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!
the loot。 Those scoundrels cheat even one another。〃
〃I suppose you are now even more on fire to go on to Luxor and track down the thieves;〃 Nefret said; tucking her feet under her and leaning against Ramses。
〃You would like a few more days at the hospital; wouldn't you?〃 Emerson asked。
〃Well; yes; but I wouldn't want you to change your plans on my account。〃
I must give my dear Emerson credit; he was too forthright to pretend he was doing it on her account。 〃The tomb has already been robbed and the loot dispersed;〃 he explained。 〃And I expect everyone knows the identity of the thieves … the Abd er Rassuls; or one of the other Gurneh families who specialize in such activities。 It is strange; though; to have some of the objects turn up in Cairo。 The local boys usually work with Mohassib or another of the Luxor dealers。 Ramses; are you certain that ointment vessel is Eighteenth Dynasty?〃
〃No; of course not;〃 Ramses said; somewhat defensively。 〃I'm not an expert on hard stone vessels。 The same forms and materials were used over a long period of time。 If you think it's important; we might pay a visit to the Museum and see what examples they have。〃
〃If we can find them;〃 Emerson muttered。 〃The way that place is arranged is a damned disgrace。〃
Emerson always plained about the Museum and about almost everything else that was not under his direct supervision。 I pointed out that Mr。 Quibell; the director; was doing the best he could under difficult circumstances。 Emerson nodded grudgingly。
〃No doubt。 I suppose we ought to call on him。 Or we might have one of your little archaeological dinner parties; Peabody。 The Quibells; and Daressy; and anyone else you can collect。〃
My dinner parties; celebrating our return to Egypt; had been very popular。 For the past few years I had been loath to hold them; it was too painful to see the diminished pany and reflect on the fates of those who were no longer with us: our German and Austrian colleagues departed; the ranks of the French and English Egyptologists depleted by death or military service。 However; I had already been in receipt of friendly messages from those who were still in Cairo … the news of our arrival had; of course; immediately bee known。 Emerson's proposal solved the difficulty of how I was to respond to these greetings and invitations; and astonished me not a little; for he was never inclined toward social engagements; and he had been insistent on leaving Cairo as soon as was possible。
A brief period of reflection explained his change of heart。 The letter from Cyrus and the discovery of the artifacts at Aslimi's had whetted his curiosity; Cyrus's mention of Howard Carter being in some manner involved aroused an understandable desire to question that individual。 There was another reason for his willingness to stay on in Cairo; he was hoping for a further munication from his brother。 He had made a point of looking through the messages every day and his disappointment at finding nothing of the sort was evident to me at least。 I confess I was also somewhat exasperated with Sethos。 What had been the point of that brief encounter?
Unfortunately I was unable to locate the archaeologist whom Emerson had hoped to interrogate。 Howard Carter was not in Cairo。 No one knew where he was。 However; when the sadly diminished group met next evening; he was the chief topic of conversation。 Owing to the short notice; the Quibells were the only ones who had been able to accept my invitation。
〃You just missed him;〃 Annie Quibell said。 〃He got back from Luxor a few days ago; and went off again without any of us seeing him。 James was furious。〃
She smiled at her husband; whose equable temper was well known; and who said calmly; 〃I presume his duties for the War Office called him away; but I had hoped to hear more about his recent work in Luxor。〃
〃And his dealings with Mohassib?〃 Emerson inquired; motioning the waiter to refill James's wineglass。
〃Who told you that?〃
〃Cyrus Vandergelt;〃 I replied。 〃Is it true?〃
James shrugged。 〃I've heard the rumor too; but I doubt Carter would admit it to me; even if it were true。 He spent several months out in the southwest wadis; where the princesses' tomb was found; when he was in Cairo for a few days early in December; he gave me a brief report。 Did you hear about his finding another tomb of Hatshepsut's? This one was made for her when she was queen; before she assumed kingly titles。 It was empty except for a sarcophagus。〃 He picked up his glass and sipped his wine appreciatively。
〃Where?〃 Emerson asked。
〃High in a cleft in the cliffs; in one of the western wadis;〃 Annie said。 She and her husband were not great admirers of Howard; after his falling…out with the Service; he had begun dealing in antiquities; and this did not make him popular with his professional colleagues。 She added; with a distinct and amusing touch of malice; 〃He didn't find Hatshepsut's tomb; James。 Some of the Gurnawis did。 He only followed them。〃
〃Bah;〃 said Emerson vehemently。 〃I wonder what else he did?〃
〃So do I;〃 said James。
Having failed to locate Howard; Emerson was ready to leave for Luxor at once。 However; it was not to be。 We were finishing breakfast en famille in our sitting room when a messenger arrived with a letter for Emerson。 It was a delightful little domestic scene; with Sennia badgering Ramses to give her a lesson in hieroglyphs and Horus snarling at Gargery and Emerson reading the Egyptian Gazette and smoking his pipe; while Nefret told me about the new arrangements at the hospital。 When I saw the envelope; with its official seal; it was as if the sun had gone behind a cloud。
〃Whom is it from?〃 I demanded。
Emerson frowned over the epistle; which he was holding so I couldn't read over his shoulder。 〃Wingate。 He would like me to e to his office at my earliest convenience。〃
〃Sir Reginald Wingate? What does the Sirdar of the Sudan want with you?〃
〃He replaced MacMahon as high missioner last month;〃 Emerson replied。 〃He doesn't say what he wants。〃
We had all fallen silent except for Sennia; who had no idea who the high missioner was and cared even less。 Emerson looked at his son。 〃Er … Ramses 。 。 。〃
〃Yes; sir。 When?〃
〃Later。 He says 'at our convenience。' It is not convenient for me at present。〃
Sennia understood that。 〃Ramses will have time to give me my lesson;〃 she announced firmly。 Sennia was in the habit of making pronouncements instead of asking questions; it usually worked。
Ramses rose; smiling。 〃A short lesson; then。 Let's go to your room where we won't be distracted。〃
The door closed behind them … and Horus; who went wherever Sennia went unless forcibly prevented from doing so。 Having got Sennia out of the way; Emerson turned stern blue eyes on Gargery; who stood with arms folded and feet slightly apart; exuding stubbornness。 〃Go away; Gargery;〃 Emerson said。
〃Sir …〃
〃I said; go away。〃
〃But sir …〃
〃If there is anything you need to know; Gargery; I will tell you about it at the proper time;〃 I interrupted。 〃That will be all。〃
Gargery stamped out; slamming the door; and Nefret said quietly; 〃Do you want me to leave too?〃
〃No; of course not。〃 Emerson leaned back in hi