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〃Well； wouldn't that be interesting； Walter；〃 Elliott said； shaking his head；〃 if our dear Alex married an American heiress。〃
〃Yes； my lord； it certainly would be interesting；〃 Walter said。〃 As for the other； do you want the same arrangements as before？〃 Again Walter assumed a highly confidential air。〃 Someone to follow him？〃
He meant Ramses； of course。 He referred to the shameful matter of the boy whom Elliott had hired in Alexandria。
〃If you can do it quietly；〃 Elliott said。〃 They're to watch him night and day； to report to me where he goes and what he does。〃
He gave Walter a wad of bills； which Walter tucked in his pocket immediately and then went out； closing the door behind him。
Elliott tried to take a deep breath； but the pain in his chest wouldn't allow it； very quietly he took one shallow breath after another。 He stared at the white curtains ballooning over the open windows。 He could hear the bustle and noise of British Cairo outside。 He thought about the futility of all of this…following Ramses in the hope of discovering something； anything； about the elixir。
Absurd； really。 A little bit of cloak…and…dagger that did no more than fuel Elliott's obsession。 There was no doubt now as to what Ramses was； and if he had the elixir with him； undoubtedly he carried it on his person。
Elliott felt ashamed。 But that was a small matter。 The larger matter was the mystery from which he was utterly shut out。 Might as well go to the man and beg for the gift。 He had a good mind to call Walter back； to tell him it was all foolishness。 But in his heart of hearts he knew he would try one more time to search Ramses' room； and the boy following Ramses might give him some clue as to the man's habits。
It was something to do； wasn't it； other than think about the pain in his chest and in his hip。 He closed his eyes； he saw the colossal statues of Abu Simbel again。 It seemed to him suddenly that this was the last great adventure of his life； and he realized that he had no regrets； that this excitement had been in itself a priceless gift to him。
And who knows； he laughed softly to himself。 Perhaps Alex will find an American heiress。
Ah； she was lovely； and he so liked her voice and the divine sparkle in her eye； for that's just what it was； and how she'd push him lightly with her finger when she laughed。 And what a pretty name she had； Miss Charlotte Whitney Banington。
〃And then we thought we'd go to London； but they say it's frightfully cold this time of year； and so gloomy； with the Tower of London and all； where they chopped off Anne Boleyn's head。〃
〃Oh； it wouldn't be if I showed it to you！〃 he said。
〃Well； when are you going home？ You're staying for the opera； aren't you？ Seems everybody in this place talks of nothing else。 It's very funny； you know； to e all the way to Egypt to see an opera。〃
〃But it's Aida； my dear。〃
〃I know； I know。。。〃
〃And yes； we are going； as a matter of fact； it's all been arranged。 And you'll be there； of course。 Ah； what about the ball afterwards？〃
What an adorable smile。〃 Well； I didn't know about the ball； you see。 I didn't really want to go with Mummy and Daddy and…〃
〃Well； perhaps you'd go with me。〃
Oh； what lovely white teeth。
〃Why； Lord Rutherford； I'd simply love it。〃
〃Please call me Alex； Miss Barrington。 Lord Rutherford's my father。〃
〃But you're a Viscount yourself；〃 she said with stunning American frankness and the same ingratiating smile。〃 That's what they told me。〃
〃Yes； I guess that's true。 Viscount Summerfield； actually 。。。〃
〃What is a Viscount？〃 she asked。
Such lovely eyes； and the way she laughed as she looked at him。 Suddenly he was no longer angry with Henry for being holed up。 with that dancer； Malenka。 Better that Henry should be altogether out of sight with his drinking and gambling； rather than hanging about the public rooms of the hotel。
Oh； what would Julie think of Miss Barrington？ Well； he knew what he thought！
High noon。 The dining room。 Ramses sat back laughing。
〃Now； I insist you do it。 Pick up the fork and the knife；〃 Julie said。〃 Just try。〃
〃Julie； it's not that I can't do it！ It's that it seems absolutely barbaric to thrust food in one's mouth with pieces of silver！〃
〃Your trouble is； you know how perfectly handsome you are； and how you charm everyone。〃
〃I learned a little tact over the centuries。〃 He picked up the fork； deliberately gripping the handle in his fist。
〃Stop that；〃 she said under her breath。
He laughed。 He laid down the fork； and took a morsel of chicken with his fingers again。 She grabbed his hand。
〃Ramses； eat properly。〃
〃Darling dear；〃 he said；〃 I'm eating in the manner of Adam and Eve； Osiris and Isis； Moses； Aristotle and Alexander。〃
She dissolved with laughter。 He stole a kiss from her quickly。 Then his face darkened。
〃What about your cousin？〃 he whispered。
It caught her pletely off guard。〃 Must we speak of him？〃
〃Are we to leave him here in Cairo？ Are we to leave the murder of your father unavenged？〃
Tears sprang to her eyes。 Angrily； she searched in her bag for
her handkerchief。 She had not seen Henry since their return； and she didn't want to see him。 In her letter to Randolph she had not mentioned him。 And it was the thought of her uncle as much as anything else that made her cry now。
〃Pass the burden to me；〃 Ramses whispered。〃 I shall bear it easily。 Let justice be done。〃
She put her hand up suddenly to his lips。
〃No more；〃 she said。〃 Not now。〃
He looked up； over her shoulder。 He gave a little sigh； and squeezed her hand。〃 The museum party is here； it seems；〃 he said。〃 And we mustn't keep Elliott standing about。〃
Alex swooped down suddenly to give her a little peck on the cheek。 How chaste。 She wiped at her nose quickly； and turned so that he wouldn't see the colour in her face。
〃Well； are we all set？〃 Alex said。〃 We have our private guide meeting us at the museum in fifteen minutes。 Oh； and before I forget； the opera has been pletely arranged。 Box seats and of course tickets to the ball afterwards。 And Ramsey； old man； if you'll allow me to say so； I shan't pete with you that night for Julie's attentions。〃
Julie nodded。〃 Fallen in love already；〃 she said with a mock whisper。 She allowed Alex to help her to her feet。〃 A Miss Barrington。〃
〃Please； darling； do give me your opinion。 She's ing to the museum with us。〃
〃Let's hurry；〃 Ramses said。〃 Your father is not well。 I'm surprised he doesn't remain behind。〃
〃Good Lord； do you know what the Cairo Museum means to people？〃 said Alex。〃 And it's the dirtiest； dustiest place I've ever…〃
〃Alex； please； we are about to see the greatest collection of Egyptian treasures in existence。〃
〃The last ordeal；〃 Ramses said； taking Julie's arm。〃 And all the Kings are in one room？ This is what you have been telling me？〃
〃My word； I should think you'd been there before；〃 Alex said。〃 You are such a puzzle； old man。。。〃
〃Give up on i