elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第67部分

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　〃So；〃　I　said。　〃He　attempted　at　first　to　win　you　over　with　kind　treatment　and　flattering　words。　When　you　refused　to　tell　him　what　he　wanted　to　know；　he　chained　you　to　the　wall　of　a　cell　and　left　you。　You　managed　to　free　yourself；　found　the　guard　had　left　his　post；　and　escaped。　As　simple　as　that。〃
　〃You　have　often　told　me；〃　said　Ramses；　〃to　stick　to　the　facts；　avoiding　rhetorical　flourishes　and　…〃
　〃Curse　it；〃　I　exclaimed。
　〃Er；　hmph；〃　said　Emerson　loudly；　while　Nefret　laughed　and　Ramses　gave　me　one　of　his　most　charming　smiles。　〃What　about　another　nice　cup　of　tea；　Peabody？　And　you；　my　boy。　Perhaps　just　a　few　words　of　additional　explanation　…〃
　〃There　was　a　woman　involved；〃　I　said。　〃Wasn't　there？　Who？〃
　Ramses's　smile　died　a　quick　death。　〃You'd　have　been　burned　at　the　stake　in　the　seventeenth　century。〃
　〃Quite　possibly；〃　I　agreed；　taking　the　cup　Emerson　handed　me。　〃Again；　Ramses；　from　the　beginning。〃
　So　we　were　treated　to　a　description　of　Sahin　Pasha's　beautiful；　desirable　daughter；　and　the　pasha's　remarkable　offer。　Once　he　had　been　forced　to　speak；　Ramses　made　an　entertaining　story　of　it；　and　even　Emerson　grinned　reluctantly　when　Ramses　quoted　the　Turk's　ments　about　multiple　wives。
　〃Excellent　advice；　my　boy。　It's　cursed　strange；　though。　He　couldn't　have　been　serious。〃
　〃You　think　not？〃　Nefret　asked。　It　was　the　first　time　she　had　spoken　since　Ramses　began　his　story。　He　gave　her　a　quick　look　and　shook　his　head。
　〃He　couldn't　have　supposed　I　would　agree　…　or　keep　my　word　if　I　did。〃
　〃Oh；　you'd　have　kept　your　word；〃　Nefret　murmured。
　〃I　didn't　give　it。　It　does　seem　to　me；〃　Ramses　said　emphatically；　〃that　I　am　entitled　to　some　credit　for　preferring　torture　and　death　to　infidelity。　She　was　a　damned　attractive　girl；　too。〃
　〃Now；　now；　don't　quarrel；〃　I　said。　〃It　was　the　girl　who　helped　you　escape？〃
　Ramses　nodded。　〃There　was　no　way　I　could　get　those　chains　off　by　myself。　She's　an　efficient　little　creature；〃　he　added　thoughtfully。　〃She'd　brought　me　a　caftan　and　headcloth；　and　even　a　knife。　She　also　offered　to　steal　a　horse　for　me；　but　I　pointed　out　…　somewhat　rudely；　now　that　I　think　about　it　…　that　it　would　only　have　made　me　more　conspicuous。〃
　Nefret　looked　as　if　she　wanted　to　say　something　…　I　knew　what　it　was　…　but　she　restrained　herself。　It　was　Emerson　who　voiced　the　same　thought　that　had；　of　course；　occurred　to　me。
　〃He　let　you　go。　The　girl　was　acting　under　his　orders　or　with　his　cooperation。〃
　〃That　idea　had；　of　course；　occurred　to　me；〃　I　said。　〃But　it　doesn't　make　sense。　He　might　have　intervened　to　take　you　from　the　governor's　men；　but　why　would　he　connive　in　your　escape　so　soon　thereafter？〃
　〃Damned　if　I　know；〃　Ramses　said。　〃No　doubt　you　are　prepared　to　speculate；　Mother。　It　is　a　useful　process　that　clears　away　the　underbrush　in　the　thickets　of　deduction。〃
　I　did　not　at　all　mind　his　teasing　me。　It　was　such　a　relief　to　have　him　back　with　us；　alive　and　relatively　undamaged。　〃Certainly；〃　I　said。　〃Let　us　begin　with　the　assumption　that　he　intended　to　save　your　life。　If　he　had　not　taken　you　from　the　governor's　guards　you　would　have　been　treated　far　less　courteously。〃
　〃I　would　be　extremely　surprised　to　discover　that　Sahin　Bey　…　Pasha；　I　should　say　…　acted　out　of　kindness；〃　Ramses　said。　〃He　had　an　ulterior　motive；　and　I　doubt　it　was　finding　a　husband　for　his　daughter。〃
　〃Why；　then？〃　Emerson　grunted。　〃If　he　wants　to　turn　his　coat　and　e　over　to　us　…　unlikely　on　the　face　of　it　…　he　wouldn't　need　a　good　word　from　you。　The　War　Office　would　sell　their　souls　and　those　of　all　their　mothers　and　grandmothers　to　get　the　head　of　the　Turkish　secret　service　on　our　side。〃
　Ramses　scratched　absently　at　the　scraped　flesh　on　his　jaw。　〃I　agree；　Father。〃
　〃All　the　same；　HQ　must　be　notified。〃
　〃I've　already　done　so。　Why　do　you　suppose　I'm　wearing　this　bloody　damned　uniform？　I　was　in　the　water　long　enough　to　wash　the　dye　off　my　skin；　but　I　hadn't　any　clothes　except　the　bare　necessities；　and　I'd　never　have　got　to　General　Chetwode　looking　the　way　I　did。〃　Ramses　added；　〃I　expect　the　officer　I　waylaid　holds　a　bit　of　a　grudge；　I　had　to　borrow　his　uniform　without　his　consent。　He　oughtn't　wander　so　far　from　camp。〃
　Emerson　knew　his　son　too　well　to　misinterpret　his　lighthearted　manner。　〃What　did　General　Chetwode　say？〃
　Ramses　shrugged。　〃What　could　he　say　but　'Bad　luck；　old　boy；　glad　you　made　it　back　after　all'？　Our　Chetwode　had　already　left　for　Cairo　to　make　his　report。〃
　〃He　was　in　something　of　a　hurry　to　get　out　of　town；　wasn't　he？〃　Emerson　mused。　〃How　much　did　you　tell　the　general？〃
　〃I　am　not　telling　anyone　any　more　than　I　have　to；〃　Ramses　said　tightly。　〃Nobody　is　telling　me　anything。　I'll　be　damned　if　I　can　understand　who　is　actually　running　this　stunt。　Apparently　General　Chetwode　didn't　know　what　his　nephew　intended　to　do；　he　was　only　told　we　were　going　to　investigate　and　reconnoiter。　I　didn't　mention　the　girl；　or　Sahin's　proposition。　The　general　is　under　the　impression　that　I　cleverly　escaped　all　by　my　little　self。　I'm　sorry；　I　ought　to　have　e　here　straightaway；　but　…〃
　〃Bah；〃　said　Emerson　gruffly。　〃You　did　what　you　had　to　do。　I　still　say　the　girl　couldn't　have　managed　it　on　her　own。　The　young；　spoiled　daughter　of　an　aristocrat；　raised　in　the　harem　…〃
　〃She'd　been　exposed　to　Western　ideas　and　Western　schooling；〃　Ramses　interrupted。　〃Your　basic　point　is　well　taken；　however。　Someone　helped　her；　but　it　need　not　have　been　her　father。〃
　〃Ah；〃　said　Emerson。
　〃I'm　sorry；　Father。　I　ought　to　have　made　a　greater　effort　to　find　him。〃
　〃Don't　be　absurd；〃　I　said　forcibly。　〃You　could　not　have　eluded　recapture　for　long；　and　if　you　had　not　turned　up；　your　father　would　have　gone　into　Gaza　looking　for　you。〃
　〃Perhaps　I　ought　to　have　let　him　go　in　my　place。〃　Ramses　leaned　back　against　the　cushions　and　closed　his　eyes。　The　dark　stains　of　exhaustion　under　his　eyes　were　very　visible。　〃I　made　a　thorough　muckup　of　the　whole　business。　I'm　sorry　。　。　。〃
　Nefret　was　sitting　cross…legged　on　the　divan　next　to　him。　She　stood　up；　the　bracelets　on　her　ankles　and　wrists　jingling　musically。　〃Stop　saying　you're　sorry！〃
　〃Quite　right；〃　Emerson　exclaimed。　〃I　am　the　one　who　should　apologize；　my　boy；　for　badgering　you。　Go　and　get　some　rest。〃
　Ramses　sat　up；　propping　his　heavy　head　with　his　hands。　〃It　might　have　been　him。　There　wasn't　time　to　get　a　good　look。　I　couldn't　determine　whether　the　soldiers　were　guarding　a　prisoner　or　protecting　a　holy　man。　But　the　mere　fact　that　I　am　here；　and　not　in　Sahin's　cell；　is　a　strong　indication　that　Sethos　is　in　Gaza。　Unless　that　is　what　we　are　meant　to　believe　。　。　。　Sorry。　I　seem　to　be　adding　to　the　deadwood　instead　of　clearing　it　away。〃
　〃You　didn't　have　time　to　question　the　girl；　I　suppose；〃　I　said。　〃And　don't　say　you're　sorry　again！〃
　Ramses　summoned　up　a　feeble　grin。　〃Yes；　Mother。　I　did　ask　who　had　helped　her。　She　claimed　no　one　had；　that　it　was　all　her　doing。〃
　〃She　lied；〃　I　said。　〃Quite　understandable；　she　wanted　the　credit　and　your　…　er　…　gratitude。〃
　Ramses　shook　his　head。　〃I　don't　think　so。　Her　fear　was　genuine。　You　know　how　Sethos　operates。　If　it　was　he　who　arranged　my　escape；　he'd　have　found　a　way　of　supplying　her　with　everything　she　needed　while　leaving　her　with　the　impression　that　the　whole　thing　had　been　her　idea。〃
　〃But　how　did　he　manage　it？〃　I　demanded。　〃He　had　less　than　twelve　hours　to　e　up　with　a　plan　and　carry　it　out。　He　must　have　known　the　identity　of　Sahin's　prisoner；　for　surely　he　would　not　have　taken　such　a　risk　for　a　stranger。　How　did　he　find　out　it　was　you？〃
　〃That　question　hadn't　occurred　to　me。〃　Ramses　sat　up　straighter。　〃And　it　may　be　significant。　Could　that　have　been　why　Sahin　didn't　pop　me　into　his　little　cell　straightaway？　Damn　it；　yes！　He　put　me　on　display　…　beardless　and　bareheaded；　easily　recognizable　…　and　when　they　did　take　me　downstairs　they　paraded　me　through　most　of　the　house　first。　If　Sethos　was　staying　in　the　same　house　。　。　。〃　His　brief　animation　faded。　〃It　still　doesn't　answer　the　most　important　questions。〃
　〃Yes；　yes；〃　Emerson　said　gruffly。　〃We'll　talk　about　it　later。　Take　him　away；　Nefret。〃
　Ramses　got　slowly　to　his　feet。　〃Take　me　where？〃
　〃To　my　little　private　cubicle；〃　Nefret　said；　drawing　his　arm　over　her　shoulders。
　〃Are　there　any　peepholes　in　the　walls？〃
　〃Probably。　Does　it　matter？〃
　〃That　depends。〃　He　smiled　down　into　her　upturned　face　and　brushed　her　cheek　with　his　fingertips。
　〃I　don't　suppose　it　does　matter；〃　I　admitted。　〃By　this　time　everyone　in　town　will　know　we　have　dealings　with　British　officers；　and　that　we　may　not　be　what　we　seem。　I　do　strongly　urge；　however；　that　you　rest　instead　of　…　er　…〃
　〃Of　course；　Mother。〃　Nefret　turned　her　head　and　gave　me　a　bewitching　smile。
　〃That　was　an　extremely　impertinent　and　unsolicited　bit　of　advice；〃　Emerson　said；　after　they　had　left　the　room。　〃She'll　look　after　him。　And　…　er　…　cheer　him　up。　The　boy　is　too　hard　on　himself。〃
　〃He　always　has　been；〃　I　said；　taking　no　notice　of　the　criticism。　〃It　wasn't　his　fault；　it　was　the　fault　of　the　confounded　War　Office。　Shall　I　begin　packing？〃
　〃No；　my　dear。　What's　your　hurry？〃
　〃I　would　have　supposed；〃　I　said；　with　a　certain　amount　of　sarcasm；　〃that　you　would　want　to　go　in　pursuit　of　the　conscienceless　villain　who　sent　your　son　to　r