elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第89部分

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　〃Soda　water；〃　Albion　said。　〃You　don't　think　I'd　ply　a　young　lady　with　alcohol；　do　you？〃
　The　answer　to　that　was　a　resounding　〃Yes；　if　you　hoped　to　gain　something　by　it。〃　Since　courtesy　forbade　honesty；　Ramses　said；　〃I'll　join　you；　if　I　may。　What　were　you　talking　about？〃
　〃Those　sites　your　pa　told　me　about〃　was　the　prompt　reply。　〃We've　just　about　decided　not　to　do　any　more　digging。　The　young　lady　agrees　with　me　that　it's　a　waste　of　time。〃
　〃The　western　wadis　are　too　far　away　and　too　dangerous；〃　Jumana　explained。　〃And　there　is　nothing　in　that　part　of　the　Valley　of　the　Queens。〃
　〃Father　will　be　glad　to　hear　that；〃　Ramses　said。
　The　music　ended。　Jumana　looked　at　her　dance　card。　〃The　next　one　is　Bertie；〃　she　announced　importantly。　〃Will　you　excuse　me；　sir？〃
　〃Why；　sure。　You　go　right　ahead。〃
　Trying　to　watch　all　three　Albions　and　fulfill　his　social　obligations　kept　Ramses　fully　occupied　for　a　while。　Mr。　Albion　wouldn't　stay　put；　he　wandered　around　the　room；　talking　to　his　wife　and　to　various　other　people。　Seeing　Mrs。　Albion　head　purposefully　for　the　door　of　the　ballroom；　Ramses　caught　Nefret's　eye；　gestured；　and　trod　on　Katherine's　toe。　Nefret　went　in　pursuit；　abandoning　her　partner。
　〃I　beg　your　pardon；　Katherine；〃　Ramses　said。
　〃Quite　all　right；　my　dear。　Is　your　injury　bothering　you？　Perhaps　we　should　sit　down。〃
　〃What？　Oh；　that。　Well；　yes；　a　little。　Not　much。　It's　all　right。〃
　He'd　lost　sight　of　Sebastian　too。　What　was　taking　his　father　so　long？
　Mrs。　Albion　came　back；　followed　by　Nefret。　Her　nod　and　smile　reassured　him；　they　must　have　gone　to　the　ladies'　parlor。
　He　was　still　scanning　the　room；　trying　to　locate　Sebastian；　when　he　caught　sight　of　his　father。　He　let　his　breath　out　in　a　sigh　that　ruffled　Katherine's　hair。
　〃Let's　do　sit　down；　Ramses；〃　she　said。
　〃Did　I　tread　on　your　foot　again？〃
　〃No；　dear；　but　the　music　has　stopped。〃
　Her　husband　claimed　her　for　the　next　dance；　and　Ramses　headed　straight　for　his　father。　Emerson's　appearance　would　have　roused　his　wife's　direst　suspicions。　His　hair　was　standing　on　end；　his　tie　had　e　undone；　and　his　smile　was　reminiscent　of　that　of　the　Great　Cat　of　Re　after　a　tasty　meal。　Ramses　drew　him　aside。
　〃Here；　let　me　fix　your　tie　before　Mother　sees　you。〃
　〃What's　wrong　with　it？　Oh。〃　Emerson　glanced　down。　〃Thank　you；　my　boy。〃
　〃Well？〃　Ramses　demanded。
　〃It　went　off　without　a　hitch。　What　did　you　expect？〃
　〃Did　you　find　anything？〃
　〃Oh；　yes。〃
　〃Don't　do　this　to　me；　Father。〃　He　jerked　the　knot　tight。
　〃I　can't　tell　you　about　it　now；〃　Emerson　said　reproachfully。　〃But　in　a　word　…　Oh；　curse　it。　Hullo；　Bertie。　Were　you　looking　for　me？　I　just　stepped　out　into　the　garden　for　…〃
　〃No；　sir。　That　is　…　did　you　see　Jumana？〃
　〃In　the　garden？　Er　…　no。〃
　〃Is　something　wrong；　Bertie？〃　Ramses　asked。
　Bertie　passed　his　hand　over　his　hair。　〃It's　just　that　this　is　my　dance；　and　I　can't　find　her。　She　was　with　Sebastian；　and　he　doesn't　seem　to　be　in　the　room　either。〃
　〃They　must　be　around　somewhere；〃　Emerson　said　vaguely。　〃Damn！　There's　your　mother。　Your　mother；　I　mean；　Ramses。　Am　I　supposed　to　be　dancing　with　her？〃
　〃I've　no　idea；〃　Ramses　said。　His　mother　was　advancing　on　them　with　a　firm　stride　and　a　look　in　her　eyes　that　boded　ill　for　Emerson。　〃You　had　better　report　to　her；　she　probably　noticed　you　were　conspicuous　by　your　absence。〃
　〃Jumana　…〃　Bertie　began。
　〃Yes；　right。　I　expect　she's　gone　to　the　ladies'　parlor。　Let's　ask　Nefret。〃
　Nefret　had　just　returned　from　the　ladies'　parlor。　〃Mrs。　Albion　has　gone　there　three　times！　She　keeps　taking　off　her　gloves　and　washing　her　hands。　I　hate　to　speculate　about　why。　Is　Father　…〃
　〃Dancing　with　Mother；〃　Ramses　said。
　〃Thank　goodness！〃
　〃Yes；　but　Jumana　has　gone　missing；〃　Ramses　said。　〃She　wasn't　in　the　ladies'　parlor？〃
　〃Sebastian's　not　here　either；〃　Bertie　said。
　〃Oh；　dear。　I'm　sorry；　I　rather　lost　track　of　her；　what　with　。　。　。　one　thing　and　another。　Perhaps　she　stepped　out　into　the　garden　for　a　breath　of　fresh　air。〃
　〃The　Professor　just　came　in　from　the　garden。　He　said　he　hadn't　seen　her。　But　he　wouldn't　have；　would　he；　if　they　were　off　in　a　dark　corner　somewhere。〃
　〃There　is　no　reason　to　suppose　they　are　together；　Bertie；〃　Nefret　said。　〃But　we'll　have　a　look　round。〃
　The　gardens　were　one　of　the　showplaces　of　Luxor；　planted　with　exotic　trees　and　shrubs。　They；　too；　had　been　decorated　for　the　occasion；　colorful　lanterns　hung　from　the　branches；　and　benches　and　chairs　were　scattered　about。　A　number　of　the　guests　were　enjoying　the　cool　air　and　the　scent　of　night　blossoms。　Winding　paths　led　in　and　out　of　the　shrubbery。
　〃You　go　that　way；〃　Bertie　said。　〃I'll　go　the　other。〃
　Nefret　would　have　been　the　first　to　admit　she　had　been　remiss；　but　she　couldn't　believe　there　was　any　real　danger　to　Jumana。　Not　here；　in　the　public　gardens；　with　so　many　people　about。　If　the　girl　had　let　Sebastian　bring　her　here；　she　was　guilty　of　nothing　worse　than　indiscretion。　Nefret　had　a　sinking　feeling　she　wasn't　going　to　convince　Bertie　of　that。　His　jaw　was　set。
　〃I'm　ing　with　you；〃　she　said。　〃Wait　for　me。〃
　He　had　already　plunged　into　the　nearest　path。　She　picked　up　her　skirts　and　ran　after　him。
　They　had　almost　reached　the　end　of　the　path；　where　it　curved　back　toward　the　hotel；　before　Nefret　heard　a　man's　voice；　low　and　intimate；　the　words　indistinguishable；　and　Jumana's　reply；　high…pitched　and　quavering。　〃No；　I　am　not　afraid；　but　I　want　to　go　back　now。〃
　Sebastian　laughed　softly。　〃Not　yet。〃
　Nefret　filled　her　lungs　and　shouted；　〃Jumana！〃
　Jumana　came　flying　out　of　the　shadows。　Bertie　went　flying　into　them。　He　dragged　Sebastian　out　into　the　light　and　raised　his　fist。
　〃Stop　them；〃　Nefret　exclaimed。　〃They're　going　to　fight！〃
　〃It　looks　that　way；〃　said　Ramses；　behind　her。　〃Go　ahead；　Bertie；　give　him　a　good　one。〃
　Bertie　let　go　of　Sebastian's　lapel　and　stepped　back。　〃He's　wearing　eyeglasses。　I　can't　hit　a　chap　who　…〃
　Sebastian's　fist　connected　neatly　and　scientifically　with　Bertie's　jaw；　knocking　him　over　backward。
　
　
　　
　
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　〃Really；〃　I　said　in　exasperation；　〃I　cannot　decide　which　of　this　evening's　outlandish　activities　to　discuss　first。〃
　〃I　can；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Good　Gad；　Bertie；　don't　you　know　better　than　to　fight　like　a　gentleman？〃
　We　had　left　the　party　somewhat　precipitately。　I　had　known　the　moment　I　set　eyes　on　him　that　Emerson　had　been　up　to　something；　but　before　I　could　interrogate　him　Nefret　had　run　in　to　tell　me　Jumana　was　in　hysterics　and　Bertie　was　nursing　a　lump　on　his　jaw　and　a　bump　on　his　head　and　that　Ramses　was　chasing　Sebastian　Albion　through　the　gardens　and　that　…　in　short；　we　had　better　go　at　once。　We　collected　the　others；　including　Ramses；　who　had　cooled　off　enough　to　be　tractable；　and　took　them　away。　Since　our　house　was　nearer　than　the　Castle；　we　had　all　gone　there。　Having　removed　coat；　waistcoat；　and　tie；　with　a　glass　of　whiskey　and　soda　in　his　hand；　Emerson　felt　in　a　proper　frame　of　mind　to　lecture。
　〃Bear　in　mind；　my　boy；〃　he　went　on；　〃that　there　is　no　purpose　in　fighting　unless　you　mean　to　win。　Never　mind　all　that　nonsense　about　fair　play。〃
　〃I'll　remember　that　next　time；　sir；〃　Bertie　said。
　〃I　sincerely　hope　there　will　not　be　a　next　time；〃　Katherine　exclaimed。　〃Nefret；　are　you　certain　he　doesn't　have　a　concussion；　or　a　fractured　skull；　or　…〃
　〃He　did　not　fall　very　hard；〃　said　Jumana。
　We　all　turned　to　look　at　her。　She　had　wept　on　Nefret's　shoulder　…　Ramses　having　refused　to　offer　his　…　all　the　way　back；　but　whether　from　distress　or　pure　excitement　I　would　have　hesitated　to　say。
　〃I　am　sorry；〃　she　stammered。　〃I　didn't　mean　。　。　。　But　why　is　everyone　angry　with　me？　Why　did　Bertie　want　to　fight　with　Sebastian？　He　was　very　polite；　he　only　…〃
　〃Kept　you　there　after　you　had　said　you　wanted　to　go；〃　Nefret　cut　in。　〃Would　he　have　continued　to　be　polite；　do　you　think；　if　we　hadn't　arrived　when　we　did？〃
　Jumana's　lips　trembled。
　〃It　wasn't　her　fault；〃　Bertie　muttered。　〃She　didn't　understand。〃
　〃Well；　perhaps　she　didn't；〃　I　conceded。　〃I　assumed　。　。　。　So　I　neglected　to　give　her　my　little　lecture。　You　remember　the　one；　Nefret？〃
　〃Very　well；〃　said　Nefret；　her　tight　lips　relaxing。　〃I　gave　her　the　same　lecture　less　than　an　hour　ago。　Evidently　it　didn't　make　an　impression。〃
　She　went　to　Jumana　and　lifted　her　out　of　her　chair　by　her　shoulders。　〃Have　I　your　full　attention　now；　Jumana？　Bertie　behaved　tonight　as　any　decent　man　would；　ing　to　the　assistance　of　an　inexperienced　young　girl　who　is　about　to　be　。　。　。〃　She　glanced　at　me；　and　went　on；　〃。　。　。　taken　advantage　of　by　an　unscrupulous　scoundrel。　He'd　have　done　it　for　any　girl；　Jumana；　so　don't　preen　yourself！　The　only　mistake　he　made　was　in　playing　by　the　rules　and　expecting　Sebastian　to　do　the　same。　Now　go　to　your　room　and　think　about　what　I've　said；　unless　you　want　to　apologize　to　Bertie　and　thank　him。〃
　Red…faced　and　stuttering；　Bertie　exclaimed；　〃Oh；　I　say；　she　doesn't　owe　me　an　apology。　It　was　…　well；　it　was　…　what　one　does；　you　know。　Only　I　didn't　do　it　awfully　well。　I　mean　…〃
　Jumana　burst　into　tears　and　ran　out　of　the　room。　Bertie　smiled　apologetically。　〃I　seem　to　have　mucked　it　up；　as　usual。　Shouldn't　have　lost　my　temper。〃
　〃You　weren't　the　only　one；〃　Ramses　said。　He　had　also　divested　h