elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第71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！


　〃Later。　You　shouldn't　have　any　trouble　for　another　day　or　two。　Oh　…　I　almost　forgot。　You　owe　me　four　hundred　and　twenty　piastres。　That's　four　and　a　half　Turkish　pounds；〃　he　added　helpfully。　〃Quite　a　bargain。〃
　After　he　had　bowed　himself　out；　I　was　at　leisure　to　turn　my　attention　to　the　young　woman。　Nefret　had　led　her　to　the　divan　and　was　helping　her　smooth　the　tangled　strands　of　her　long　hair。
　〃Would　you　like　to　freshen　up　a　bit　before　we　chat？〃　I　inquired。
　〃For　God's　sake；　Mother；　this　isn't　a　social　encounter！〃　Ramses　burst　out。　〃You　let　him　get　away　without　answering　any　questions；　let's　hear　what　she　has　to　say。〃
　She　raised　reproachful　black　eyes　to　his　face。　〃Are　you　angry？　I　thought　you　would　be　happy　to　see　me。〃
　〃He　is；〃　said　Nefret。　A　dimple　appeared　at　the　corner　of　her　mouth。　〃He　just　has　an　odd　way　of　showing　it。　Mother；　get　her　something　to　drink。〃
　〃Thank　you；　I　would　like　that。　And　something　to　clean　my　face　and　hands。〃
　She　had　the　instincts　of　a　lady；　at　any　rate。　The　requested　objects　having　been　supplied；　she　wiped　her　face；　and　drank　deeply　of　the　cold　tea。　I　had　to　keep　telling　Ramses　to　be　quiet；　he　was　fairly　hopping　with　annoyance；　but　we　owed　the　girl　a　little　time　to　recover　from　her　unusual　and　unfortable　trip。
　〃Now；〃　I　said；　after　she　had　refreshed　herself；　〃perhaps　you　can　tell　us；　Miss　。　。　。　What　is　your　name？　Ramses　didn't　mention　it。〃
　〃We　were　never　properly　introduced；〃　Ramses　said　through　his　teeth。
　〃Esin。〃
　〃How　do　you　do。〃
　〃How　do　you　do；〃　she　repeated。　〃Are　you　his　mother？〃
　Another　one；　I　thought。　Ramses　has　that　effect　on　susceptible　young　women。　I　had　suspected　as　much；　even　from　Ramses's　expurgated　version　of　their　encounter；　the　way　she　pronounced　the　masculine　pronoun　was　a　dead　giveaway。
　〃Yes；〃　I　said。　〃And　this　is　his　father；　Professor　Emerson。　And　his　wife。〃
　〃How　do　you　do；〃　the　girl　said；　with　only　the　barest　nod　for　Emerson。　She　examined　Nefret　carefully；　and　her　dirty　face　fell。
　〃Anyhow；　I　am　glad　to　be　here；〃　she　said　with　a　sigh。　〃My　father　has　been　very　angry　since　you　escaped。〃
　〃Did　he　blame　you？〃　Ramses　asked。
　〃No；　he　thinks　I　am　too　stupid　and　too　afraid　of　him。〃　She　took　another　sip　of　tea。　〃He　wanted　to　blame　Ismail　Pasha；　but　he　could　not；　since　they　were　together　all　that　evening；　and　when　Ismail　Pasha　went　to　his　rooms；　my　father　put　guards　at　the　door。　To　protect　him　from　assassins；　he　said。〃
　〃Then　how　did　he　…〃
　Nefret　motioned　Ramses　to　be　silent。　〃How　well　do　you　know　Ismail　Pasha？〃　she　asked。
　〃I　talked　often　with　him。　He　is　an　Englishman；　you　know。　I　liked　talking　to　him；　he　treated　me　like　a　person；　not　a　woman；　and　let　me　practice　my　English　and　told　me　I　was　a　clever　girl。〃　She　finished　her　tea　and　leaned　back　against　the　cushions。
　〃I'm　surprised　your　father　let　you　talk　freely　with　other　men；〃　Nefret　prodded。
　〃He　could　not　stop　me。〃　Her　dark　eyes　flashed。　〃In　Constantinople　many　women　are　working　now　because　of　the　war。　I　helped　with　the　Red　Crescent；　rolling　bandages。　It　was　wonderful！　We　talked　about　sensible　things；　books　and　what　was　in　the　newspapers；　and　many　new　ideas。　And　we　wore　corsets　and　short　skirts！〃
　〃I　heard　about　that；〃　Nefret　said。　〃Didn't　the　government　issue　an　order　demanding　that　Moslem　women　lengthen　their　skirts；　discard　corsets；　and　wear　thicker　veils？〃
　〃They　had　to　take　back　the　order；〃　said　this　young　advocate　of　women's　rights　placently。　〃We　made　them　do　it。　The　girls　at　the　telephone　pany　and　the　post　office　threatened　to　strike；　and　the　ladies　said　they　would　not　work　for　the　Red　Crescent　anymore。　But　my　father　said　I　was　keeping　bad　pany；　and　made　me　e　to　Gaza　with　him；　and　it　was　so　dull　there。　He　tried　to　make　me　stay　in　the　harem；　but　I　got　out　whenever　I　could；　it　was　fun；　hiding　from　the　men　and　exploring　places　where　I　was　not　supposed　to　be。〃
　〃The　cellars；〃　Ramses　murmured；　visibly　chagrined。　He　had　underestimated　her；　and　so　had　the　rest　of　us。　I　had　a　sudden　image　of　Esin　face…to…face　with　Emmeline　and　Christabel　Pankhurst。
　Emerson　had　been　listening　in　silence；　his　mouth　ajar。　Now　he　cleared　his　throat　and　said；　〃What　about　your　father；　child？　He　will　be　worried　about　you。　Did　you　leave　a　message　for　him？〃
　〃No；　why　should　I？　He　doesn't　care　about　me；　I　am　only　a　piece　of　property　to　him。　I　have　lived　in　England；　I　won't　go　back　to　the　veil　and　the　harem　and　the　selling　of　women。　When　Ismail　Pasha　told　me　my　father　had　captured　an　English　spy；　I　wanted　to　see　him；　so　I　hid　myself　in　the　mandarah；　hoping　they　would　bring　you　there　…　and　they　did！　My　father　told　them　to　take　off　your　filthy　clothing　so　they　would　not　stain　his　cushions；　and　when　they　did；　I　saw　that　you　were　very　beautiful。〃
　Nefret　choked。　〃I'm　glad　you　find　this　amusing；〃　Ramses　said　sourly。
　〃It　is　not　amusing；〃　the　girl　insisted。　〃It　is　sad　and　very　romantic。　I　did　not　know　who　you　were；　and　when　my　father　said　he　would　give　me　to　you　I　was　happy；　because　you　were　so　beautiful　and　so　brave；　and　then　…　then　you　said　you　were　already　married　and　my　heart　cracked　in　two；　because　I　knew　an　English　gentleman　would　never　be　unfaithful　…〃
　〃That's　quite　enough　of　that；〃　said　Ramses　to　his　wife；　who　had　covered　her　mouth　with　her　hands　in　an　attempt　to　muffle　her　laughter。
　〃Quite；〃　I　said；　getting　a　grip　on　myself。　The　conversation　had　been　extraordinary。　〃Nefret；　take　the　…　er　…　young　lady　off　to　the　bath　chamber　and　get　her　some　clean　clothing。　That　rug　is　absolutely　filthy。〃
　〃Don't　say　anything　important　until　I　get　back；〃　Nefret　ordered。
　The　girl　got　to　her　feet。　〃Are　you　still　angry　with　me？〃　she　asked　Ramses。
　〃Good　Lord；　no。　I　…　er　…　I　owe　you　a　great　deal。　More　than　I　realized。〃　He　smiled　at　her；　and　a　blissful　answering　smile　spread　across　her　face。
　〃You　owe　me　nothing。　I　will　treasure　the　memory　of　that　kiss　forever；　even　if　you　can　never　be　mine。〃
　After　Nefret　had　removed　the　girl；　the　rest　of　us　sat　in　silence；　reflecting　upon　what　we　had　learned。　We　were；　in　my　opinion；　being　somewhat　overburdened　with　strong…minded　young　women。　I　fixed　a　critical　gaze　upon　my　son。
　〃The　kiss　was；　perhaps；　a　mistake。〃
　〃It　seemed　the　least　I　could　do；　Mother。〃
　I　think　he　was　teasing　me。　One　cannot　always　be　sure　with　Ramses。　I　trusted　he　would　find　Nefret's　ments　equally　entertaining。
　〃A　kindly　error；　however；〃　I　conceded。　〃We　will　not　speak　of　it　again。〃
　〃Extraordinary　young　woman；〃　said　Emerson。　He　added　gloomily；　〃I　suppose　we're　stuck　with　her。〃
　〃For　the　time　being；〃　I　agreed。　〃And　we　certainly　cannot　plain；　considering　what　we　owe　her。　We　were　dead　wrong　about　her。　She　managed　the　whole　business　by　herself。〃
　〃With　a　few　hints　from　Ismail　Pasha；〃　said　Ramses。　〃Don't　give　me　that　steely　stare；　Mother。　I　am　not　denying　her　intelligence　and　her　courage；　but　I　would　be　willing　to　wager　that　she　went　rushing　off　to　her　sympathetic　English　friend　as　soon　as　they　removed　my　…　er　…　beautiful　self　to　the　cells；　and　opened　her　heart　to　him。　That　gave　him　his　opening；　and　no　one　is　better　at　putting　ideas　into　people's　heads。　I　can　almost　hear　him；　can't　you？　'The　cruelties　of　war　。　。　。　too　young　to　die　。　。　。　your　father　forced　against　his　will　to　destroy　a　gallant　enemy　。　。　。　in　his　heart　he'd　be　grateful　to　be　relieved　of　that　grim　duty　。　。　。　'　〃
　〃She　does　seem　to　be　a　romantic　young　person；〃　I　said。　〃And　clever　enough　to　work　out　the　details；　with；　perhaps；　a　suggestion　or　two　from　Sethos。　He　had　probably　explored　the　house；　including　the　cells　…　'just　in　case。'　Like　myself；　he　believes　in　anticipating　potential　dangers。　Nor　would　he　have　had　any　difficulty　in　persuading　her　to　run　away　with　him；　to　join　the　individual　who　had　made　such　an　impression　on　her　susceptible　heart。〃
　〃Now；　Mother；〃　Ramses　protested。　〃She　was　bored　and　restless；　and　annoyed　with　her　father　for　dragging　her　off　to　Gaza；　and　fascinated　by　Sethos。　It　wouldn't　have　required　more　than　that。〃
　〃Hmm；〃　I　said。　〃Admittedly　her　motives　are　less　important　than　his。　Why　did　he　do　it？　Surely　not　to　rescue　a　damsel　in　distress。〃
　〃Not　Sethos；〃　said　Emerson　…　who　might　have　been　fool　enough　to　do　just　that。　〃He　means　to　use　her　against　her　father；　somehow　or　other。　It　would　be　confounded　embarrassing　for　Sahin　Bey　…　oh；　very　well；　Pasha　…　to　admit　he　had　lost　his　daughter　to　the　enemy。　What　would　he　be　willing　to　give　to　get　her　back？〃
　〃We　cannot　be　party　to　any　such　scheme；〃　I　declared。　〃I　will　not　force　a　young　woman　against　her　will；　no　matter　what　is　offered　in　exchange。〃
　〃Not　even　Sethos？〃　Ramses's　eyes　were　on　the　unlit　cigarette　he　was　rolling　between　his　long　fingers。
　〃Oh；　good　Gad；〃　I　said。
　
　　
　
　11
　　
　The　night　passed　without　incident；　but　in　some　disfort。　I　felt　it　incumbent　upon　myself　to　keep　the　girl　with　me。　She　had　been　removed　suddenly　from　her　home　and　was　in　the　pany　of　strangers；　a　motherly　presence　would　fort　her　…　and　prevent　her　from　leaving　us；　in　case　she　changed　her　mind。　Emerson　attempted　to　convince　me　to　change　my　mind；　declaring　that　my　habit　of　foreseeing　difficulties　that　never　arose　had　bee；　as　he　put　it；　deuced　inconvenient。　Unable　to　prevail；　he　went　off　to　one　of　the　small　sleeping　chambers　in　a　considerable　state　of　aggravation。