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！
ish。 Nefret was too fond of his mother to tell her no to her face。 She would want him to do it！
He expected to find his wife on the doorstep； vibrating with indignation。 She wasn't there。 He had to track her down； looking into room after room as he searched。 The place was quite attractive； really … large； low…ceilinged rooms； with the carved mashrabiya screens he liked so much covering the windows； tiled floors； bookshelves on many of the walls。 Otherwise the house was almost empty except for a few tables and chairs and couches。 She'd had sense enough to leave the choice of furnishings and decorations to them。 Not at all bad； on the whole。 If it had been up to him 。 。 。
If it had been up to him； he would rather live in a hole in the rock than tell his mother he didn't like it。
He found Nefret sitting on the shady porch that looked out on a small courtyard。 Jumana was with her； their heads close together。
〃I'm sorry； Nefret；〃 he began。
〃You apologize too often。〃 It was an old joke between them； but when she looked up he saw that her face was grave。
〃It's not so bad； is it？〃 he asked。 〃She meant well； and it is some distance from the main house； and …〃
〃It's fine；〃 Nefret said impatiently。 〃Never mind the house； Ramses。 Jumana has something to tell you。〃
There were wicker chairs and a table or two。 He sat down。 〃Well？〃
She had obviously been talking freely with Nefret； but the sight of him froze her tongue。 She twisted her hands together。
〃What is it？〃 Ramses asked。 〃Something about Bertie？ Don't worry about him； Jumana； you'll be staying with us from now on。 That was the agreement。〃
〃Bertie？〃 She dismissed him with a shrug。 〃He is not a worry。 No。 I must tell you； but 。 。 。〃 She swallowed； hard。 〃I have seen Jamil。〃
〃My God。〃 Ramses breathed。 〃Where？ When？〃
〃Two weeks ago。〃 Now that she had got the worst of it out； the words flowed freely。 〃I went to Luxor Temple； while Mrs。 Vandergelt was shopping at the suk and Mr。 Vandergelt was at Mohassib's。 Bertie wanted to go with me； but Mrs。 Vandergelt said …〃
〃I understand；〃 Ramses said。 〃Jamil was at the temple？〃
She nodded。 〃He had been waiting for days to find me alone。 He wanted money。 He said that he had discovered a rich tomb； but the others had cheated him and he cursed them all and said he would get even； but he needed money 。 。 。 I gave him all I had。〃
〃You shouldn't have done that；〃 Nefret said。 〃The best thing for Jamil would be to turn himself in。〃
Her mouth drooped like that of a child on the verge of tears。 〃He is my brother。 How could I refuse to help him？ But he said 。 。 。 Oh； I have been so afraid！ I didn't know what to do。 But now you are here； you will tell the Father of Curses； and he will not let Jamil …〃 Her voice broke。
〃It's all right；〃 Ramses said gently。 He took her small shaking hands in his。 〃He won't let Jamil hurt you。 Is that what he threatened？ That he would harm you if you told anyone you had seen him？〃
〃No； oh； no！〃 She clung tightly to his hands and looked up into his face。 〃It is you the Father of Curses must guard。 It is you Jamil hates most。 He said if I told anyone he would kill you。〃
3
〃Bah；〃 said Emerson。
We were seated on the veranda drinking tea。 The rays of the sun； low in the west； cast golden gleams through the roses that twined around the open arcades。 It was like the old days； when we had so often gathered in that shaded spot； the wicker chairs and settees and tables were not much the worse for wear； and Ramses had taken up his old position； perched on the ledge with his back against a pillar。 Now Nefret sat beside him； and her hand was in his。 Fatima had insisted upon serving sandwiches and tea cakes； despite the fact that we were to leave shortly to dine with the Vandergelts。 Rather than disappoint the dear woman； I nibbled on a cucumber sandwich or two。
After learning of the reappearance of Jamil； I had decided a private council of war was imperative。 Sennia； who had expected to take tea with us； strongly objected to being sent away and was only mollified when … before I could stop him … Emerson handed her the entire plate of cakes to take with her。 As soon as she was out of earshot Nefret repeated what Jumana had said； and Emerson responded in characteristic fashion。
〃That is not much help； Emerson；〃 I said。 〃A threat cannot be dismissed so cavalierly。〃
〃It was an idle threat；〃 Emerson declared。 〃How can that miserable little coward constitute a danger to Ramses？〃 He gave his tall son an approving look； and Ramses replied to the implied pliment with an exaggerated lift of his eyebrows。
〃e to that； why Ramses？〃 Emerson went on。 〃I take it as an affront that he didn't threaten me。 Are you going to eat all the cucumber sandwiches； Peabody？〃
〃I think；〃 said Nefret； passing Emerson the plate； 〃that in Jamil's eyes Ramses was the hero of last year's affair。 Or villain； from Jamil's viewpoint！ Not to take anything away from you； Father … or you； Mother …〃
〃You are quite right； my dear；〃 I said graciously。 〃We did our part； but if it had not been for Ramses …〃
〃You ought to take it as a pliment； Father；〃 Ramses said。 He does not often interrupt me； but he does not like to hear himself praised。 〃Jamil would consider it below his dignity to threaten a woman； and he obviously feels I am less dangerous than you。 'No man dares threaten the Father of Curses！' 〃
〃What an annoying development！〃 I mused。 〃I had hoped the wretched boy had taken himself off to distant parts； or that he had met with a fatal accident。〃
〃That is rather cold…blooded； Mother；〃 my son said。
〃Your mother is a practical woman；〃 Emerson declared。 〃I suppose now we'll have to find him and turn him over to the police； which will be cursed embarrassing for everyone concerned； especially his father。 We've left him alone； and instead of taking to his heels he has the effrontery to challenge us！ He must be mad。〃
〃Or mad for revenge；〃 Nefret said； her brows furrowing。
〃No；〃 I said judiciously。 〃He's too much of a coward。 However； his true motive is not difficult to discover。 One of his most notable traits is greed。 He also has an uncanny instinct for locating lost tombs。 Depend on it； that is why he hasn't left Luxor。 He hopes to find another； good Gad； perhaps he has already done so！〃
An all…too…familiar glint brightened Emerson's sapphirine orbs； but after a moment's thought he shook his head regretfully。 〃Pure conjecture； Peabody； born of your rampageous imagination。 It's more likely that he hasn't the courage to leave familiar surroundings and strike out on his own。 He made enough from his share of the princesses' treasure to live fortably for a while； I would guess that the money has been squandered； and that he approached Jumana as a last resort。 He won't try it again。 As for attacking Ramses … stuff and nonsense！〃
〃Yes； but he might try and get back at Jumana；〃 I said。 〃Especially if he learns she told us he is still in Luxor。 She probably won't believe that she could be in danger from him； so we must make certain she is not allowed to go off alone。 Katherine and I had agreed she would e to us； we will bring her back with us tonight。 I will ask Fatima to