elizabethpeters.thegoldenone-第94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！


And　announcing　he　is　about　to　bee　a　grandfather　is　too　sickeningly　coy。〃
　So；　in　the　end；　she　blurted　it　out。　〃I'm　going　to　have　a　baby；　Father。〃
　Emerson's　jaw　went　slack。　〃A　。　。　。　a　what？〃
　〃We　don't　know　yet；〃　Ramses　said。　〃But　we're　pretty　sure　it's　bound　to　be　either　a　boy　or　a　girl。〃
　Emerson　choked。　〃Boy？　Girl？　Baby？　Good　…　good　Gad！〃
　〃Take　my　handkerchief；〃　said　his　wife。
　Emerson　indignantly　refused　the　handkerchief；　if　there　were　tears　in　his　eyes　he　blotted　them　on　Nefret's　hair　as　he　took　her　in　a　close　embrace。　He　turned　to　Ramses；　held　out　his　hand；　and　then；　to　the　latter's　utter　stupefaction；　embraced　him　too。
　He　was　with　difficulty　prevented　from　rushing　out　shouting　the　news　at　the　top　of　his　lungs　to　everyone　present。　〃A　little　less　publicly；　please；〃　Nefret　begged。　〃We　haven't　told　Fatima　yet；　or　Kadija；　or　Sennia；　or　Gargery；　or　…〃
　〃Oh；　of　course　Gargery's　feelings　are　of　paramount　importance；〃　said　Emerson　with　heavy　sarcasm　and　a　smile　that　stretched　from　ear　to　ear。　〃Naturally；　my　dears；　I　bow　to　your　wishes。　Good　Gad！〃
　Emerson　went　directly　to　Cyrus　and　whispered　in　his　ear。　Within　five　minutes　everyone　on　the　site　had　heard。　It　was　possible　to　watch　the　word　spread　by　the　smiles　that　warmed　the　men's　faces　as　they　turned　to　look　at　Nefret。
　She　accepted　Cyrus's　hearty　good　wishes　and　promises　of　a　celebration　to　end　all　celebrations；　and　then　got　their　minds　back　to　business。　〃Did　anything　happen　last　night？〃
　〃Good　Gad；〃　said　Emerson；　still　grinning。　〃Good　Gad！　Er　…　what　did　you　say？　Oh。　Well；　we　saw　a　few　shadows　flitting　about　hither　and　yon；　but　they　vanished　when　I　announced　my　…　our　…　presence。〃
　〃You　didn't　recognize　any　of　them？〃　Ramses　asked。
　〃I　didn't　have　to　see　them　to　know　who　they　were；〃　his　father　retorted。　〃Members　of　our　distinguished　tomb…robbing　families　having　a　look　round　just　in　case。〃
　〃They　may　try　again；〃　Ramses　said。
　〃Bah；〃　said　Emerson。　〃It's　been　over　fifty　years　since　the　Gurnawis　attacked　an　archaeologist。〃　He　added；　his　face　falling；　〃The　greatest　nuisance　will　be　sightseers。　They　will　be　swarming　as　soon　as　the　news　spreads。〃
　In　this　he　was　correct。　Following　regulations；　Cyrus　had　immediately　informed　the　Service　des　Antiquités　of　the　find。　An　enthusiastic　telegram　of　congratulations　from　Daressy　was　followed　in　two　days　by　a　visit　from　that　gentleman。　It　was　his　official　duty　to　inspect　the　place　and　make　sure　the　rules　were　being　followed；　and　a　find　of　that　magnitude　happened　very　seldom。　Timber　balks　and　a　plex　arrangement　of　scaffolding　and　ladders　had　been　erected；　so　it　was　now　possible　to　reach　the　tomb　from　below。　They　had　to　haul　Daressy　up　by　means　of　a　net。　He　didn't　much　enjoy　the　process；　but　as　he　informed　them　afterward；　he　would　have　undergone　worse　to　see　the　astonishing　spectacle。
　〃My　felicitations；〃　he　declared；　mopping　his　sweating　face。　〃For　once　we　have　got　in　ahead　of　our　energetic　friends　from　Gurneh！　It　is　a　pleasure　to　know　I　can　safely　leave　the　clearance　in　your　capable　hands；　mes　amis。〃
　He　accepted　a　cup　of　tea　and　mopped　his　face　again。　〃By　the　by；　I　meant　to　ask　how　it　is　that　M。　Vandergelt　is　involved。　I　was　under　the　impression　that　he　had　the　firman　for　Medinet　Habu。〃
　〃You　are　familiar　with　how　it　is；　monsieur；〃　Emerson　said　glibly　and　ungrammatically。　〃Thanks　to　the　bedamned　war；　we　are　all　short　of　hands。　We　help　one　another；　as　professional　goodness　demands。　It　was　the　young　M。　Vandergelt　who　in　fact　discovered　the　hiding　place。〃
　〃Ah；　je　prends　bien；〃　said　Daressy；　amused。　〃C'est　admirable；　messieurs。　Proceed；　then。　I　will　return　from　time　to　time；　if　I　may；　not　to　interfere　with　your　work；　but　to　admire　the　wonders　you　will　find。〃
　〃I　told　you　he　wouldn't　object；〃　Emerson　said　to　his　wife；　after　they　had　got　Daressy　off。
　〃You　left　him　no　choice　in　the　matter；〃　said　that　lady。
　Every　tourist　in　Luxor　wanted　to　see　the　tomb。　Most　of　them　left　in　a　hurry；　driven　off　by　Emerson's　curses　and　by　the　fact　that　there　was　not　much　to　see　as　yet。　Cyrus　was　determined　nothing　should　be　removed　from　the　chamber　until　he　had　arranged　for　proper　lighting　and　had　made　certain　that　objects　like　the　coffins　could　be　moved　without　damage。
　One　group　of　visitors　was　more　persistent。　The　Albions　arrived；　en　masse；　the　day　after　the　discovery。　Jumana　retreated　as　soon　as　she　saw　them；　drawing　Bertie　away　with　her；　and　nobody　offered　them　a　chair　or　a　glass　of　tea。　The　coolness　of　their　reception　would　have　disconcerted　sensitive　persons；　but　that　adjective　did　not　apply　to　any　of　the　Albions。
　〃So　that's　how　you're　going　to　get　in　and　out　of　the　place；〃　Mr。　Albion　remarked；　eyeing　the　scaffolding。　〃Too　much　for　me；　but　Sebastian　would　like　to　have　a　look。〃
　〃Sebastian　will　have　to　do　without　a　look；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Good　Gad；　I　have　not　the　time　for　this。〃
　He　stalked　off　to　join　Jumana　and　Bertie　at　the　foot　of　the　scaffold。　Ramses　lingered；　marveling　at　the　Albions'　thick　skins。　Cyrus　was　unable　to　resist　the　temptation　to　gloat；　boasting　extravagantly　about　Bertie　and　describing　the　contents　of　the　tomb　in　loving　detail。　Mr。　Albion's　fixed　grin　remained　in　place。
　〃Sounds　like　a　big　job；〃　he　said。　〃How　long　do　you　think　it　will　take？〃
　〃Hard　to　tell；〃　Cyrus　said。　〃We'll　have　to　see　what's　there　and　what　needs　to　be　done。〃
　〃Fascinating；〃　Sebastian　declared。　He　looked　around　with　a　placent　smile。　〃I've　never　observed　an　excavation　in　process。　Hope　you　don't　mind　if　we　drop　by　now　and　then　to　watch。〃
　Ramses　had　had　enough。　〃Apparently　it　has　escaped　your　attention　that　you　are　not　wele　here；〃　he　said。　〃After　what　happened　the　other　night　…〃
　〃Oh；　that。　An　unfortunate　misunderstanding。〃
　〃Quite；〃　said　Mrs。　Albion；　speaking　for　the　first　time。　〃I　do　think；　Mr。　Emerson；　that　you　owe　my　son　Sebastian　an　apology。〃
　Ramses　caught　his　mother's　eye。　He　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I　am　indeed　sorry。　Sorry　that　I　didn't　catch　up　with　him。〃
　〃Well；　really！〃　Mrs。　Albion　took　her　husband's　arm。　〃Evil　is　in　the　mind　of　the　beholder；　isn't　that　so；　Mrs。　Emerson？　Let　us　go；　Mr。　Albion。〃
　Cyrus　couldn't　resist　one　final　dig。
　〃No　use　making　arrangements　with　the　dealers　on　this　one；　Joe。　At　the　final　division；　most　of　the　objects　will　go　to　the　Cairo　Museum；　and　the　rest；　supposing　they　are　generous　enough　to　leave　us　a　percentage；　will　not　be　for　sale。〃
　The　Albions　left；　and　Ramses　said；　〃You　did　rather　rub　it　in；　Cyrus。〃
　〃Enjoyed　every　minute　of　it；〃　Cyrus　declared；　stroking　his　goatee。　〃I　hoped　Joe　would　slip　and　make　some　dumb　remark　about　how　he'd　already　paid　for　his　share；　but　he's　too　smart　for　that。　I　wonder　who　else　is　going　to　turn　up？〃
　The　next　to　turn　up　was　Howard　Carter；　who　had　to　listen　to　a　tirade　from　Emerson　about　his　exploration　of　the　western　wadis。　〃I've　been　trying　to　track　you　down　for　weeks；〃　Emerson　declared　indignantly。　〃Where　have　you　been？　What　were　you　doing　in　the　Gabbanat　el…Qirud？　Why　the　devil　haven't　you　made　your　notes　accessible？〃
　Carter　was　too　much　in　awe　of　Emerson　to　protest　the　injustice　of　the　plaint。　〃My　notes　are　at　your　disposal；　sir；　as　always；〃　he　said　meekly。　〃I　apologize　if　I　offended　you。〃
　〃Bah；〃　said　Emerson。　〃Now　see　here；　Carter　…〃
　〃Father；　I'm　sure　Mr。　Carter　would　rather　hear　about　the　new　tomb；〃　Nefret　interrupted。　〃Sit　down；　Mr。　Carter；　and　have　a　cup　of　tea。〃
　〃Thank　you；　ma'am；〃　Carter　said　with　a　grateful　look　at　her。　〃I　most　certainly　would。　I　will　be　in　Luxor　for　some　time　…　my　next　project　is　to　copy　the　procession　reliefs　at　Luxor　Temple　…　but　naturally；　if　I　can　assist　in　any　way　at　all　。　。　。〃
　〃You　can　e　by　now　and　then；〃　Emerson　said　grudgingly。　〃It　will　teach　you　how　to　conduct　a　proper　clearance　of　a　tomb。〃
　However；　the　most　unexpected　news　came　in　the　form　of　a　telegram。
　〃Look　forward　to　seeing　you　all　soon。　Fondest　regards；　Cousin　Ismail。〃
　
　〃I　might　have　known　the　news　of　the　tomb　would　fetch　him；〃　Emerson　grumbled。　〃He　doesn't　say　when　he　is　ing。　Damned　inconsiderate。〃
　〃Even　more　inconsiderate　is　that　infernal　signature；〃　I　said　in　some　vexation。　〃How　are　we　to　introduce　him？　The　Vandergelts　are　bound　to　recognize　him　as　Sethos；　but　we　cannot　call　him　that。　What　is　his　real　name？〃
　〃Cursed　if　I　know；〃　Emerson　admitted。　〃Never　gave　it　much　thought。〃
　〃Well；　my　dear；　he　will　turn　up　where　and　when　he　chooses；　as　he　chooses；　and　there　isn't　a　thing　we　can　do　about　it。〃
　He　turned　up　at　Deir　el　Medina；　two　days　later。　We　had　had　several　other　visitors　that　morning；　including　the　cursed　Albions；　they　came　round　almost　every　day；　though　they　did　not　have　the　temerity　to　approach　us　again。　Emerson　stormed　about　this；　but　there　was　no　way　we　could　keep　them　away　from　the　site　as　long　as　they　did　nothing　but　sit　in　their　carriage　at　a　distance　and　look　on。　The　scaffolding　had　been　pleted　and　the　door　ordered；　since　nothing　more　could　be　done　until　we　had　acquired　a　generator　and　electric　lighting；　Emerson　had　sent　us　back　to　work　on　our　boring　village。　I　looked　up　from　my　rubbish　dump　to　see　a　man　on　horseback　approaching。
　He　came　straight　to　me　and　removed　his　hat。　〃Good　morning；　Amelia。　At　your　rubbish　again；　I　see。〃
　He　looked　well。　I　observed　that　first：　the　healthy　color　in　his　face；