　pacifist　principles；　and　there　was　one　appeal　he　would　find　impossible　to　resist：　danger　to　her　or　his　parents　or　a　friend。　It　was　difficult　to　classify　the　enigmatic；　eccentric　individual　who　was　Emerson's　half　brother；　but　whether　he　was　friend　or　foe　…　over　the　years　he　had　been　both　…　they　were　indebted　to　him。
　Emerson's　sun…browned　face　was　almost　as　expressionless　as　that　of　his　son；　and　when　he　spoke；　it　was　in　a　soft　purring　voice。　〃That's　a　lie。〃
　Smith　leaned　forward。　〃Then　prove　it。〃
　〃I　thought　it　was　Ramses　you　wanted；〃　said　Emerson；　in　the　same　soft　voice。
　〃It　is。　May　I　explain？〃
　〃You　had　damned　well　better；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Peabody；　my　dear；　would　you　care　for　a　whiskey　and　soda？〃
　Nefret　had　never　been　certain　precisely　how　her　mother…in…law　felt　about　the　man　who　had　pursued　her　so　ardently　all　those　years；　obviously　she　cared　enough　about　him　to　resent　the　accusation。　Her　gray　eyes　had　a　hard；　almost　metallic　shine。
　〃No；〃　she　said。　〃Thank　you。　Mr。　Smith；　how　did　you　find　out？〃
　〃Find　out　what？〃
　She　was　too　clever　to　be　tricked　into　an　admission。　〃Whatever　it　is　you　know。〃
　Smith　gave　her　a　nod　of　grudging　admiration。　〃If　you　are　referring　to　my　knowledge　of　the　…　er　…　relationship　between　you　and　the　individual　in　question；　I　…　uh　…　Please；　Mrs。　Emerson；　won't　you　let　me　offer　you　something　to　drink？〃
　〃No。　There　were　a　good　many　people　present　the　evening　we　ourselves　learned　of　that　relationship；〃　she　went　on　thoughtfully。　〃Military　persons。　One　of　them　overheard　our　conversation　and　reported　it　to　you？〃
　〃Only　a　few　words　of　the　conversation；　but　they　were　enough　to　arouse　his　curiosity。　Eventually　the　word　got　back　to　me；　and　aroused　my　curiosity。　It　took　my　associate　in　England　a　while　to　find　the　proof　…　birth　and　death　certificates；　records　of　certain　financial　transactions　…　you　know　the　procedure。　I　haven't　told　anyone　else；　Mrs。　Emerson。〃
　〃No；　you　hoard　information　like　coins；　paying　it　out　only　when　you　can　gain　something〃　was　the　furious　response。　〃Do　not　expect　thanks　for　your　discretion　from　us。〃
　〃Never　mind；　Mother；〃　Ramses　said。　〃That　isn't　the　issue　now。　He's　won　the　first　round。　Perhaps　we　should　let　him　explain　further。〃
　It　was　a　damning　story。　A　few　weeks　earlier；　a　man　calling　himself　Ismail　Pasha　had　appeared　in　Constantinople。　The　word　soon　spread　among　the　faithful：　he　had　been　an　infidel；　a　high…ranking　member　of　the　British　Secret　Service；　who　ha